Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-01-17

Pierre Jan, ). The thirteenth ses.
sion OF the South Dakota legislature
| which falls in the year 1913 should
enact some particularly fortunate
laws for the state, OF the forty-t We
members OF the senate, twenty-four
have previously occupied legislative
seats and forty representatives out Of
the l03 have had legislative experience
SO that things should start moving
without delay. Indications on every
hand point toward five or six main
topics upon which every one seem s
agreed that the best legislation
possible should be enacted and it
seems to be a question OF the best
method and merging OF the ideas of
| the leaders interested In the several
subjects around which the interest is
! convened. McMaster of Yankton,
Hicks of Lincoln and Heigerson of
| Dawson who we're last time 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 con-
stitutional amendment which will
permit the state to give aid to good
roads, the development of water
powers, irrigation, and the develop
ment of coal mining. The central
and western regions are especially in
terested in the irrigation projects and
the good roads ideas find hearty
supporters everywhere. The con-
stitution as it now stands will not
permit the state to lend it's credit
toward these Enterprises and leaders
In both houses are occupied with re-
solutions which will amend that
feature and include all these desirable
improve ments to the state. In every
one OF the Is counties which referred
the good roads law there was a large
majority in favor OF it, and In connec-
tlon with the unusually strong spirit
towards good road leg gslation it Is
suggested that a graduated automo-
bile tax, or license fee be levied for
the use of good roads, but the con-
stitution would prohibit this also, as
it provides that all taxes be uniform
upon the assessed value Of all pro-
perty in money. From SO much
agitation some good laws Will surely
result towards good road building.
The shirt factory at the peniten-
tiary will receive q lot of attention
and almost universally the Colorado
law, permitting the use of convicts Oh
this department. Colorado in it's
seven years OF experience has lost but
two convicts, and they we're returned
later, 50 that the system is no longer
an experiment..
A Blue Sky law, similar to that of
Kansas, is prohibit the wild cat in
vestment companies from relieving
people OF their dollars will undoubtedly
be enacted, tho on less elaborate
plan. The Kansas law does not
support itself, and while such law is
being enacted it might as well be
framed so that it will be self support
ing and still serve all the desired pur-
poses.
In the fall campaign, Mr.. Johnson,
candidate on the Democratic ticket
for governor, advocated the enactment
OF law permitting voters away from
home to vote under certain condi-
tions. The Minnesota act which was
passed along this line in 1911 has
proven unconstitutional, and that
constitution being similar to ours,
the only way TO permit such votes
would be by mail. The object to
this method is that it in great
measure destroys the decrecy Of the
ballot, and therefor may be abused for
corrupt practices.
Early 10 the session there was
considerable sentiment towards a
constitutional convention and there
are many who still think it desirable.
Our constitution was made nearly
thirty years ago, and while it con-
tains many staple and wise limita-
tions, which the people will wish to
retain, might be improved and made
more up to date in dozen or more
particulars.
Physicians are expressing desire
to have a consolidation and complete
revision Of the laws concerning health
and wish TO include every department
such as pharmacy, dentistry and alli-
ed professions, under strong board
of health, with a salaried secretary
and executive officer thereof. 1t is
likely much could be complished
under such a centralized force.
Perhaps one of the most important
subjects is irrigation, for there are
more than two million acres of land In
the central and western part of the
state susceptible to cultivation il
irrigation is employed, but at present
with the constitutional Limitation,
only private capital can be employed,
and as most Of this land is assessed
at $3.50 an acre and the constitutional
debt limit is five per cent, but a few
cents per acre would be available for
the purpose, while the minimum cost
OF an irrigation plant is $25 per acre,