Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-03-21
LAWMAKERS EVEN SURPASSED
PROMISES GIVEN PRIOR
TO ELECTION.
REVIEW OF BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHED
RESULTS SHOW THE RAILROADS
CAME in FOR NO LITTLE
ATTENTION.

Pierre, March 1.-THE tenth ses.
sion OF the South Dakota legislature
has lived its allotted span and dis
solved. Its record is now before us.
Ii Was chosen as Republican, reform
body ana came TO Pierre with certain
definite pledges to enact certain laws
as provided i'll the state Republican
platform last June. Ii may be said at
the outset that all of those promises
have been redeemed and that the leg
islatnre has even exceeded it's express
commission in the matter Of reform
legislation. While all Of the acts do
not readily classify the leading ones
readily fall into well defined classes.
Beginning with political enactments
We have as first OF these primary
election law, which Is believed to em-
BODY the best features OF all primary
laws previously enacted, and has in
addition some original provisions
thought to be In advance of those in
other states. 1t is comprehensive in
scope and provides for the nomina-
ton by primary ballot of all candi
dates for every elective Office from the
most insignificant place to governor,
congressman and United States SEN
stors. 1t provides for the election OF
delegates to county and state conven-
lions for the purpose OF perfecting
party organization and platform max
ing and in the event the leading can
didare has not received 80 per cent Of
the whole vote cast at the primary
then the convention dominates a can
didate for that Office from the candi-
dates receiving the best support at the
polls.
Drastic Corrupt Practices Act.
Naturally following upon this law IL
a drastic corrupt practices act. pre-
scribing severe penalties for corrupt
ing or attempting to corrupt voters
and requiring all moneys raised for.
campaign purposes to be paid out upon
regular vouchers, full record to be
preserved and made public and that
every candidate and party committee
man shall Immediately after election
file for public inspection complete
and detailed statement of all political
money received and disbursed by him.
A third act prohibits corporations
from making contributions for cam
paign purposes, SO that, SO far as it
is possible for the statutes to do so,
corrupt practices will hereafter be ex.
cluded from South Dakota politics
Following closely upon the foregO-
Ing and in the same general interest
is the antilobby bill. which prohibits
any representative Of a corporation or
any other persons whose financial in
terests are affected thereby to solicit
any member Of the legislature to sup
port any bill pending before the body
All representatives Of corporations or
special interests are required to reg
lister, after which they may appear be-
fore any committee, make public ad-
dresses and use the newspapers to ad-
vance the interests Of his bill. A state
0ficer may appeal without registering
for support for his department. but
may not attempt to secure the ad-
vancement Of his own compensation
This Is an emergency act which went
into effect about the middle OF the
session and its operation has undouht
edly secured the members from good
deal Of annoying Importantly.
Provisions Of Anti-Pass Bill.
The anti-pass bill is another plat
form measure which may be properly
classified with the political enact
ments. II absolutely prohibits, under
drastic penalties. the giving or asking
for railroad, telegraph or telephone
passes except to cert ain exempted per-
sous. These exemptions are railroad
employees in good faith and their fam
lilies; ministers OF religion and persons
exclusively engaged in charitable
work; veteran soldiers going TO or re-
turning from Soldiers homes; rail-
road physicians and railroad attorneys
who are On the payroll OF the company
snd receive at least $500 per year as
. salary from the company; caretak-
phone and telegraph companies. All
OF these exempted classes are prOhib-
tied If they are public officers. For in
stance, railroad conductor who Is
member 0f the city council would be
excluded from the. free pass privilege.
The bill makes no mention Of newspa-
per advertising contracts and that
matter will have to be determined by
the courts. An attempt was made to
exempt these contracts expressly from
the law. but the senate refused 10 ac-