Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-02-02
JACK RABBIT PROTECTION
Representative Somby Tells How He
Came to Introduce Bill.

II have received much unpleasant
publicity and notoriety for having IN
troduced bill in the house OF rep
resentatives for the protection of jack
rabbits. 1t is only fair to me that an
explanation be made as to my rcspon-
sibility for the bill. Early in the ses-
sion received a letter from Roy s..
Avery, prominent business man OF
Sioux Falls, in which he says: 'Sena-
tor E. B. Northrup of Minnehaha will
introduce bill in the senate for the
protection of the jack rabbit. North
rup Rodge and Bratrud, all Of Mime
haha, have promised me their support
They are all Of our county members l
got to see, but know Robertson will
do the same by asking him to do SO.
Northrup thought the bill would stand
a better chance if introduced early in
the session before they get lined up
too much, so it doubtless will come up
Friday or Saturday. Mr.. Avery, being
a personal friend of mine, he request
ed me to give the bill my support, and
to work with the committee to which
it was referred and try and get them
to act favorably on it.
"a few days after receiving the
above letter, Senator Robertson came
to me in the house chamber and said
that Senator Northrup wished to see
me in the senate chamber. at once
went to him, and he showed me the
original bill. Mr.. Avery had inclosed
me duplicate copy of the bill with
the above mentioned letter. Senator
Northrup said that he was going to
introduce the bill in the senate and
wished me to Introduce it in the house.
I did not assume any responsibility
for the bill, so introduced it in the
house as by request only. | have
known of Senator Northrup for sew
eral years and thought him to be an
honorable gentleman. Considering the
source from which the request came,
l thought and still think, under the
circumstances it would have been an
act of great discourtesy on my part to
have Refused Senator Northrup's re.
quest.
'sThe fact that as well as the other
uiCMDClS llOul lIy Guilty., WIZ hACW
nothing of the bill until it was intro.
duced, have been ridiculed and given
an undue amount of farcial comments
or criticisms by the press, hope, aft.
er this explanation, all such comments
will be corrected. trust that the
real sponsor for the bill, as we'll as
all Of the members from the county in
which the bill originated and who had
promised their support to their COR
stituents who were working for the
enactment of such a law as this bill
provides for, will be given the credit
they deserve, and that they will be
made to be seen in the light in which
they stand relative to this BILL
Henry Hornby, Representative, Moody
county"
In the boom days of old many aspir-
ing towns incorporated upon terri
torial scale proportionate to their am
billions. In consequence there are
many valuable farms within the cor
porate limits of the cities and towns
of the state, and the owners of these
properties have incurred prejudice
against paying taxes for municipal i'm.
provements which do not accrue to
their advantage nor convenience
Senator Doughty and Representative
Hillestad OF Brookings have twin bills
which undertake TO relieve these agri-
cultural lands within corporate limits
from the burdens of municipal taxa
ton.
There is little doubt that the law
permitting criminal to secure
change Of venue upon filing an aft
davit of prejudice has been seriously
abused and counties been put to great
and unnecessary expense, yet there is
always a danger that really pre-
JUDGED judge may do prisoner real
injustice If such change of court is not
permitted. Mr.. Ham, however, be-
lieves the danger is too small to just
ify the present practice and his bill
seeks to give court discretion in the
matter of granting changes of venue.
The liberality Of our exemption laws
leads private interests to seek for spe-
cial protection, and many forms of
liens are provided by statute. Thus
mechanics have lien for wages, ma
terial men for lumber, threshers a
lien upon crops threshed, stockmen
upon stock for certain fees, etc. SEN
ator Rice has a bill giving vendors OF
binding Irvine lien upon crops for
the Irvine furnished 1t seems rea-
sonable proposition and will probably
be favorably considered. The great
Belle Fourche project for the irriga-
ton of that fertile valley through the
provisions Of the national reclama-
ton law, involves a good deal Of legis-
lation on the part of the state to make
the federal provisions effective To
this end Messrs. Mortimer and Stokes
OF Butte county, where the Belle
Fourche is located, have twin bills
providing astate irrigation code. It IS
q voluminous proposition, said to be
prepared under the advice Of the fed
eral authorities.
Already the state has several mod.
sest little cottages at the soldiers
h0rno WI, ovxa aid e<>1 Ia ;rr1 ~, - u