The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1907-03-12

uors This bill was fathered by Sen
ator Johnson of kinsBbury and viii
make illegal sales from blind pigs
holes in the walls and bootlegs diff
cult.
Cable and Laxson of Lincoln county
are responsible for two other meas
ures affecting the sale of liquors ir
local option localities The first o
these prohibits a druggist from filling
a prescription prescribing liquors a
second time, so that every time the
old soak goes to the drug store he
will be compelled to bring in a new
physicians prescription. The other
makes places where liquors are lille
gally sold common nuisances and
therefore abatable by injunction OF
other summary process
The sale of liquors within 800 feet
Of church or school or within one
third of mile of college Is also
reeted to enjoin such sales where at
tempted.
Limits Number OF Saloons.
One Of the important temperance
measures was introduced by See OF
Roberts and provides that not more
than one license to sell Intoxicating
liquors shall be granted for each 800
people, as shown by the last census
OF the community affected.
A memorial to congress also was
passed praying that no government
tax license be issued to sell liquors In
any locality where the sale Is prohib-
tied by law This is measure tenn
perance people have long desired, be-
cause It will completely outlaw the
traffic In local option communities
and, too. secure the cooperation of
Uncle Sam in running down and pun,
ishing offenders.
The educational code also contains
q provision for instruction In all OF
the schools Of the state relating to the
physiological effects of alcohol upon
the human system.
Finally, the sale of cigarettes and
tobacco to minors is absolutely pro-
hibited. The law upon the latter sub.
ject Is particularly drastic.
The only bill lost In which the tenn
perance people were unitedly favor
able was the anti-treating bill. This
passed the house and was lost by a
tie vote In the senate, with one mem
ber favorable to the bill absent. There
was a strong desire to give this propo-
sition a fair trial and great disap-
pointment at It's defeat under the cir
cumstances.
1t may be taken for granted that a
legislature enacting such laws was
composed Of men of clean lives per-
sonally This is true IN remarkable
degree. Practically the entire mem.
bership of both houses are not only
temperance men but teetotalers.
There is not to exceed one boozer in
the entire body and that one rarely
drinks to excess. The carousals
which have brought reproach upon
some sessions in consequence have
been entirely absent. Such legislators
naturally selected officers and en-
ployes of the same character and the
state has just cause for pride In the
morals of Its lawmakers.
Laws Affecting Good Morals.
The laws enacted affecting good
morals are as important as the tenn
perance measures and, too, are sug-
gestive of the views and temper OF
the members. They include:
Anti-gambling bills, of which there
are two The first makes the pro-
prietor of a place where gambling Is
permitted or any who participated in
the game liable to the loser for the
full sum of his losses.
The second makes the proprietor OF
a gamblinghouse and all who partici-
pated in the game liable to five times
the loss in an action begun by the
superintendent of schools for the ben
eft Of the school fund.
The Sunday closing act, which un-
der heavy penalties prohibits Sunday
theaters, Sunday baseball games and
other sports where admissions are
charged.
The age Of consent bill. making fe-
males incapable of giving legal con-
sent under eighteen years Of age.
The divorce act, requiring applicants
for divorce to have been resident OF
the state for one year before begin
ming action and that the action shall
be tried in open. court. An amend
ment was made to this bill In the
senate providing that where the cause
OF action arises In this state the di-
vorce proceedings may be begun after
six months residence. This, 1t is
feared, will lead to collusive divorces,
but the cases In which both parties
will remove to South Dakota to give
ground through collusion for a d.
vorce action must be- pretty rare.
This array of mo - laws is most
gratifying to that large majority of
the community who regard the decen-
cies Of life.
In Interest of Education.
The chief educational enactmentS
are embodied in the large educational
code, which undertakes to embrace all
of the laws of the state In one statute.
1t makes very few changes in existing
laws. Several important changes were