Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1908-04-30
PUT TO SLEEP
Many nerltsrIous Measures Never saw
Light OF Day After Reference TO Com
miltees In the 1907 Legislature

To illustrate how utterly devoio
of argument Is the Crawford machlne
when it attempts to point out any
specific charge against Senator hitt-
redge, we publish the following from
the Crawford machine bureau:
"kittredqe's Record No. Fl. the
1905 assembly of South Dakota was
essentially A. B. Kttredge's leglsia-
ture That this is true Is indicated
abundantly by the fact that he sue
ceeded in controlling it in behalf OF
the railroads. Every measure TO
which the railroad lobby Of which he
was head, was opposed, was defeated
by that body.
That Mr.. e. G. Kennedy, later
favored by federal appointment by
Mr.. Kittredge. and now selected as
his political manager. was made
chairman of the senate committee on
railroads, no doubt was altogether to
the liking OF Mr.. Kittredge.
| For, the 1895 senate committee on
railroads acted very much like rail-
road organization.
Witness. for example, the fate of
senate bill No. 296. 1t was introduced
in the senate February IL. 1895, "a
bill for an act to regulate freight
charges upon railroads" According
to the 1896 senate journal, page COB,
this was referred to the committee
on railroads, on the same day.
Not once again during all that ses-
sion was this bill mentioned. Never
| was it allowed to get out Of the COM
| mittee on railroads. Mr.. Kennedy
guarded the door faithfully for Mr..
Kittredge and others of the railroad
lobby. No such measure could pass
that senate. For it was altogether
too inconsiderate to the railroads to
allow the people to have anything to
say about the rates they should be
charged for the carrying of freight"
In the first place Senator Kittredge
was not member of the legislature
of 1895 and, further, he was not in
Pierre. He could not have controlled
the legislature had he been there for
it was composed of good men, among
whom were Joseph Hebal of Deuel.;
n. d. Wheelock of Codington; W.. E.
Eye of telephone fame; r. e. Dow
dell, and that patron saint of refor-
mers and successor to all right and
title to the interest of Col. Parker in
his Washington Estate, Wilbur S.
Glass of Watertown.
But why go back into the dark
ages in search of bills suppressed by
committees? Gov. Crawford calls the
the legislature of 1897 my Legs.
lature" and he points to it with pride
Let us for moment look at the SEN
ate journal for 1907:
Senate Bills. A bill for an act
making all persons, partnerships or
telegraph or express business, or
either, or any, or all OF said bust
ness, common carriers, and placing
sale companies under the control and
management of the board of railroad
commissioners. Referred to COM
mittee on railroads. Never was it
allowed to get out of the committee
on railroads. (See Senate Journal,
1907, p. 147)
Senate Bill No. 10. A bill for an
act, entitled an act, relating to the
liability of common carriers engaged
i'll commerce in the state of South
Dakota, to their employees. Referred
to committee on railroads. Never
was 1t allowed to get out of the COM
mittee on railroads" (See Senate
'o srnat. 1877 si;; p p l4so ~, CO.. - 49,
repeating Sec. 522 of the Civil Code,
exempting railroad corporations from
liability for injuries to passengers in
certain cases. Referred to committee
on railroads. Never was it allowed
to get out of the committee on rail-
roads" (See Senate Journal 1907, p.
148.)
authorizing cities to own and operate
telephone systems. Referred to COM
mittee on cities and municipal cor
pOrations. Not once again during
all that session was this bill mention
ed tSee Senate Journal, 1907, p.
Senate Sill 80. A bill for an act to
prevent the adulteration and decer
ton In the sale Of white lead and
mittee on state affairs. Not once
again during all that session was this
bill mentioned" (See Senate Journal
1907, d 1881
senate BiiI as. A bill for an act re-
QUiring railroads In the state of
South Dakota to maintain telephones
81 eysry pe ASS ga q and s dregn sta
Referred to committee on state az
fairs. Not once again during all
that session was this bill mentioned"
cSee Senate Journal, 1907, p. 164.
Senate Bill IS. A bin for an act to
amend Section 468, Chapter z Of the
Political Code, Revised Code Of 1903,
giving the railroad commissioners
power to require railway companies
to connect tracks ct intersection
points. Referred to the committee on
railroads. Never was 1t allowed to
get out Of the committee on rail
reads" (see Senate Journal. 1907,
sena4e BIIi 5s. "A bill for an act
defining the liability Of persons, COM
panies or corporations engaged in,
transportation Of persons or property
for ire set or caused by an engine
owned or operated within the state.
Referred to the committee on Judi
ciaTy. Not once again during all
that session was that bill mentioned"
(See Senate Journal, 1907, b. 1861
Senate Bill So. A bill for an act
TO require the computation On all
rough sawed or planned lumber,