The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-01-17

Plerre ii. Inc SecOnu week Is
always a reactionary one about legisla-
lures. The excitement of organization
is over and a period of delay comes
while waiting for committees to get to
work. The introduction OF new bills
j IS about the only business that come
in matter of course way. Ordinarily
every one knows what the principal
bills are to be. The sessions therefore
are short and uneventful. The visi-
tors who thronged the hotels for the
opening are gone, and few new ones
will come until action upon important
measures draw new crowd.
Aside from the ever present railroad
lobby there are several other special
in terests being closely watched by the
regularly employed lobby representa-
tives. There is the Temperance lobby
headed by Rev. j. II. Close, Of Aurora
county, assisted by Mrs. Pickler, Mrs.
Ramsey and Mrs Johnson on behalf
of the w. C. T. L. and opposed to
them is the liquor dealers lobby with
j. NJ. Breen assisted by Herman
Hildebrant OF Watertown, and Mr..
II. II. Horner as legislative counsel.
The Real Estate men have here
Judge Cummings of Highmore, and
some of the local real estate dealers
promoting the immigration Commits
sionor bill, and the sportsmen are
represented by O. j. Straw OF Sioux
Falls, and Len V. Doty of Doland.
The first bill brUught in very large
grist of bills-36 in number. Most of
the platform or administration bills
were in the bunch among them the
primary election, anti-pass and anti
lobby bills. There were in the NAM
ber IL bills directed at railroad
interests and the second day brought
two more of the same character.
Manifestly the railroad regulation
spirit is dominant here. Besides the
anti-pass and anti-lubby bills there
were bills compelling close connec-
tions at junction points; for reciprocal
demurrage, requiring companies to
build draiSs in certain cases; for two
cent fares; fellow servant liability,
repeating the law giving railroads
exemptions for liability for injuries to
passengers who are standing on car
platforms and prohibiting them from
limiting their common law liabilities
by contract; also increasing the powers
of the state board of equalization in
assessing railway property.
School book legislation is also like
ly to cut pretty large figure. Senate
Bill 3, introduced by Senator Goodsell
provides for uniform text books with
free text books option to districts and
providing for state publication in the
event the controlling text books COM
panies refuse to sell adopted books at
the schedule price to be fixed by a
board of six to be appointed by the
governor. Senator Dowdell is also
preparing a bill based upon the
Indiana law for the state publication
OF full outfit of text books.
One of the most important PROPOSE
tions which will be considered is
Senator Jenkins resolution to amen
the state constitution cutting out the
provision which requires all property
to be assessed at its value in cash and
substituting that all property of the
same class shall be assessed uniform
ly; also providing for inheritance and
income taxes. His amendment is
drawn in the language OF the recent
Minnesota amendment.
The proposition advanced by Gov.
ElrOd for the return of the North
Carolina fund is creating some interest
and the sentiment seems to favor
action upon the line indicated. Sena-
tor Dillon has taken up the matter
and has introduced bills upon the
subject; first for the return OF the
money and then for the repeal OF the
act empowering the governor to accept
the gift.
The first appointment made by
Governor Crawford. That OF E. G.
Ericsson OF Elk Point to be regent OF
education gives the utmost satisfac-
ton. Mr.. Ericsson is respected by
everyone and thought by all to be the
best man for the place. The governor
will have difficulty in living up to the
pace he has set il Ericsson is to be the
! model for positions.