The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-01-20
.SOLONS AT WORK
THE GOVERNORS SUGGESTION
ON CONVICT LABOR PAY
VIEWED FAvORAsLY
PRIMARIES AND ELECTION
SiRelow's Bill Combines Primary and
Election, Holding Both at the
Same Time, Changing
Form Of Ballot

That the present session or the
legislature will give serious cOn'ide r.
alton to the question OF psy ns en-
victs for their labor, is certain. Gov
eruor Nessev's Suggestions long that
line have been commented Upon very
I|avorably. and it is pro- able that tn
Board OF Charities and Corrections
will be autlo lied to carry them out.
Thee are TWO vital reasons for the
necessity for a.ch legislation. The
first is that con lets are frequently
released from the p~tnittnt.ahy, p,ac-
ideally penniless. they not only can
not rea h their homes without state
aid. but are at a decided disadvantage
in starting out 10 an an honest IIV-
ing The second reason is pro, ally
uOIe tOrccfui as it concern the fam
lies Of the prisoners. 1t Is seldom
that the criminal suffers alone TO-
his misdemeanOr. The wife and chIl-
dren are often left poverty stricken
and without means Of support when
the husband and father IS taken I ON
them. If the prisoner IS allowed to
work and is earn ng money, a portion
Of his earnings could be very easily
appropriated to assist his needy ami
ly and possibly relieve actual S fer
ing.
The measure introduced by Repre-
sentative Geidt, II. 3. No. so, calls for
the payment of cOnv:Cts 70 their la
bors. 1t is very similar to the North
Dakota statute, which has proven to
10 ayoaIlart Ianarfnro The hill
authorizes the Board of Charities and
Corrections to pay ~ConYiCts not to eX-
coed one dollar per day for their la
Dor. The first S25 is to be withheld
until the prisoner leaves the institu-
ton when it is to be given to him.
OF the amounts over $25, fvC-s' r
Is to be sent 70 his family, II he has
any. and the remaining One-siXth add
ed to the prisoners fund. A working
day is to consist OF ten hours. Mr..
Geidt's bill Is looked upon with favor
and Is expe ted to pass both houses.
Representative Pigelow of Lawrence
has a primary bill which is probably
the most TeVolut Onary OF any o. the
measures so far suggested. Mr.. Btge-
low would comb ne the primary and
the general election and hold them
at the same time. This is the expense
saving feature-the other radical
change comes in the ballot.
One ballot is arranged so as to s2f-
fee for both the primary and the cleo
ton. At the top of the ticFe a e the
names of the a.ties. A circle is p &C
ed above them, in which the voter
may place his crOss indicating the
party for which he wishes to vote.
Under the party names are divisions
for the factions or states Of candi-
dates These divisions are numbered
beginning with one and rum ng con-
secutively across the ballot. The
elector is to place a cross in front
of the candidates TO" whom he wishes
to vote within his party. The candi-
lates receiving a majority for his CT
ice will be the nominee aud said 10
have received the number Of votes cast
for the party, as indie ted by the
crosses in the circles at the top.
Rubber stamps, with numbers co..
responding to the numbers OF the di-
visions, are provided Now should
an elector wish to sc atch" his tallot,
he would mark with the rubber stamp
at the right of the ballot and in a
direct line with the favored candida e,
the number of the division.
Mr.. Biselow's measure is a radical
departure from the present system,
and shows a very serious study of the
problem. But just how such a propo-
sition will be looked upon by the
selons is a question.
Pierre-Legislative circles, are Cuiet
today. Burch's bill authorizing circuit
courts of the state to settle affairs sn1
property rights of mining corporations
which have been dissolved by law. by
expiration of time limited by articles
of Incorporation; to d stribute asses
among creditors and stockholders, was
passed through the third rlaiing, but
final action was deferred until Mon
day.
The bill for an appropriation for
the office of the attorney general calls
for 5000. instead of $4,000 as prev
iously stated
In the f. A. Sherman bill COR the
Acknowledgement of women, the pro-
vision Is made that tefore women are
entitled to a vote. that hey must po3-
sess taxable real property.
AS was expected, Stuverud's III on
hat pins and woman's hair ar ange-
ment was referred to the mi itary COM
mittee. This action caused m ach
laughter in the house. The remand
er of the session was devoted to the
introducing of bills.
The House voted to increase the sal
airy of the chief clerk from six to eight
dollars per day. The vote on the p or
position was very close, the ayes win
ming out by 43 to 81. The remainder
Of. the House session was given 0 er
to the reading OF bills. S%tuverud 8