The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1913-03-14
MIDNIGHT CLOSE
OF LEGISLATURE

four thirty by uncensored tlmepleces,
the gayels of the two houses dropped
for the last time on the thirteenth
session, of the South Dakota legisla-
ture and it is now history.
The last night was strenuous one
with less rough play than in many
former sessions. with a lot of work to
clear off.
The principal features of the night
session, were the conference fight
over the appropriation for the capitol
grounds, and over the law to repeal
the Curtis publicity act, and again
publish constitutional amendments
and referred laws.
One OF the measures finally enacted
was the mothers pension act, which
the senate adopted as one of It's last
measures, which allows counties to
assist mothers where they have the
care Of dependent children left to
them.
All the differences of the session
were wiped out in the celebrations of
the occasion.
Speaker Tscharner, was for the first
time overruled by the house when he
declared motion by Mcfarland out
of order, with the members voting
solidly against the speaker, the mo-
tion being one to present the speaker
with watch and chain, as the pres
ent of the members of the house.
Most of the members left on early
morning trains and the few remain
ing will go away this afternoon.
]. l.. Wingfield was reappointed
public bank examiner by Governor
Byrne, His appointment was approx
ed by the senate, Senator Law of
the investigation committee, who
went into the affairs of the public ex-
aminer, moved the appointment and
it was seconded by Senator Daily, the
democratic member of the committee.
The report of the committee COM
pletely exonerated the official from
any wrong doing in Office although it
found that he had on one occasion,
technically oyerstepped, accidentally
a provision of the banking law.
Speaker Tscharnei was presented
with his chair by the house of repre-
sentatives. Roberts took the chair,
and Christopherson of Minnehaha Of
fered the resolution of presentation
and followed it with a few appropri-
ate remarks wherein he expressed the
appreciation of the members for the
fair manner in which the speaker had
presided.
In the senate Senator Hoese, presi-
dent pro tenn, offered the resolution
presenting Lieutenant Governor Abel
with his chair, Senator Cone of Min
nehaha, presided while the acting
president took the floor TO offer the
resolution.
The legislative session which mas
lust closed has taken one advanced
step by the enactment of the law
which creates state tax commission
aud makes for the first step toward
tax reform in South Dakota. The
commission is expected to take the
necessary steps toward securing a
more equitable basis of assessment
and equaliz alton in this state, under
the laws which exist. They will be
more or less hampered in the consti-
tutional restrictions which hedge
them about, but that does not prevent
their working out many plans by
which even the present system can
be revised and made more effective.
But to secure complete tax reform in
the state will require constitutional
changes which may be secured in case
the people adopt the proposed reyis-
sional convention which will be put
up to them by this session.
The session has been marked by it's
enactment of moral laws, which have
at times reached toward purItanism
in their scope. They have enacted a
law which prohibits exhibits exhibit
tion by moving pictures. or in any
other manner any scenes which depict
family infelicity, illicit love. or resist
ing officer, aud make such scenes
in pictures or in any other manner a
misdemeanor; they have passed an
act making marriage or cohabitation
of Caucasiaas with Africans, or Ash
atics. a penal offense, and made it a
misdemeanor for any clerk of courts
to issue a license for such marriage,
or for any minister of official to per-
form any such ceremony; to prohibit
"Grizzly Bear" or any suggestive
dances; toregulate public dance halls !;
and several acts restricting prostitu-
ton and lewdness, the strongest be-
ing senate bill 201. which places a
penalty upon the owners or agents OF
buildings who let them for such pur-
purposes, with closure of one year
on the property when the charge is