The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-01-28
THE LEGISLATURE.

the case, the South Dakota Legislature
will know after its siv-day recess.
ending Wednesday,, about what Will
be the subject matters of its work and,
in general way. what the more impor-
tant legislation will be. 1t can now be
said that the remainder of the session
will be occupied particularly with consid-
Grafton of the following proposed meas
ures:
Guaranty of bank deposits: increase Of
the membership OF the supreme court to
five: pure drug and food b1lls' permanent
tax commission.
At least three u these four will become
laws. it being doubtful whether the press
ent legislature will reach the passage of
The tax commission dill urged especially
in the farewell message of Governor
Crawford.
The socalled administration bill for vol
untary Insurance of bank deposits will be
passed, with minor amendments. This is
In the hands of Byrne in the senate and
Isenhuth in the house. Senator Arneson, of
Hamlin, has a compulsory guaranty bll
and the committee measures Will he the
product of these two bills. In the main the
expected law will be that provided in the
administration bill, which permits the vol
untary formation Of an association. rep
resenting combined capital stock of not
less than $500,000 through which the banks
may pay an annual tax of one mill on
their deposits, to constitute fund by
which to insure the deposits. The meas
ure is preferred by bankers because it
does not force guaranty upon the banks
and it is maintained that self interest Will
draw into the association banks whose af-
fairs are we'll enough administered TO give
them the opportunity.
There seems no question about the IN
crease in the number of supreme court
judges With a single exception, due to
politics. every attorney in the legislature
is said to favor the bill Farmer members.
1who might he expected to object ON the
a ground of economy are for it. because
nearly every one of them knows of some
instance of justice delayed three or -four
years by the inability of the court to
come anywhere near keeping up with the
calendar. The five districts will be it
seems. practically as provided in the Nor
4 ris bill. one north and south across the
Nest end of the state and the other four
phrellel strips running cast and west.
Dairy and Food Commissioner Wheaton
has both pure food and pure drug bill.
The grocers take vigorous exception to the
food measure and the druggists to the
other Sentiment seems overwhelming in
favor of adopting the national food and
drugs act, which would be acceptable to
both srocers and druggists
. The need of tax reform is recognized.
but the disposition is to regard 1t so large
q subject that 1T may not be possible to
decide at this time upon commission.
Opinion is, for the most part. with Gov
ernor Crawford and it is freely predicted
permanent commission will be created
either at this session or the next. But
the desire to act advisedly in the matter.
together with the economical spirit in
which the cost of the commission would
be considered, make it uncertain whether
final action can be reached at this session.
An interesting situation is found in the
insurance interests. All insurance men
were asked to meet with Commissioner
Basford several weeks ago and second
meeting at Aberdeen two weeks ago final
ly considered and agreed upon desired
legislation. The fire insurance people and
the commissioner have come to an agree
ment The life insurance agents are di-
vided Some of them want changes in the
laws, particularly that taxing gross pre-
1niuns 2 per cent, and they have been
trying to work with the commissioner
though he does not approve of that
change. The other camp of life Insurance
men has refused to take part in any leg
islative campaign, but have Joined in al
attempt to prevent the reappointment o1
Commissioner Rasford. In view of this
division there is no prospect of much con
sideration of legislation relating to life
insurance.