The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-12-31
LEGISLATURE
MEETS TUESDAY
FOURTH BIENNIAL SESSION OF
STATE LEGISLATURE BE-
GINS NEXT WEEK
THE GOVERNOR WILL Be INNUGURATED
On the First Day of the Session and
The Organization of Two Houses
CompIeted-Interesting Gossip

DSSSAicSi @c
teenth Biennial Session of the South
Dakota legislature convenes at Pierre,
at noon, Tuesday, January 9Th, 1915.
The first day is devoted to the in
auguration of the governor and the
various major state officials and the
completion of the organization of
both houses. This includes the cleo
ton of the speaker of the house; the
chief clerk of the house, and the minor
elective positions. OF the 103 house
members "a are republicans and 10
democrats. OF the republicans 81 are
majority, Fl minority members, with
two representatives of unknown politi-
cal complexion. OF the As senators,
"a are republicans and IL democrats.
The democrats regularly occupy one
side of the senate which is jocularly
called THE Cherokee Strip"
Since the November election a friend
ly battle has been waged between
G.. A. Ch%rstopherson of Minnehaha and
speaker-for the craftsmanship of the
P. j. Tscharner of Perkins-the 1913
house. Ch~ristopherson is said to con-
troll the republican caucus. G. w.
Gardner of Hand is the only candidate
out in the open for the chief clerk
ship, and is reported to have sufficient
pledges to land the job. Will Van
Camp-an old house MEMBERS re,
ported to have signed up enough votes
to land him the secretary of the SEN
ate position. The number of candi-
dates for the minor elective and ap
pointive positions is legion-fve can
didates to the place is considered a
conservative esimate-and during the
first days of the session the Hobbies
swarm with would-be assistants to the
legislature.
This should be prominently a bust.
ness session. The "direct-vote-for
United States senator" constitutional
amendment robbed the legislature of
it's most spectacular function-so with
no senator to elect serious work will
begin right off the bat.
The big apparent work from this
vantage point appears to be taxation
reform. In 1911 our present tax COM
mission was ~agitated; in 1913 it was
created, with power and instructions
to thoroughly study our revenue sys-
tenn and report to the 1915 session..
This commission has done and it is
understood that a complete new rev.
enue code has drafted together with a
half dozen proposed constitutional
amendments. The issue presents big
possibilities for constructive states
manship.
We have now had one election under
the Richards primary. The effort to
repeal it in toto failed. There is great
divergence of opinion as to its merits;
one camp favoring complete repeal
and substitution of a new primary
law; the other desiring to remodel it
where it may have proved weak. 1t is
certain that advocates of both lines
of procedure will attempt to secure
new legislation.
There appears to be a very nice
legal question as to whether the legis
lature has any power at all to inter
fere with a law enacted by the people
That it has no such power is the posi-
ton of Mr.. Richards and is strongly
supported by many eminent lawyers
Mr.. Richards will resist an attempt a.
direct legislative interference. He
himself, will present several amend
ments for submission to the people. l
seems likely that the question VIII ulti
mately get into the courts OF the Rich
ards primary issue and a final adjudi
cation secured.
It is likely that a new law will b.
sought whereby judicial primaries will
be kept out of partisan i~nfiuence-witl
all candidates for circuit and suprem'
Judge running as independents.
Supt. Holsaple Of the anti-saloo'
league has moved his headquarters t
Pierre for the legislature and will BEN
every effort towards securing furthe
antiliQuor legislation. The saloon IL
terests will have a regular organizs
ton in rebuttal. There Is some SUI
gestion that q statewide prohibitio
amendment will be sought Howeve
it seems that the conservative tempe
ance men will be content with q n
vision Of the 1913 local option Law