The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-06
ELROD SUPPORTED |
BY LEGISLATURES
ALL HIS RECOMMENDATIONS BUT
ONE ENACTED INTO Law.

Years IN MoSodSoS Oh 6xoCuC1Voo, |
Will Meet Exigencies for Years to
Come-Check Kept on Appropria-
tions-Men Who Led the Way.
Special to Tho Journal
Pierre s. D., March 8.-The important legis-
alton of the recent session may be classified
Is revenue, public morals, educational and eco
homie. ...m
For months the necessity for legislative action
looking to the mending of the financial condi-
ton of the state was pressed upon the at
tention of the public. and the theme was the
burden of the messages Of Governors Herreid
and Elrod. With abundant resources, tho state
was on It's "uppers."
There was much theorizing. but it remained
for Governor Elrod to work out practical plans
and present them for action The ways and
means committees of both houses, headed by
Senator Dillon and Representative Clancy, gave
him the most loyal support and made his plans
their own and pressed them into enactments.
These comprise the, tax-ferret BILL the law re-
quiring the county auditors to meet each year |
in March with the state board of assessment |
and adopt uniform standards Of assessment with
the power Of assessment conferred upon each |
board of assessment town, county and state |
and finally the Inheritance tax.
One other bill proposed by Governor Elrod |
increasing the assessment upon insurance conf |
panies, passed the house, but was smothered
in the senate. 1t Is confidently believed that
these laws viii result in sufficient revenue for
the necessities of the state economically ad'
ministered. .s-. ~. -... =. ..
Economic Legislation. ,7
Those matters of great economic value are
led by the irrigation code, providing all OF
the legal regulations for the vast irrigation
projects in western South Dakota which the
general government has set on foot; also the
livestock laws for the protection Of the states
most important industry. These include the live
stock commission, dippins, plant, rewards fos
the capture of thieves and wolf bounties, both
from the state and counties.
Naturally the Butte county delegation where
the Belle Fourche project is mainly located, were
most active in the irrigation proposition, Sen.
the principal managers of the movement. Every
western member gave active and loyal effort to
the livestock measures, but to Parmley OF Ed.
munds is due the credit for formulating and
managing the bills for the protection Of this
valuable interest. -a g..
In this class of legislation may be placed
to the care of the member from Pierre, John
| Sutherland.
Deadwood's Water Bill.
Legislation relating to water-rights occupied
| much attention. The first act upon this subject
related directly to the interests of Deadwood.
but it was not the less a general law and con-
ferred upon cities the right to go outside their
limits and take possession of streams by con,
demnation proceedings and divert them from their
natural channels for the purpose Of supplying
! water TOT QOmeStlc ana commercial purposes.
| In effect this act made 1t possible to take
possession of streams long used for irrigation
| purposes by the citizens of long and broad
valley and entirely cut OF their water supply.
attention of the legislature by persons whose
water supply threatened by the action Of
Deadwood. and the first enactment was repealed
| by another which was almost as severe the
other way, and provided that no city could 60
outside its own watershed to obtain water.
Toward the close the legislature became very
chary OF any proposition which involved inter-
ference with water rights, and the Aberdeen
| sewer bill killed because, being a general
law it conferred some powers relating to water
which elsewhere might prove oppressive
viding for interstate reciprocity in the matter
of teachers certificates, promoted by Repre-
sentative Kribs, and the farmers institute plan
managed by Senator Lightner and Representa-.
tive Parmley of Edmunds, were the most note
worthy. Pertaining tos this subject the new
school census law introduced by Senator Hutch
inson will have an important influence in secur
ing equitable disrtbution OF the schoo
moneys. y',tN /. -
New Caucus Law.
OF the laws relating to public morals. thu
most important Is the caucus and convention Dill
Of Representative Holman's. This is an en-
tirely new departure and places all. OF tn
: matters relating to political caucuses and con
ventions under the regulation OF drastic laws
Parmley's prisoners parole law is another de
parture within this class OF bills
=
Shops brought about by the efforts of Repre-
, sentative Foster, is much-needed protectio
, to public morals, and the acts defining and pur
ishing all manner OF confidence ana swihdlin
, games will no doubt go for to make this regio
1 unpopular for the ''thimble-riggers' who latte
L upon the gullibility of the public.
Y Many bills were passed which supplied pr
: visions and cured defects in the revised code
. of two years ago, but the entire number {
8 enactments was but little in excess of one-ha
e the number of the last previous session.
Saving in Appropriations.
All of the influences of the session, bot
| within and outside Of the legislature were
| the interest of small appropriations ano II
, result was ultra conservatism In this regar
" The only special bills passing outside OF tho
D. pertaining to the usual deficiencies, legislati'
re expenses printing and the like, were the
pairs for the Soldiers home to the extent
s. $4,000; the Aberdeen normal SHOPS ,,s; Saa,oo
and $4,000 for the state Ialr puiluinss
h Huron. e.. !,
in opera ton Of the state government for TWO yea
o cared for and institutions maintained with tn
re relatively small sum is really marvellous wn'
placed in comparison with the budgets OF 9th
i'll states. ,o, e., co,
GRADUATION No previous governor has had Il
e. confidence and support OF the legislature III
at fuller degree With one exception, every i su
eestion of his message was enacted into Ia
L., | The one failure was the interest bill. reoucl
F. contract interest to 10 per cent. This bill pass
the senate and seemed to be going all rlgl
ST. but failed to come out Of the house committt
If: Legislative Leaders.
The senate was filed with leaders. Alb
a. Branson Cooper. Dillon. Frieberg. Hutcnlns'
,at Lawson. Nell, Payne. Lghtner. Stoddara' n
and Wagner were most often upon ther re
~ hut there were few members who tailed 10 lea
a. | an impress upon the legislation.
to- The house was radically dlnerent Dooy.
one rose to an acknowledged position OF Lead
nv shin. It was a body of cool. level-headed; c
90 sentative men,, Rodge, Holman ana Iurl
raj of Faulk spoke most frequently. put "a.
for more than quiet word of explanati
are Craig. the most experienced member, alwi
o. quiet, but speaking when he did speak as
tc: authority, was probably the most iniuent'
ne; Hebal Of Deuel.. man OF quick perceptn
FL; and a clear thinker, was looked to for lead
- shin BY large element of the most conservati
n. TO Southern Texas, s27.75, Round TT
,et- Galveston, Fort Worth, Houston a
lis. Beaumont. To Mexico City and retul
$62.25. Tickets on sale March q
~. Fl. Limit twentyone days: Stop-ov'
permitted. Correspondingly low "a
Nm to other points in the southwest.
In Call on j. G.. Rickel, city. ticket age
,rs 424 Nicollet avenue