Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-06-14

n,aans in some of it's provisions peiore
the first general election is heio VIII
q tickle to be voted for selected uhuei
the provisions. One Of the provisions
which will open the way for endless
utigation Is that which limits petitions
for county or legislative othces % ~
less tina 3 per cent nor iiore ' nc.
8 per cent of the voters Oh u 49,
of the petitioner, as shown at the ias'
ara,,ious election. The candidate starts
ont with his petition, and sone OF ms
tr,ands get out with another, and un-
less they are very careful they Will
1rd themselves with a petition carry
i,o too many names. Then the queS-
ton Of their right to strike off Will De
raised as lust as vital as their rlgh'
to add on. and a petition when goes
over the limit is placed where lts Va
,iditv can be attacked; and some othef
aspirant will not hesitate to raise inc
poinr If he sees the way open 10 snut
a rival off the tickle by raising the
point. Every signature on q petl.oii
must be written with INK or ltdeiioie
pencil, and the date of the signature
added as a part of 1t. NO one may
sign more than one petition Tor any
office to be filled; and no signature
shall be legal if it was placed upon d
petition more than three months prior
70 the time of the primary electloh,
The 5 per cent limitation does not ap-
ply to candidates for state once, the
limitation placed upon them peiHs
not less than 1 per cent nor more IMAM
s per cent of the voters of their par
ty as shown at the last preceding e'ec-
ton. The three month limitation aP-
plies to candidates for state oHlces az
we'll as to local officers. Some OF the
candidates for state office are expect
ing to get into the field with their petit
tons his year yet, doubtless having
overlooked the provision of h law
which limits the life of the signatures
on their petitions to not more than
30 days before the date of the pr1-
mary election.
Since his return to office from his
trip to California, Attorney General
Clark has been busy shaping up mat
tiers which have been submitted TO
him, and among others has taken UP
several of public interest. Among
these is one which is a%gitating prop
erty owners in many Of the towns, in
WHICH lie" ""ihS - VA
ed. The disputed point is to whom
should be taxed the cost of putting in
the square walk at the corner Of a
lot. Property owners in many cases
claiming that it should be put in al
public Expense instead of the expense
of the owner of the property. The
holding on this is that under the pro
visions of the sidewalk statute, the
assessment is to be made to adjoining
property, and the corner is held to be
adjoining property, and the walk
properly aSsessable to the property.
Another inquiry passed upon is in re-
gard to the saloon license law OF the
last session which limits saloons in
towns of less than 1000 Inhabitants
law itself allows a small town
two saloons, but requires a population
Of 800 or major fraction for any great
err number. This is held by the attor-
ney general to mean that three saloons
is the limit allowed to any town under
1 1000 population-one for each SOC
population up to 900, leaving no,
enough for another saloon. After the
town passes the 1000 population
mark, the limitation is removed.
The position of agent at Cheyenne
river Indian reservation appears to be
going begging. Major Downs. an army
officer, has been in charge for more
than a year, and the selection Of a civil
agent has been delayed on account OF
numerous matters which were pend
ing. The only open applicant appear
to be c. w. Rastall, the present clerk
at the agency h has had many
years actual experience in the Indiar
- 100 - xo{sfs~- Sr,
by a majority of the male adult In.
dams on the reservation for the place
For a number of years there has beer
an Indian camp several miles up Ba6
river, where a group of reds under the
leadership of Prairie Chicken tool
their allotments. These Indians, nov
that white settlement is crowding ir
on them desire to surrender their al.
llotments and take new ones north OF
Cheyenne river among the many In.
dians who have taken allotments ir
that reservation. They have made ap-
plication to the agent for such 6
change, and it will likely be granted
to them.
The new law of the last session
which attempted to continue the free
range unless wiped out b va vote OF
the people Of the county affected, is
held to be unconstitutional, in the
opinion of the attorney general. In 9
recent suit before the court an at
tempt was made to raise the constitu-
tionality of range laws, but as it was
not necessary for the court to decide
that point in the particular case, il
vas not settled.
Gov. Crawford has appointed G.. w.
Collins, of Vermillion, for a six-year
term as a member of the state board
of dental examiners, and appointed J.
G. McCartner, of Mitchell, to the same
board to fill the caused by
the revoking of the certificate of Lar
son..
Attorney General Clark holds that
nnder the law regulating the %expendi-
ture of public moneys IL would be inn
possible to insure any of the state
buildings in mutual companies. Hold
ing in effect that as the policyholders
in mutual companies are all liable for
losses of the company, the state can
not enter into n make a contract.
This is in response to inquiries from
the board of charities and corrections
in regard to insurance in mutual
companies.
The scene On the river front at the
foot of Pierre street the other norm