Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1913-03-08
LEGISLATIVE D0INGS
Extends Tax Paying Time One Month.
Not Delinquent Until Novem-
Der lst and April LIST.
BY HARRY A, ROBINSON.

1913 has indeed been lively one from
every point of view from the Senatorial
fight to the last. most exciting of all in
the way of investigations of state Off.
GERS. From early in the session there
have been charges of Irregularities in
the Land Commissioners Office, and at
last the committee investigating the Of
fce, found that vouchers therein had
been passed for $l10 while the person
30 employed received but $40 a month
for the services, and this upon personal
check. Commissioner Brinker has re-
signed and turned into the state treas
ury the sum of $685. which was abstract
ed from state funds upon the false
vouchers and further investigation Of
timber sales by that department is be-
ing conducted by the committee of the
Legislature. At present the Office of
Secretary Of State is being specially in
vsstigated, and the State Engineers of.
flee also has been Investigated by the
Democratic Morgan committee on double
salaries and mileage. The Governor
Saturday made new appointment in
the way of State Engineer, appointing
Professor Homer M. Derr, of Brookings
College to that position, to succeed Sam.
uel II. Lea, late incumbent of that office.
The Governor also appointed Hon.
Marcus P. Bssbs, Sr., of Ipwsich, as
member Of the Board of Regents to sue
cssd II. Reinhardt, and Guy Frisberg,
of Bsresford, to succeed himself.
The big fight on the saloon bill finally
ended by passing the measure with 600
to population without the emergency
clause, and it is likely that the saloon
people even so will refer the bill at the
next election. Most of the fireworks of
the year was expended on the Senate
Bank guaranty bill this week, which
was lost in that body, very able debates
being led by senators with Morgan,
Hale, Carol, Murphy and Norbeck for
it and Whitlock, McMaster, Harris, Me-
Lean and some others opposed. As a
matter of record South Dakota in the
past ten years has only lost a total of
67-l000 of ons per cent on bank depos-
its 80 perhaps such law ia not needed
under our very excellent banking sys-
TEN.
A most important measure passed and
signed by the Governor on the last day
of February was H. B. 81, providing
that taxes do not become delinquent un.
til November 1ss, and april 1st, instead
Of month earlier in each case. This
enactment will materially aid farmers
in their work in the fall and in their
sale of stock in the spring before taxes
must be paid. Having an emergency
the law went into effect imme ediately on
February 28th.
Though the Irregularities in two coun-
ties over wolf bountiss gave that subject
a black eye, after a severe fight the wolf
bounty acts with appropriations of $l3,-
900 carried and the acts remain unre-
pealed.
Governor Herried was in the capital
in the interest of two bills, ono provid-
ing for vasectomy, and the other for
physical examination of parties con-
tracing marriage, but the matter has
been given up as being too late in the
session to obtain fair consideration of
the worth of the measures. They will
be re-introducsd next session of the
Legislature, as thirty.eight states now
have provisions along this line, South
Dakota need not feel a pioneer in the
matter should such laws be passed here.
Two printing bills have been intro
duced, the latest being by a joint com.
mittee House and Senate, providing that
the Governor shall be printing commits
sionsr with power to appoint deputy
who shall be expert state printer, and
absolutely all state printing must 20
through the hands of this Commission.
er. The other bill provides for a state
printing plant, and for a printing com.
mission, and it is yet absolutely uncer-
tain which if either will pass, though
the printing investigation committee
having handed in their report, most leg
islators are inclined to favor such an in
dependent printing plant for state use.
The Mothers and Widows pension
bill, now being agitated all over the
United States, all copying after the state
of Missouri on the question, was passed
in the House unanimously Friday, and
will without any doubt 60 through the
Senate in the same manner. McFar-
land, of Codington, introduced the very
excellent measure.
The big appropriation bill now being
out Of the way safely, being passed with
some amendments to the original COM
mittee bill as introduced, the Lsgisla-
ture will find its calendar nearly clear
by the end of the session, and can ad-
journ Friday with stopping the clocks as
is often done, to prolong the last day.
Senator Mather's bill to repeal the
Richards primary or rather have q new
one in place of it was lost 30 the Rich.
ards matter still lives. The Governor
has asked that committee be appoint
ed to continue the work of investigating
all state departments, as they all wish
now to be given clean bill of health in
beginning the years work, after having
suspicion cast upon each and all by re.
cent statements made, and the Legisla-
ture will likely appropriate sufficient
funds to pay expense Of such committee
until July 1st, 80 the population of the
state may know exactly how the state
officers and departments stand in de-
tail.
Investigation of the insurance charges
against insurance lobbyists have been
made, but nothing criminal has been
found in the proceedings up to date.
Next weeks issue Of this paper will
print full resume of ell of the acts