The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-03-19
NEW STATE LAWS.
Many Measures Passed by the Recent
State Legislature.

Many Measures Passed by the Recent
State Legislature.
The record of the work Of the leg
islature just adjourned shows that
it passed $50 bills and joint resolu-
tions. as compared to 745 introduced
the measures introduced including
many of a reform" or progressive
character.
The laws of a general nature in
clude the guaranty of bank deposits,
the juvenile court system in use in
Colorado, board to deposit state
funds with banks, and pay the state
the interest received, increase of the
supreme court from three to five
judges, requiring suits for libel to
be brought in the county where the
newspaper is published, fixing the
pay Of states attorneys and county
auditors; an amendment giving the
legislature power to assess the in
come of corporations and establish
an Inheritance tax, and twenty
per cent reduction of freight rates.
The bank guaranty law permits
the formation of voluntary associ-
alton of not less than 100 banks,
with capitol of not less than $4,000
each Of which shall pay tax of one
mill on deposits to create a fund
from which the depositors OF any
bank member that fails.
The state has tried ever since
OF Jnh ho
from taking interest on state funds,
but not until now has it been ac-
complished by taking the selection
of repositories out of his hands and
putting it in the hands OF board
which shall see to the collection of
the interest. The treasurer is al
lowed $4,000 for his 100000 bond,
in addition to a salary Of $500.
Originally the county commission
ers of the state were nominated and
elected by districts, but the law was
changed to provide for their nomin-
alton by districts and election by the
county. The supreme court held
they must be nominated by counties
under that law so at this session the
law was changed to provide for nom
ination and election by districts.
The law of South Dakota has CIV
en- commissioners power to fix the
salaries of states attorneys and
county auditors. The supreme court
Of North Dakota has held that a
similar law is unconstitutional, the
constitution there as in this state
saying the legislature shall fix such
salaries, and the same question is in
the supreme court Of this state. For
this reason and because in some
counties the commissioners used
their control of the salaries to coerce
the attorney or auditor, as In Ly-
man county, where States Attorney
Bartine's salary was reduced to
$500 because he insisted on prose-
cutting cattle rustlers, the legislature
fixed salaries of these officers for
every county in the state. In Min
nehaha the state attorneys pay was
increased from $500 to $500 and
the auditors left as now.
The Morris tax amendment was
submitted to vote, because a mum
Der Of corporations, such as the ex
press, insurance and telephone com
panies cannot be reached under thx
present constitution, which require!
the same basis of assessment for al
kinds of property.
OF the measures affecting specfa
interests, those relating to the rail
roads make the longest list and ar
as follows:
Fixing two-cent fare; requirin
electric headlights OF 1900 candl
power on all locomotives; limitin
the assumption of risk by all rail
c road employees; permitting city cour
ellis to order viaducts over railroad
e on approval by railroad commission
lers; requiring toilet rooms ut a