Eureka post. (Eureka, McPherson Co., S.D.) 18??-19??, 1907-01-18
Letter From Pierre.

The excitement of organization owe
and period of delay comes while wait
ing for committees TO get to work. Th,
introducGions of new bills is about tn,
only business. They come iu matter
OF course way. Ordinarily every on,
knows what the principle bills are to be
The sessions therefore are short and un.
eventfnl. The visitors who throngeC
the hotels for the opening are gone
aud few new ones will come until action
upon important measures draws new
crowd
Aside from the ever present railroad
lobby there are several other special in
terests being closely watched by regular
ly emp!syed lobby representative
There is thesTemperance lobby headed
by Rev. J. II. Close of Aurora county,
assisted by Mrs. PIckler, Mrs Ramsey
and Mrs. SJohnson on behalf of the w.
G. L. U. and opposed to them is the
Liquor Dealers lobby with j. M. Breen
at the head Of it assisted by Herman A.
Hildebrandt of Watertown and Mr.. H..
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 Commioner bill, and
the sportsmen are represented by o. j.
Straw Of Sioux Falls and Len V. Doty
of Doland.
The first bill day brought in a very
large grist of bills; 36 In all. 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 number
IL bills directed at railroad interests
and the second day brought two more
of the same character. Manifestly the
railroad regulation spirit is dominent
here. Besides the anti.pass and anti
lobby bills there were bills compelling
close connections at junction points; for
reciprocal demurrage, requiring com
panies 10 build drains in certain cases.
for two cent fares; fellow servant liabil
ity, repeating the law giving railroads
exemptions for liability for injuries to
passengers who are standing on car plat
forms and prohibiting them from limit
ing their common law liabilities by con-
tract al.o increasing the powers of the
state board of equalization in assessing
railway property.
School book legislation is also likely
to cut a pretty large figure. Senate
bill 3, introduced by Senator Goodsell
provides for uniform text book option
to districts and providing for state pubs
licatiou in the event the controlling text
book companies refuse to sell adopte d
books at the schedule price TO be fixed
by a board of six to be appointed by the
governor. Senator Dowdell is also pre-
pairing bill based upon the Indian law
for the state publication of full outfit
of text books.
One Of the most important PROPOSE
tions which Will be considered is Sena-
tor Jenkins resolution TO amend the
state constitution cutting out the pro-
vision which requires all property TO be
assessed at It's value in cash and sub
stItuling that all property Of the same
class shall be assessed uniformly, also
providing for inheritance and income
taxes. His amendment is drawn in the
language of the recent Minnesota amend
ment,
The proposition advanced by Gov.
Elrod for the return of the North Caro-
lima boLd fund is creating some interest
and the sentiment seems TO favor action
upor the line indicated, Senator Dillon
has taken up the matter and has intro.
duced bills upon the subjects 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 Gov,
Crawford, that of Mr.. Z. g. Erickson of
Elkpoint to be regent of education gives
the utmost satisfaction. Mr.. Ericsson is
respected by every one and thought byall
to be the best man In the state for the
place. The governor will have difficulty
in living up to the pace he has set if
Ericsson is to be the model for positions.
Harry Austin Robinson.