Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-08
The Legislative record.


The Sioux Falls Press OF Wednesday
speaking of the work Of the legisla-
ture and OF the important laws passed
The Legislature that will adjourn on
Friday Of the current week has enact
ed more wholesome laws than were
produced by any legislature Of
the state or territory possibly more
than by all the legislatures OF the
past.
1t has been faithful to It's pledges.
1t has fulfilled every command OF the
party conventions behind IT.. 1t has
resisted the wiles of the interests. II
has made laws for the general good OF
the people. When it closes it's SEES
sion, 1t will have fulfilled every
pledge.
The convention OF the dominating
party, amply sustained by the conven-
tion Of the lesser party, demanded :
A comprehensive and practical
primary election law.
A law prohibiting the issuance
or acceptance Of free railroad
passes, or telephone. express or
telegraph franks.
A law to regulate the legisla-
tive lobby.
A law prohibiting corporations
from making contributions to
political campaign funds.
A law to require q record OF
political campaign contributions
and their disbursements.
A law for the elimination OF
public service corporations from
politics.
The legislature Of which these de
mands were made has enacted the fol
lowing laws and the governor has ap
proved them.
For a primary election system.
For the prohibition OF the free
railroad pass and the issuance Of
franks by telegraph, telephone
and express companies.
For the regulation and restric-
tion OF the legislative lobby.
Prohibiting corporations from
contributing money for political
purposes.
Requiring an accounting OF cam
paign funds.
Providing for the reduction Of
railroad passenger fare to q cents
per mile.
For reciprocal demurrage.
To compel track connections at
junction points and joint traffic
arrangements.
For the protection Of railroad
employees fellow servant act.
TO limit the hours of service OF
railroad employees.
To control commercial trusts
and prevent them from destroy
ing the business OF weaker con-
Germs.
To protect weak railroad enter
prises from the encroachmentS OF
the strong allied corporations.
For the supervision OF tele-
graph, telephone. express and in
surance companies.
"A bill providing for the equitable
assessment OF railroad property 70
taxation purposes is nearing its fina
passage and will be enacted before tht
legislature adjourns. Under the infu
ence Of a progressive administration
the railroad commission has ordered
freight rate reductions that vii
amount to 10 per cent on some Of tn,
classes.
The legislative and executive de
partments Of the state government
have complied with every demand o.
the people, ~emunciated through tn,
platforms Of the parties.
They have demonstrated that a plat
form is something more than a mean.
ingless assortment OF words anC
phrases.
They have given to the state laws
that could have never been secured
under the old corrupt political man.
agement that eve now refuses to &C
cept the reforms Of progressive repub
licanism.
These achievements are sufficient Il
commend the legislative and execu
tive departments Of the government,
to the support and protection Of the
public, for South Dakota will never
be able to secure a more faithful bod.
of public servants.
The popular demands have been ap
peased and no wrong has been intlict
ed on the corporations and persons
brought under statutory control.