The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-03-07

IFVHFtDtVkA 49,
After many plays OF many kinds,
the passenger rate question has been
settled, so far as the houee Is con-
cerned, In a manner which ought to be
satisfactory to all parties concerned.
The Carroll 2-cent rate bill, with its
mileage book and other provisions,
after being dug out of the grave was
again consigned. SO far as any part of
the bill is concerned, the intreducer
moving to amend by striking out all
after the enacting clause and insert
ing in its stead re-enactment Of the
present railroad laws Of the state,
with the change that the railroad
commissioners can make a maximum
rate of not to exceed two and half
cents a mile, instead of the present
three-cent provision I'm that law. The
change was generally discussed, Glass,
who has been one Of the most strenu-
Gus advocates of the old bill when IL
was out for action, explaining the
change as having been made because
the United States supreme court has
held that when legislators begin to
deal in mileage books they are out Of
their DEGREES. Brown said the bill
was getting down to business and he
could not support 1t, although It did
contain the same enacting clause
which was In the original bill. Price,
Hare and others approved the provi-
sions of the bill, although Price
thought his own bill to be better. The
anal vote showed every member of the
house to be in favor Of the measure.
And there is no reason why they
should not be. 1t allows the rate re-
formers to save their faces and
there is no Immediate need Of the rail-
roads worrying, as bill is now. under
consideration allowing the railroad
commission to employ expert assist
ants and ascertain the actual values of
all the railroads i'm the state as a basis
upon which to fix charges under the
laws already in existence, and which
were slightly amended by the bill just
passed. 1t Is estimated that ii will
take over year to carry out this in
vestigation, and in the meantime there
will be no effort on the part of the
commission to act until they have the
data they require, so the railroads
cannot find any great amount of fault
with It,
Frank Stewart has returned from
his Washington trip, where with a
number of other western cattlemen he
appeared before the committee on ag-
riculture in regard to leasing propo-
sion for government lands. The plan
now outlined is to allow leases in
tracts large enough to provide pastur-
age, with the homesteader privileged
to take up the land at any time. He
may go inside the pasture If he choos-
es, but in that case he must fence his
quarter section but is given the right
to run a certain specified number CT
cattle and horses in the pasture at
large, without any cost to himself.
The plan is proposed for the entire
grazing west, and while it will apply
to South Dakota, 1t cannot affect any
thing in this part OF the state, as it is
too closely homesteaded to allow for
any government leases on tracts large
enough to be of any benefit to the par
les leasing.
Saturday night the Scandinavian Of
icials and employees at the state house
with the members and clerks of that
nationality, gathered at the Capitol
cafe and enjoyed a banquet in which
the toasts were responded to in the
native language, where the party was
yet well enough acquainted with 1t to
make his talk. John F. Erickson, pri-
vate secretary of the governor made
the opening address, and also acted rs
toastmaster Speeches were made by
o. J. P. Sugstrum, o. w. Matson,
Chris Olson, r. III. Storgaard, c. Swan
son, ]. +. Larson. G. G. Bratrud and
II. A. Ustrud. Hon. A. ]. Norby, OF
Sisseton, the newly appointed member
Of the board of regents of education,
was present and made a happy little
speech over the occasion About forty
were present and all report a thor
ough enjoyment of the occasion.
The words Of warning uttered By
Hon. Dick Lyons, of Vermillion, re.
garding the condition of last years
corn crop for seed, and published In
the shape Of an interview some weeks
ago, are bearing fruit. At first many
farmers who thought their last years
crop was A No. 1 took the words ot
Mr.. Lyon lightly. However, the mat.
ter has been pretty thoroughly dis
cussed, and as a result even the farm
ers who were sure they had a first
class quality of seed corn are having
1t tested and In every case the test has
substantiated the claim Of Mr.. Lyon.
The farmers of South Dakota will,
through this agitation started by the
little talk of Mr.. Lyon, be many thou.
-
,orn crop.