The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-03-14
WORK Of the
LEGISLATURE
Nearly Three Hundred New
Laws Are Enacted.
SOME OF GREAT IMPORTANCE
TAX Commission Act Probably Ranks
First in the Estimation of
the Public.
Especial Correspondence

members have labored so faithfully.
Hard, grinding work has been the or
der from the moment of assembling
until the gavel fell for final adjourn
ment. Every bill received that DELHI
crate consideration in committee and
on the floor which should produce the
best legislative results. The numer
Gus investigations which have been
conducted have thrown an added bur
den upon the members and no one
has shirked responsibility or labor.
!. i. i.
As ever the last days have been
strenuous ones. On Tuesday but 100
acts had reached the governor: by
Friday almost 300 others had been put
through the mill.
- = =.
The total appropriations OF the SEES
sion approximate $3.50. 900. about one,
quarter OF a million more than two
years ago. The general bill carries
about $780, 900 and there is about A
million OF specials. The approximate
revenue from taxation for the coming
biennium is about $4,000. 900 and the
miscellaneous funds about $500. 900, so
the appropriations come we'll within
the approximate
:. = <
1t will perhaps take some expert
mental operation to determine the rel
ative Importance OF the various acts
OF the session, but 1t may be ASSUMED
that the tax commission act will, in
the public estimation. rank frst. 1t
is already in operation and the com
m~issioners. Messrs. II. G. Preston. G..
NJ. Henry and Hugh Smith, are &C
lively engaged in the preliminary
work devolvinG upon them. They are
making an exhaustive study OF the
tax laws Of the state. having In view
the powers conferred upon them to
make the assessment OF the current
year at full money value. As the as
SCISSORS will be at work listing the
property within sixty days it will be
understood that the commission has
little enough time to get the skids
creased" M~anifestly the result Of
their work will be revolutionary from
the outset and the importance of go
ing into it right are very apparent.
Messrs. Smith and Henry are expe-
rienced and successful business men
and Mr.. Preston a brilliant lawyer. a
combination which ought to bring sat
isfactory and safe results.
:. J. i.
The measure most considered was
the guaranty Of bank deposits. a sort
of Banquo's ghost that would n o
down until the last moment, though
killed and killed again. In FIVE diff
ferent votes the senate killed the prop
osition, which showed in as many
forms. Some Of the best OratOry OF
the session was spent upon 1t. The
address OF Senator Whitlock OF Potter
county in opposition will perhaps stand
a. the strongest and most analytical
presentation made on the floor Of
either house.
One of the novel measures which
becomes law permits electors to vote
at general elections while absent from
their home precincts. The constitu-
ton very carefully guards the ballot
and provides that every elector shall
vote in the precinct where his home
10. To provide a legal and safe method
tn nnon,D C1toh this uyki1> kh~ J>c&>. l..
from his home required about
az fine work as was done upon any
measure and it Is the belief that a
way has been found. The Democrats
made a good deal OF the proposition
In the late campaign and drew the
support Of some travelling men be-
cause Of it and the Republicans felt
that it was incumbent to put the meas
ure through for its political value ~
we'll as upon it's merits.
An act Of importance declares the
principle that no appropriation OF
water powers shall be for a longer
period than fifty years and provides
IAoS tHO Sudll TOLdAu Tic TIKuL 10
regulate the rates for the use OF the
power and the sale Of the product. In
view OF the tremendous u~ndeveloped
water powers In the state and the ef-
forts now being made to secure con-
troll OF them the act il deemed most
timely.
\ 1. +
The investigation of the charge that
money was being used by the repre-
s~sntatives Of the insurance companies
to secure the repeal of the law re.
curing the annual publication Of the
statements Of the condition Of each
ihsurance company doing business In
the state il each judicial circuit re-
suited In ascertaining that Howard
G. Sheber, former Insurance commits
stonsr. and Mr.. Farmer Of Huron had
undertaken, By IN agreement with the
ZmA01OA A0A $3.50 A. A>AAA0A ~>A>>0