Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-22
SOUTH DAKOTG'S PROBLEMS
Daylight Saloon Measure Gets Consid-
Grafton Outside Legislature.
NEW REVENUE SYSTEM IS LIKELY
Commission Ready 60 Report on Tax
Law that Involves Several DeDar-
partures and Creates Per-
mnnent Board.

One Of the important matters now oetore
the South Dakota legislature Is a daylight
saloon measure. which is patterned some
what after the Nebraska law providing
that all saloons in the state be closed at
s o'clock each evening.
The temperance committee OF the South
Dakota house Of representatives made
favorable report on the measure, but II Is
by no means certain that It will get through
the senate In view Of the introduction OF
such measure, speculation Is rife as TO
whether or not the temperance forces OF
the state will concentrate their efforts on
this measure, and be satisfied to go no
further. or whether they will, even II the
measure Is adopted by the legislature, at
the next election submit a prohibition law
TO the voters Of the state. as 1t has been
strongly intimated will be the case.
At the two past general elections county
option laws submitted by the temperance
forces we're defeated by large majorities,
the majority being much larger than Two
years before, indicating that vast ma
tority OF the voters of South Dakota are
satisfied with the high license systems
and OF its kind in the United States. Those
in close touch with public sentiment on this
question throughout the state declare that
II the question Of straight-out prohibition.
is submitted to the voters Of the state It
would Be defeated by an overwhelming ma
jority
II the daylight saloon law is enacted by
the present legislature there is no doubt
that interested persons will circulate the
necessary petitions and have the law sub
mitted to the voters Of the state, under
the referendum amendment to the state
constitution, before going into effect.
Opinions vary as to whether or not such
law could be defeated at the polls. But
II is certain that the voters of South Da-
kota have adopted the habit Of voting
down all proposed laws and proposed
amendments to the stae constitution sub
mitted to them, having given majority
20 only one of the numerous proposed laws
and amendments submitted to them at the
election last November. In view OF this,
II would appear that IT would not be a
difficult matter to bring about the defeat
OF a daylight saloon law II is enacted
by the legislature and submitted to the
voters of the state under the referendum.
Proposed New Tax system.
The tax commissioners appointed by
Governor Vessey to investigate tax systems
and make a report on practical methods
have prepared their report, and this will
receive the earnest consideration Of the
legislature In the effort to secure an inn
provement over the present system. Fol-
lowing their investigation the tax com
missioners have prepared bill embodying
their views as regarding an Improvement
In the present revenue laws. The bill, while
containing many features OF the Wisconsin
law has features of its own which are
expected to cover any weak points found.
Its provision for a permanent state tax
commission OF three members at adequate
salaries to devote their attention to such
matters, has been presented at past SEES
sions of the legislature and has never got
very far. but It is believed the present
proposed measure will be an exception,
as the present Legislature in manifesting a
disposition to accomplish something along
practical lines in this and other prospects
where the people OF the state would be
benefited.
Under the proposed new law the three
state tax commissioners will each receive
a salary OF $500 per year and will hold
office for terms Of two, four and six
years After the expiration of the terms
OF office OF the original appointees, the Law
provides that the commissioners shall all
serve six-year terms.
The proposed law grants the commits
sioners full power in regard to taxation
absorbing the duties of the present state
board OF equalization, which would be
abolished.
One OF the bills thus far introduced In
the legislature which those who are vel
posted predict will pass both houses, pro-
vldes for the repeal of what is known as
the anti-treating law which makes II a
misdemeanor for one person to buy another
a drink of intoxicating liquor anywhere
in the state. The law was enacted by
the Legislature two years ago, and FOL
a few days after II went into effect sons
slight attention was paid to its provisions
but II speedily became a dead letter and fo
months has been wholly ignored in al
parts of the state.
Novel Land Proposition.
The practice OF the freakish Missouri
river in at the most unexpected times and
places creating new islands along ia
course has progressed to such an extern
that bill has been introduced in the pres
ent legislature in reference TO this. A few
years ago a sandbar formed in the rive
near the southern limits OF the city o
Chamberlain. From a modest little sandba
this now has grown into an island of re
spectacle size and has covered with &
thick growth OF willows and other vege
tatlon.
man named Ell Fort, former residen
Of Chamberlain, became a squatter on tn
island when II yet was not much NOR,
than sandbar. and has since claimed tn,
land as his own. Fort attempted to Sc
cure title to the new island from the gen
eral government by making entry Of tn
land at the district United States land OF
flee, but as the new island had neve
been surveyed or plated the land official
refused TO consider any application whicl
make for the tract
Fort carried the case TO the general Ian
office at Washington and then to the sec
rotary OF the interior, finally receiving
ruling from the Interior department 70 tn
effect that any islands which appeared 4
the Missouri river since the early govern
ment survey were the property OF tn
state Of South Dakota, and that the gen
eral government made no claim os juris
diction over such tracts.
This ruling, il It is sustained by tn
courts, would mean that the state is IN
owner Of number OF Islands 70 which