Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-03-04
DUR PIERRE LETTER

Bills. Senator Scroees' Oil Bill.
The Woman's Suffrage Res
olution and Prof. Han
sons Discoveries
in Siberia.
just as boys who play when they
sht u'd study have to sit In after school,
80 the legislature is getting 1t back for
dilly dallyiag too long before 1t got
down robustness. One day tie house
held three sessions trying to catch up
With the calendar. The senate too has
had longer sittings than usual 10 order
TO avoid congestion at the close. The
result has been satisfactory, at least
from the standpoint OF quantity, and
those who purchase the session laws Of
1909, which are to be ready by the Goth
Of March, are pretty sure to get the
worth OF their money. Several OF the
bills that were "lining up" In confer
ance committees that failed to agree
have at Last been taken down and re-
shaped into laws. The anti.treat bill
was fixed so as to put the penalty upon
the person treating and not upon tie
saloonkeeper that hands out the stuff.
The interest on state warrants was
dxed at six per cent, with provision
that the treasurer shall take hp small
Warrants and issue refunding warrau's
In larger amounts at lower rates ss Oft
90 as necessary. The inebriate ssylum
bill is still up in the air. The friends OF
the Highmore bill dare not put 1t to Q
vote In the house, but are trying to
patch up the house bill In the senate
md make II something 'just a. good"
1t has been shown that the lawyers
are not able to dictate to the farmers
on this legislature. This was demon.
strated by the passage OF Senator Nor
beck's bill changing the number OF
challenges in jury trials. The old law
gave the prosecution six challenges
10 criminal trials to twenty for the
defense. The new law is an even
break, twenty to side. Every law
yer in the legislature, except Wyman
OF Yankton, opposed it, but still 1t
grew into law. The same can be said
OF the law to summon Jurors by mail,
which was opposed On the ground that
IL would cut the fees Of sheriffs. This
argument did not appeal to the farm.
ers and they passed the bill. The ex-
press bill reducing charges 20 per cent
has passed both houses. A bill reduc-
Ing freight rates within the state to
the same basis as Interstate rates
passed the house Saturday. Another,
prohibiting inter-marriage Of the
blacks and whites, is also on the way
TO the senate.
The special appropriation bills came
out in the open during the past week.
Redfeld wanted, $50, 900 for new build
ings. This was voted down, but later
bobbed up, pared down to $35, ,0OO,
which passed. Vermillion then slid
through with $4,000 for . new
heating plant, which is badly needed
at that institution. It is presumed
that all appropriation bills that man
age to squeeze through the house are
sure to pass in the senate. Peters0n's
o6o00 appropriation to manufacture se-
rum for the prevention OF hog chol-
ora had the easiest road OF all az 1t
hurried through The house.
The Dillon bills to reduce legislative
expenses, passed the house on Friday
md are ready for the the governors
signature. They provide for q great
reduction In legislative expenses BY
cutting of useless clerk hire, hand.
written bills and other time worn
methods. Our neighboring statei
have adopted up-to-date methods "a
conducting legislation and it is time
we followed.
VI Senator Scroggs has been working
u on his oil bill and tie indications are
that 1t will pass before the close Of the
session. The Union county member,
have done good team work this session
and kept close watch Of everything
they went after ard consequently hsv.
been able to pass most OF their bills.
The surprise Of the session came las
Thursday when the house turned
clean somersault and passed the wo
mans suffrage resolution. Englest,
had noticed that some Of the ps ,rs wsr
kicking because the house had turne
down . petition signed BY 1900 citi.
zens, and demanded An inves tigatio
This was agreed to. On the spur q
the moment Fitch walked up to th
Clerks desk and hled said petitior
1t happened that there WAS : rssolr