Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-03-21
Remarkable Session Of South
Dakota Legislature Is
Concluded. .
PROBABLY 24O NEW LAWS
People Have Been Given What Was
Promised and Enactmcnts Have
Been Handled in a States
manlike Manner.

Pierre, >. d., March 1.-THE scenes
which marked the close of the tenth
biennial session of the South Dakota leg
islature today We're of a different order
from those of any previous session. The
work was completed twelve hours in ad-
vance of the constitutional limit and oc-
CURED in daylight. There was no long
drawn out contention over conference COM
mittee reports. There was no important
measure To die by limitation. and there
was no pledge made ~ the people left
unfuifilled.
This legislature has elected a United
States senator who was Endorsed by the
people and their representatives in con
Vention.
Come First Importance Laws.
1t has enacted a comprehensive primary
election law which is now effective and
If found impractical can be repealed with
out resorting to 4 constitutional amend
ment.
An anti-pass law is on the statute books:
likewise am a~nti-lobbying law, a law pro-
.ibiting corporations for profit from max
1nG contributions To political -eeH.!aittee- OF
candidates., n law requiring a record to
be Kept and filed of all campaign eX-
penSes.
Two and a half passenger rate
bill has become law. railways
must maintain connections at inter
secting points, must keep stations
IN commission except upon hearing be-
fore the railway commission and authority
being given to close. The railway COM
missioners are empowered to employ en-
pert accountants to investigate and de-
termine the true value of all railroad prop
erty in the state upon which a just and
equitable rate for both passengers and
freight may be promulgated and sus-
tanned.
A New Apportionment.
The legislative districts of the state have
been reapportioned in accordance with the
growing and changing needs of the state.
giving 14 representatives.
The educational law has been revised
and perfected. the institutions of the state
nave been cared for by appropriations
which Will sustain them and permit a rea-
degree of growth.
A divorce law has been passed to meet
the demand of those who are CRYING out
against permitting the misfits from other
states coming here and hanging their dirty
laundry in the front yards of the residents
of the state.
Provision has been made for the build
ing and completion of a capitol building
to cost 100000 without a direct appro-
priation from the treasury.
These are the important measures which
have crystalized Into enactment, and it
has been lone without friction. 1t has
been done without bitter contention and
Tor the most part without opposition of
any character.
About 240 New Laws.
Six hundred and thirty-three bills and
resolutions have been proposed: 1873 have
been filed with the secretary of state in
the form of approved laws. while tho
number yet in the hands of the governor
VIII Increase that number to at least 2l0.
DcrnanS fha la rYyaSt prOnnrt;D, - an 3
become laws at any session since state
mood as 1t Is the largest number Of bills
10 De onered at any one session.
The threat of radical railroad legisla-
tion which was manifested early IN the
session expended itself before the first
nait closed. and 1t Is the deliberate state
ment OF the representatives of the railroad
interests that of the eighteen states in
which the furore has been pronounced for
radical legislation South Dakota has ac-
Quilted Itself IN a way which ommen
the reasonableness Of her citizens and her
legislators. All of the railroad legislation
tnat was asked for by the people has
peeh reaiiEed and more, yet the railroads
are not crippled nor hindered, while the
people have the adjustments and ~yestric-
Mons and regulations asked for.
Both houses practically cleared all bust.
ness yesterday afternoon leaving only n
rev bills to dispose of in either house this
morning. Tho senate held a night session
at which no real business was transacted.
In S~iaushterins Mood.
Both houses were IN a slaughterine
MOOD yesterday. The senate killed house
bills to appropriate money for a building
at the school for the deaf and dumb at
Sioux Falls; attaching certain u~norganized
counties to organized counties for Judi
cial purposes; to apprOpria; Re money to
pay for horses killed by the authorities on
account of glanders: to require school dis
tricts to furnish the bonds of their treas
urer; senate bills for boiler inspection. and
to appropriate money for a telephone in
spector.
Inc house slaughtered the senate bills
to provide a specific tax levy for educa-
tional institutions; to apply the Carey act
to this state; to limit the foreclosure OF a
mortgage to tf0ben years. and allowing
trolley lines the right of way on high
ways.
No Lotteries at Church Fairs.
Pierre, 5. D.. March 1.-THE divorce
bill passed the house without amend
q day to ~5eopardize it.. There were
votes against it. including
the four members who are attorneys.
me term OF residence is made one
year, except where both parties appear
and agree to h separation.
Ahe house antl.gamOltng Dill passed
the senate with slight amendment and
prohibits bets and wagers as well as
gambling with cards, and will cut out
lotteries at church fairs.
The general appropriation bill passed
the house with a raise Of SO. 900 over
the senate and will be adjusted by a
conference committee,
n appOrtionment bill has passed
bOth houses n raises the number Of
representatives. to lO4.