The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-02-16
COMMENDED;
CONDEMNED
COMMANDANT CT ES BOTH BAD
AND I'D.
MANY MEASUJ s ARE KILLED
g
LEGISLATORS g E BEEN BUSY
WITH THE THIS WEEK.


Pierre, Febr s 13.-The joint
Soldiers Home investigating commit
tee handed in its report during the
week. in which it commended Com
mandant Geddes for his business abil-
itv and condemned his temper as not
fit to govern other men. The report
specifically recommended the creation
of a younger governing board, and to
that effect the enate members OF the
committee have introduced a bill. The
report urged that inmates of the home
be not permitted to vote in the Hot
Springs city elections; that military
discipline is not the proper form of
government for the home, and that the
plan Of using the old soldiers for the
minor offices is bad.
Three primary reform measures
have been before the legislature. One,
r. O. Richards met an early death be-
fore the house elections committee.
Mr.. Richards is circulating a primary
petition and will referendum it. Two,
BigeIow's combination of the general
and primary ballot on an ingeniously
simple ballot. This meets the favor Of
most Who see it, and will be reported
favorably by the house elections com
mittee. Three, a primary reform
measure prepared by an unknown
and introduced by Noegard. 1t in
cludes second choice, nomination of
federal appointive offices, and a state
and county publicity program. 1t is
still ~unreported.
Two proposed constitutional amend
ments were killed in the house We'd
nesday. The first, Sherman's bill
granting suffrage to all real property
owning women; and second, a bill per
hitting county officers to hold their
positions as long as the people would
r~e-elect them.
The early reports that the senate
was fixed for temperance legisla-
ton were ~unfounded, for that body
passed the Daylight saloon bill with
the emergency clause, and nine O'Clock
closing, on Thursday. Gov. Wesley
signed it the next day, and it is 10Y a
law. 1t is likely that if the bill had
come up for final passage before re-
cess that it would have been killed,
but visits home showed that the peo-
pie really wanted it.
No measure before the legislature
has overcome the p%rejudices as has
the Bigelow school code. The house
man, has studied the code like a text,
and in the end made a unanimous ia
vorable report, amended to make the
county unit system optional, and to
go into effect June Is, 1913. 1t is
possible that it will be enacted in it's
present form.
The Custer tuberculosis S~anatarium,
being a new institution, has caused the
Introduction Of legislation defining en-
trance requirements and government.
1t is placed under the State Board Of
Charities and Corrections, who appoint
the superintendent, who in turn APP
points an examining physician in each
county of the state. Any victim of the
disease who has a fair chance for re-
covery may be admitted on the certif-
icate of this county physician, and the
payment of 81 per week for treat
ment. If the patient is unable to con-
tribute this sum-, he may secur par
tial or whole assistance by proving be-
fore the county judge his lack of re-
sources.
No proposition has achieved the o.
toriety of the Curtiss publishing of
constitutional amendments and re-
ferred laws by the state. their pro
rata to the counties, who shall mail
a copy to each voter. 1t passed the
senate without opposition, but in the
house was referred to the printing
committee which will report it without
recommendations to the committee OF
the whole. Senator Curtiss says that
it will save the people of the state a
hundred thousand dollars every two
years if the number of referred laws
is the same as last fall. The news
paper opposition claims that the
papers are the recognized of
publicity, that in no other way can it
be gained as we'll, and that If too much
was paid for the service at the last
election, that instead Of cutting them
out of the work, the pay should be
placed on an equitable basis.
Millett's irrigation code, permitting
the circuit court to organize such dis
tricts, authorize bonds and for their
RA-.-- $4,000 H. ,-~