The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-01-18

RM,m}RE!nz!Ss;i9N1NaT.

Senator George Rise, of Moody County,
attorney general under Gov. Gil Pierce,
of territorial days, has been out of state
politics for several years, but comes to
the senate this year by the overwhelming
vote of his county. Mr.. Rice is a prom
inent lawyer who makes agriculture his
fad, II he proposes to give much of his
attention at this session TO the promotion
Of legislation looking to the enlargement
of the utility Of the agricultural college
and experiment station. Years of OBJ
servation convinces him that persistent
experimentation will develop drought-re-
sisting grains, forage plants and forest
trees, designed by nature expressly for
the semi-arid regions, and that immense
possibilities for South Dakota lie in
these lines. He calls attention to how
the navel orange and the raisin grape
have revolutionized the deserts of Cali
fornia, both of which resulted from the
experimentation of the agricultural de-
partment. His observation has determin-
ed the fact that the semi-arid regions,
being subject TO loss neither from leach
ing nor erosion, retain their fertility
much longer than any other sections, and
that only the development of Il suitable
fora is needed to make them the most
valuable sections of the west. His plans
involve additional funds for the agricul-
tural college.
The supreme court last Saturday even
ing handed down a decision in the case
OF the Phoenix Insurance Company VS..
]. S. Perkins, insurance commissioner,
in which the decision Of Judge Smith. of
the Fourth district, is reversed. Judge
Smith held that the companies would be
required TO comply with the policy pre-
pared by the insurance commissioner,
which included the valued policy provi-
sions within it. The companies contend
ed for their own standard policy. The
court held that the legislature had no
right TO delegate TO the insurance con-
missioner power to draft a policy, but
must shape the policy itself, and that it
was within legislative power to frame
such p policy as they desired and the
companies most conform to it.
y y =
Inasmuch as Pierre at the recent cleo
ton for the third time won the state cap
ital, quite q sentiment exists in favor
of the Legislature making an %appropria-
ton for the construction of a permanent
capitol building and thus prevent any
state capital contests in future. Some
favor the appropriation Of as much as
S1,00O.O00 for the erection of a capitol,
but it is generally conceded that the con-
dition of the states finances will not per-
NIT OF an appropriation Of this size for
the purpose named. If an appropriation
is made at all it will probably be from
100000 to 100000, enough to enable
a capitol building to be partially com
pleted, leaving to future sessions of the
legislature the appropriation of addi-
tional sums to complete the structure.
The state railroad commission held a
session at Pierre to consider the applica-
ton Of the Penn Oil Company, which
has established a depot at Sioux Fans,
for the putting in Of a sidetrack by the
Illinois Central Railway. The oil com
pany purchased a site near the railwav
track, but off it's right of way, and
gan the erection of their supply depot,
and asked for q side track. The com
pany for some reason objects to putting
in the siding and the commission is called
upon to decide a new question, that Of
whether they can compel a railroad to
build a siding outside of its right Of way.
The matter is yet in allegiance, and will
be considered at another meeting to be
held in Sioux Falls at an ea2ly date.
= 4 =
Because of the recommendation of Gov.
Sam Elrod in his recent message to the
state legislature in regard to cutting the
militia appropriation in two, Adjt. Gen.
Conklin sent a letter to the new governor
Withdrawing from the race for %reappoint-
ment to the position. Gen. Conklin ask
ed for a $4,000 appropriation for the
militia in order to bring it up to the
standard of excellence desired by him. G..
Englesby, of WATERFOWL, has been ap-
pointed adjutant general.
A matter of importance to come before
the legislature will be the adoption of a
revenue system. The present system is
far from perfect, and under it the state
has difficulty in securing sufficient money
to keep the machinery of the state in OPP
Grafton. The revenue laws of Indiana
are regarded as near perfection as laws
of this kind can be by those who have
studied them, and it would not be sur
new revenue system, copied closely after
that of the Hoosier state.
For several years it has been customary
to make a military showing at the time
Of the inaugural ceremonies, and as usual
several representatives of the militia
fioTo ovef the state appeared with their
uniforms. aud the Pierre cavalry troop
expected to act as the governors escort.
But there was no parade, as Gov. Elrod,
on learning of the arrangements, express
ed a wish for no show which was not
necessary as a part Of the regular pro-
cedure, and the uniforms were left re-
posing in their suit cases.
Gov. Elrod, Treasurer Collins and Aud
itor HaIladax b. ave dacidnd mon thu 10