The Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 19??-1912, 1911-01-26
TWELFTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Weeks Doings of Our Body of Law
Makers at the Capital City. ....

Pierre Jan. %: After two weeks
of work the legislature adjourned
from the 18th to the 23rd. There
Games time after the first few
weeks of each session when the
committees are not yet ready to
report, and work is hung up: The
legislature bienially takes advan-
tage of this and goes home to feel
the public pulse.
Two woman's suffrage measures
are being considered. One by
Representative Sherman of Sioux
Falls, would give the franchise to
all women owning property. A
second introduced by Senator Per-
ley of Moody, is decidedly novel.
1t provides nothing more than
that, the women, using separate
bootes and judges, shall be per-
mitted to register their opinion on
the suffrage question. The bill
does not make the result binding
on the men.
The Daylight Saloon bill, pro-
vidine for the opening of saloons
from 6 a. m. to 8 p. m. has been
favorably reported by the temper
ance committee to the house. Rep
resentative Hursh of Deadwood
handed in minority report. On
motion of Bentley it was deferred
for final passage to January 3lst.
Tscharner of Lennon gave warn
ing that he would try and advance
the hour of closing from eight to
nine o'clock. There seems to be a
likelyhood that the bill will pass
the house, but meet a bump in the
senate, which is said to be loaded
for temperance legislation.
Representatives Kerr and Mil
lett are working on state public
ity measure. They propose to
create a commissioner of immigra-
tion, and give him large enough
appropriation to be of some use.
This session will cost the state
about $4,000. The per diem and
mileage of the house amounts to
about $780, 900 and the senate Sl4,-
600. Clerk hire, stationery and
incidentals eat up the rest.
An effort will be made to sim
plify the present Australian ballot.
1t is held by many that the circle
at the head of the ticket casues
confusion. 1t is proposed to re-
move this and make each voter
mark each individual.
A bill by Millett of Stanley will
permit the creation of irrigation
districts by thecircuit court. Bonds
may be issued by the district, and
the mode of government is pro-
vided for.
The Ways and Means committee
is expected to introduce measure
remedying the defects of our pres
ent inheritance tax law, which was
found unconstitutional because held
to be unfairly graduated. The pres.
ent law provides that if a man re-
ceive bequest of $40, 900 he pay
certain tax, but if he receive be.
quest of $40, ,OOO, 900 he pay high
er tax on the whole amount. The
law will probably be modified SO
that the increase will apply only
to the amount above the ten thou
sand, etc. The tax has yielded
the state about $50, 900 to date,
but has great potential value as q
revenue producer.
Senator Curtiss of Brown would
change the method of securing
publicity for referred laws and
constitutional amendments, BY
having them published by thu
state, pro-rated to the county aud
itor's, who shall be required <
mail one to each voter. It IS be
lieved that the same publicity cal
be- secured for 5000 in this way
which cost the state $115, 900, or
dollar ! voter, at the last election
Two constitutional amendment
!, have passed the senate. One tn