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

dppOIIltulcl Ol COIlltlllttec 10 lD-
vestigate our Ignite coal possibiI-
tiles. Another measure is being
prepared and will be presented to
the Legislature during the next
week providing for a state fuel
commission to consist of the Gov
ernor, the Secretary of State, and
the State geologist, to serve with
out pay, for the purpose of investi-
eating our Ignite deposits, make
Typographical surveys of the same,
and establish an experimental bri-
quetting plant. In one way this is
the most important measure before
the legislature. The United States
geological survey gives South Da-
kota a hundred and twenty FIVE
billion tons of Ignite coal. In its
natural state it is not a very excel
lent fuel, but it can be very cheap
ly combined into briquettes, three
tons of the Ignite forming one ton
of briquettes, which are superior,
in heat producing capacity to the
best grade of anthracite as thirteen
is to twelve. This fine grade of
coal can be produced and laid down
in the remOtest corner of our state
for five dollars ton. Investiga-
tions show that the people of South
Dakota burn S 100000 worth of
anthracite per annum The east
owns the railways and wants the
long haul for the railways. If we.
the people of South Dakota ever
get cheap fuel it must be through
our own efforts. This proposed
state briquetting plant would be
but the beginning. Fifty thousand
dollars is asked to start the work.
Proposed constitutional amend
ments have poured in thick and
fast. Senator Bartine of Oacoma
has proposed one to increase the
percentage necessary to invoke the
initiative from five to twenty five
per cent. Senator Hitc b c o TX
brought up the sixteenth Gncome
tax amendment of the United
States constitution for ratification
by South Dakota. Representative
Sherman of Sioux Falls introduced
an amendment giving suffrage to
all women, who fill the other quail
fcations of electors, who own real
property. Senator Wright of Bea-
die proposes to require the pay
ment of the poll tax thirty days
prior to election in order to quail
fly. All amendment by Senator
Gimmell of Canton would abolish
the soldiers home board and the
state board of charities and COM
bine their functions under a board
of control of three members.
The Wagner Wakes which took
up most of the time of the house
during the first week was decided
Tuesday 1928 in favor of Wagner,
Democrat retaining his seat.
Abolishing has been watchword
during the past week. Represen-
tative Helgerson of Mitchell would
abolish the state engineer, and give
his function to the state surveyor,
and Representative Jones of Pen
nington would abolish the state
surveyor and give his functions to
the state engineer. Senator Cur
tiss proposes to abolish the scale
inspector, and housebill has been
introduced to abolish the telephone
inspector.
The state tax commission, ap-
pointed by Governor Vessey will
report in favor of a constitutional
amendment permitting the classi6-
cation of property in order to levy
an equitaboe tax on each kind, and
(2) A permanent tax commission,
seated ell the time, 81, 300 salary,
six year term, three members, and
complete power over assessment
snd levy.
The Soldiers Home inyestigst-
ing committee, recommended by