Sisseton Posten. [volume] (Effington, Sud Dakota [S.D.]) 1902-19??, 1907-03-29
WORK OF LEGISLATURE
(Continued.)
Temperance Legislation.

We have had legislatures which
have passed drastic prohibition laws,
state sale laws, high license laws and
In fact every legislature has been
dominated by desire to better condi-
tions relating to the liquor traffic, but
not before have We had body so
dominated by practicable temperance
views and out of no other session has
so many temperance enactments come.
The one OF these attracting most
attention, however, is not the volun-
tary contribution Of the legislature,
but comes out upon the mandate OF
the initiative for submission to the
people. This relates to county option
and was defeated upon final passage
when it was first in the house, which
fact induced the Anti-Saloon league to
invoke the constitutional initiative. II
may be said there is genuine differ
ence of opinion relating to the prac
ticability of this act among temper.
ance advocates.
Next to the county option bill the
most important proposition Is the act
empowering officers 20 make search
for and seize and destroy Illicit liq-
uors. This bill was fathered by Sen
ator Johnson Of Kingsbury and will
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 in
local option localities. The first of
these prohibits druggist from filing
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 or
other summary process.
The sale Of liquors within 300 feet
OF church or school or within one.
third OF a mile of college Is also
prohibited and the circuit courts di-
rected 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 grsrted 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 a 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 10 the
effects OF alcohol upon
the human system.
Finally, the sale Of cigarettes and
tobacco to minors is absolutely pro
The law upon the latter sub
ject is particularly drastic.
The only bill lost in which the TEN.
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
Der favorable to the bill absent There
was a strong desire 60 give this propo.
sition Il fair trial and great dsap
pointment at its defeat under the cir.
1t may be taken for granted that a
legislature enacting such laws was
Of men Of clean lives per-
sonally This is true in a 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 TEN.
perance measures and, too, are sug-
gestive OF the views and temper of
the members. They include:
Ahti-gambling bills, OF which there
are two. The first makes the pro-
prietor of 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
of schools for the ben
eft of the school fund.
The Sunday closing act, which un-
der heavy penalties prohibits Sunday
Lheaters. 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 a resident Of
the state for enc 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-
vorcc proceedings may be begun after
six months residence. This, it is
feared, will lead to collusive divorces,