Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1913-01-11
FROM STATE CAPITAL
Wheels Begin to Turn--Tscharner
Elected Speaker of the House
Without Opposition.
BY HARRY A. ROBINSON.

| session OF the Soutn Dakota legislature
which falls in the year 1913 should en-
act some particularly fortunate laws for
the state. OF the forty-fve senators
twenty-four have previously occupied
| legislative seats and forty representa-
tives out of the lob have had legislative
experience, 30 that things should start
moving without delay. Indications on
every hand point toward five or six
main topics upon which everyone seems
agreed that the best legislation possible
| should be enacted and it seems to be a
| question of the best method and merg.
ing of the ideas of the leaders interested
in the sewers! subjects around which
Yankton, Hicks of Lincoln and Helger-
| son of Dawson who were last year in
the House are promoted this year to the
Senate, and are among the leaders in
| those bodies.
The most talked of legislation will
likely be along the line of constitu-
the state to give aid to good roads, the
development of water powers, irriga-
| ton, and the development of coal min
| ing. The central and western regions
are especially interested in the irriga-
| find hearty supporters everywhere. The
constitution as it now stands will not
permit the state to lend its credit to-
ward these enterprises and leaders in
both houses are occupied with resolu-
tions which will amend that feature and
| include all these desirable improve
ments to the state. In every one of the
| l8 counties which referred the good
| do 10 W otn in, fo
of it, and in connection with the un-
usually strong spirit towards good road
| legislation 1t is suggested that gradual
ed automobile tax, or license fee be
levied for the use of good roads, but the
constitution would prohibit this also, as
it provides that all taxes be uniform up
on the assessed value of all property in
| money. From so much agitation some
good laws will surely result towards
road building.
The shirt factory at the penitentiary
| will receive lot of attention and almost
universally the Colorado law, permit
| ting the use of convicts on highways
seems favored in place of this depart
ment. Colorado in its seven years of
experience has lost but two convicts,
and they were returned later, SO that
IilO oy ySlCn 10 io iohSCi
A Blue Sky law, similar 10 that OF
Kansas, to prohibit the wildcat invest
ment companies from relieving people
OF their dollars will undoubtedly be en-
acted, though on less elaborate plan.
The Kansas law does not support itself,
and while such law is being enacted it
might just as we'll be framed so that il
will be self sustaining, and still serve all
the desired purposes.
In the fall campaign, Mr.. johnson,
candidate on the Democratic ticket for
governor, advocated the enactment of q
law permitting voters away from home
to vote under certain conditions. The
Minnesota act which was passed along
this line in 1911 has proven unconstitu-
| tional, and that constitution, being SIM
| liar 10 ours, the only way to permit such
votes here would be by mail. The OBJ.
ject to this method is that it in great
measure destroys the secret of the bal
lot, and therefor may be abused for cor
| rupt practices.
Early in the season there was a con-
siderable sentiment towards a constitu-
tional convention aud there are many
who still think it desirable. Our con.
sttution was made nearly thirty years
ago, and while it contains many staple
and wise limitations, which the people
will wish to retain, it might be improv.
ed and made more up to date in dozen
or more particulars.
Physicians are expressing desire to
| to have a consolidation and complete re-
vision of the laws concerning health
and wish to include every department
such AS pb macy, dentistry and allied
professio -, under a strong board ol
health, with salaried secretary and
executive officer thereof. 1t is likely
much could be accomplished under such
centralized force.
Perhaps one of the most important
subjects is irrigation, for there are more
than two million acres in the central
and western portion of the state sus
ceptible to cultivation if irrigation is
employed, but at present, with the con-
stitution's limitation, only private capi.
tai can be employed, and as most of this
land is assessed at So 50 an acre and the
constitutional debt limit is five per cent
but few cents per acre would be avail.
able for the purpose, while the mini
mum cost of an irrigation plant is $25
per acre, for all the land within the lin.
it. If state aid can be secured through
the amendment now proposed for this
| feature it will mean thousands, even Ia
ter millions of dollars toward the bene.
| fit of people living in those sections
which need irrigation.
Along temperance lines there will be
an endeavor to inaugurate movement
leaving the closing hour to the discre.
ton of municipalities, the temperance
people being very displeased with the
present law. Not much stated legisla.
ton has so far been suggested along
this line. but likely will later on.
A complete revision of the laws per.
tanning to the inspection of illuminating
oils and gasoline is expected, 1t being
very difficult to secure oil now of the re-
Quired grade, and the thought is to pul
it all up in packages plainly and definite
ly labeled 30 that the public may know
what it buys.
Workmen's compensation is also re.
ceiving considerable notice, as is the
subject of public printing. Some neigh
boring states which have their own
printing plants have saved so much
| money that 1t is considered wise plan
to adopt it here by many people.
There is a movement to secure legis
lative commission which will investi
gate the system of uniting the Agricul
tural College, the University, and the
School of Mines on one campus, or else
so manipulate the courses of these insti
tutions that there shall be no duplica
tion of technical courses therein Thii
is the special thought of President Hitch
cock OF the Board of Regents.
Until the 2lst of January at noon
there will be great interest everywhere
and in Pierre about the Senatorial situa
tion. Thos. Sterling received the lega
nomination by a plurality vote of ths
Republicans in June, over Senator Gam
BILE and r o. Richards. Mr.. Richards
L aaua xoaifixalu that Startling Ia tha raa