The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-01-09
LEGISLATURE
IS IN SESSION
THIRTEENTH SESSION OF STATE
LAWMAKERS CONVENED AT
PIERRE TUESDAY.
SOME INTERESTING LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP
Registers Pierre Correspondent Sends
First of a Series Of Letters to be
Contributed During Session

Pierre, January 5, 1913.-The thir-
teenth session of the South Dakota
legislature which falls in the year 1913
should enact some particularly FORUM
ate laws for the state. OF the forty
Ave members of the senate, twenty
four have previously occupied legisla-
tive seats and forty representatives
out of the 1913 have had legislative ex-
perience, so that things should start
moving without delay. Indications on
every hand point toward five or six
main topics upon which every one
seems agreed that the best legislation
possible should be enacted and 1t
seems to be a question of the best
method and a merging OF the ideas of
the leaders interested in the several
subjects around which the interest is
concerned. McMaster Of Yankton,
Hicks of Lincoln and Helgerson Of
Dawson, who were last time in the
house are promoted this year to the
senate, and are among the leaders in
these bodies
The most talked Of legislation will
likely be along the line of a constitu-
tional amendment which will permit
the state to give aid to good roads, the
development of water powers, irriga-
ton, and the development Of Goa
mining. The central and western
regions are especially interested in the
irrigation projects and the good roads
ideas find hearty supporters every
where. The constitution as 1T now
stands will no permit the state to
lend its credit toward these Enterprises
and leaders in both houses are oceu-
pied with resolutions which will amend
that feature and include all these de-
sirable improvements to the state. In
every n OF the IS counties which
referred the good roads law there was
a large majority in favor of it, and in
connection with the unusually strong
spirit towards good road legislation it
Is suggested that a graduated automo-
bile tax, or license fee be levied for
the use of good roads, but the consti-
tuition would prohibit this also, as it
provides that all taxes be uniform
upon the assessed value of all property
in money. From so much agitation
some good laws will surely result to-
wards good road building.
The shirt factory at the ~penitentiary
will receive a lot of attention and
almost universally the Colorado law,
permitting the use of convicts on high
ways seems favored in place Of this
department. Colorado in its seven
years of experience has lost but two
%convicts, and they were returned later,
so that the system Is no longer an ex-
pertinent.
A blue sky law, similar to that Of
Kansas, to prohibit the wild cat invest
ment companies from relieving people
of their dollars will undoubtedly be
enacted, though on a less elaborate
plan. The Kansas law does not sup
port itself, and while such a law Is be-
ing enacted it might as we'll be framed
so that it will be self supporting and
still serve all the desired purposes.
In the fall campaign, Mr.. Johnson,
candidate on the democratic ticket for
ununrno. adxyNanAI l. -
a law permitting voters away from
home to vote under certain conditions.
The Minnesota act which was passed
along this line in 1911 has proven I'M
constitutional, and that constitution
being similar to ours, the only way to
permit such votes would be by mail.
The objection to this method is that 1t
in a great measure destroys the secre-
cy of the ballot, and therefore may be
abused for corrupt practices.
Early in the session there was a con-
siderable sentiment towards a consti-
tutional convention and there are
many who still think it desirable. Our
constitution was made nearly thirty
years ago, and while it contains many
staple and wise limitations. which the
people will wish to retain, might he
improved II made more up to date
in a dozen or more particulars.
Physicians are expressing a desire
to have a consolidation and complete
revision Of the laws concerning health
and wish to include every department
such as pharmacy, dentistry and allied