Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-01-13
E CORRESPONDENTS.

Special to the LEADER; Pierre,
january ., The iirst week Of the
legislature has been very quiet and
haS been aevoted almost entirely to
the work OF organization. The social
event of the season is the inaugural
ball which occurred on Tuesday even
ing. Probably 1900 were in attend
ence, and the scene was the most bril-
liant ever seen in South Dakota.
The chairmen OF the more import
ant senate committees are, Appro-
priations; Carol, Hand, Judiciary,
Curtuss. Brown; Penal and charitable,
Gemmill, Lincoln: Ways and Means,
Wyman, Yankton; State Affairs, Nor
beck. Sphinx; Education, Johnson,
Lake: Elections, Hedrick' Brule.
The Governor recommended to the
legislature by special message that
an investigating committee be ap-
pointed to investigate the manage
ment Of the Hot Springs Soldiers
home, and such a resolution was the
first to be introduced and to pass the
senate.
Senator Cone of Minnehaha had the
honor of introducing the first bill in
the senate, nj to enable special city
taxes to be collected by county officers:
and the ISScnhuth Good Roads Bill
was the first to come before the house.
The later proposition is backed by
| the South Dakota Good Roads League
and is a compromise between the
ultra radicals. and embodies the good
features of both the county and the
district methods of road supervision.
1t provides for the payment of road
taxes in cash, and the expenditure of
OF all sums under 5000 by the town
ship, and all above that sum by the
county.
On Thursday the Governor sent the
name Of Hon. Albert Anderson Of
Sturgis to the senate for approval for
reappointment to the state board of
regents. 1t was granted without
question.
The Dillon civil service law, passed
by the session of 1909 has come in for
considerable discussion. 1t provided
that there should be ten elective
officers for each house and that all
other clerks should be expert steno-
graphers, and be appointed by the
presiding officers of both houses after
civil service examination. The posi-
tion OF assistant sergeant at arms
was not provided for in the statue
and the house violated the law by
eiecting one. After discussion the
senate decided that the law making
body should be the last to violate it's
own laws and refused to elect any
officers not provided for in the statue.
A constitutional amendment has
been introduced by Senate Wright of
Beadle to require the payment of poll
tax thirty days prior to elections to
be qualified to vote. This Is intended
to cut out the floating vote.
The sixteenth amendment { income
tax } of the United States constitu-
tion has been introduced in the sem
ate for ratification by the South
Dakota legislature. Last May about
fifteen state legislatures had given
their assent to the amendment.
The only real excitement of the
week has come over the contest be-
tween Wagner, the present Incumbent
and Walker, Republican for a e in
the house from Bon Homme county,
The matter went before committee.
where the interests of the two con-
testants were looked after by Judge
Dillon of Yankton, and Judge f. II.
Wicks of Scotland, respectively. The
committee reported to the house
four to three in favor of the Republi-
can. The attorneys we're permitted
to argue their cases before the house
Saturday and the final settlement of
the contest deferred till next week.
Sentiment of those acquainted with
the facts seems to be in faver of the
Democrat with a belief that the legal
right to the seat belongs to the Re-
publican. Funny condition.
Representative Kerr of Brookinps
has introduced a bill providing a stan
dard for pure seeds, and inspection of
the same. Senator Cone of Minnehaha
has a proposition to permit school
boards to convert sinking fund into
warrants on the general fund. Senator
Perley~ of Moody has a plan to con-
serve the state lands by prohibiting
the planting of flax on leased state
land. He will also introduce a
measure to limit f1hsing to the sum-.
mer months.
Representatives Hurah of Lawrence
and Millet of Stanley will introduce a
bill for the absolute protection of
deer, antelope, and elk. Mr.. Millet
is also considering a proposition for
the legalizing OF irrigation districts.
The Hand county delegation has In
mind a bill to indemnify owners of
glandered horses ordered killed by
veterinarian.
Pierre will entertain many visitors
this winter; besides the legislature
she will have IS her guests the Con-
%servation congress, the Good Road
Congress, the Dry Farming Congress,