The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1905-02-24
geries. would be repudiated by tho

tlatlNe and referendum provisions OF
the constitution and laws of this state
clearly contemplate that the legisa-
ture, II properly petitioned, shall enact
| and submit any measure proposed by
per cent OF the qualified electors OF
| the state, and your committee at this
| time disclaims and repudiates any in
| tention or desire on its part to avoid
or disregard these provisions OF con
| Sttutional and statute law But this
| committee does conclude that these
| provisions. both constitutional and
| statutory, are mandatory and impera-
| tive and for the protection OF both
| the people and the legislature from
| fraud and Illegally. that it was not
| the intention OF these provisions to
| deprive the legislature of the power
| to investigate any so-calied or purport
| ed petition that might be filed in the
| Office of the secretary OF state OF
| transmitted to the legislative bodies.
| A contention that holds that the two
| houses OF the legislature have no
! other functions to perform than mere
| iy clerical or ministerial duties is
| puerile and robS those bodies of the
| power to protect their dignity and
| insure them from fraudulent iinposi-
| lions Were their duties no more
| than this it would be useless to trans
| INIT petitions beyond the office of the
| secretary OF state, to be by that officer
certified to the several county audi
| tors for insertion in the official bal
| lots. Such a contention would COM
/ pei this legislature not only to enact
| legislation absolutely opposed to its
| own conscience and good sense hu.
| also to assume the odium of placing
large and totally unjustitiable expense
upon the people.
| Your committee further concludes,
under the facts specifically set forth
| herein. that to recognize any purport-
| ed petition bearing upon its face such
absolute proofs OF fraud iliegality and
| forgery would be a violation OF the
constitution and laws of this state and
| the oath of office taken bv all the
! members of this body To support the
same; that it would place premium
| upon fraud and wrong doing and would
| furnish d precedent for designing per.
sons to propose even iniquitous meas
ures and procure their enactment and
| submission TO the people of this state;
| that while the constitution and laws
| OF this state should always be OBJ
served and given full faith and credit
| by the members Of this body. they
should neveg be allowed 10 be peryert-
! Ell or used as tools of designing per
sons to further wrongful ends. Your
committee believes that the highest
dutv devolving upon this legislature
is that of protecting the constitution
the law. the people and the legisla-
| ture itself from such frauds. crimes
and illegalities as are patent in this
| case.
Your committee further reports
! that it has given an attentive ear to
| all persons who have desired to dis.
cuss the matters connected with this
purported petition with your commit
tee: that it has been ready and will
ing at all times to meet and hear any
persons who We're Interested in tina
same. No person has asked to appear
before your committee on matters
|
| who has not been given a respectful
hearing and the matters advanced by
him given careful and courteous con.
| Sderation.
And for the reasons hereiubefore
set lorth. your committee recommends
that the further consideration of said
purported petition and all bills. mat
tiers or measures based or founded
thereon or connected Herewith be in.
definitely postponed. Respectfully
| submitted,
James NJ Lawson.
Henry Robertson,
H. I. Cooper,
For Committee
Minority Report of the Standing Com.
mittee
Mr.. President. \ minority of your
COMMITTEES on rules. 10 whom was re-
TERED the certified copy of the peti.
ton for the enactment and submis
sion to the electors of this state of a
primary election law. as proposed in
SAID petition. begs leave to report that
such minority is unable to agree with
the report made by the majority OF
said committee, and dLssents there
from
The minority member of said com.
mittee has made an investigation OF
said petition and the proposed law
and of the signatures attached, and is
i'll every way satisfied that it complies
%ith the letter and spirit OF the con
sttution and the statute. and that ia
deny 1t the recognition to which it is
clearly entitled would be an open and
liasrant violation OF the constitution
The minority of said committee rec
ommends that said petition be accent
ed as sufficient and binding man
date to. this legislature TO require the
enactment and submission of the
measure therein proposed. Respect
fully submitted.
Warren Young
Minority Member OF the Committee or
Rules.
The Real Affront.
1t always makes ne weary to have
to listen to one of these fellows thai
think they know all about poker oh