The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-02-19
Pierre Pointers.

Pierre, s. D Feb. 14-Capital pun
ishment was definitely abolished in
South Dakota, by the senate enacting
Friday, after a week of 6lbusterinQ
for position, the Steele house bill, by
23-lS vote, q bare majority of l. One
day the pro forces would have a ma.
jority and the antis would jockey to
prevent final roll call: the next day
one or two votes would be changed or
a senator absent, and the other side
would have the offensive. The object
was finally attained by changing the
rules, so that the chair could refuse to
recognize dilatory motions to adjourn,
lay on table, indefinitely postpone
etc.
Late Saturday the Senate defea ted
the Barndt senate bill abolishing the
Voluntary State Highway Comm $
sion, 1924, following one of the most
bitter fights Of the session, lead by
Berndt. Kuhns, Odland and others for
abolition, and chairman Stutenroth
OF the Highways Committee as chief
opposition. Earlier in the week the
ike Evenson house bill was killed in
senate on Committee report.
The Withee bill. granting suffrage
10 women on non.consttutlonal Off
cere, passed the house o9-4O, and is
now before the senate, the election
committee of which has reported it in
without recOmmendatlons. The anti
forces say that they will refer it to
lhe people. An attempt was made to
carry it with the emergency by which
method 1t could be permitted from be-
h,,t In. ~
the neces sary two thirds ma ajority.
lhe senate elections committee, after
working most of the session upon it,
mas reported in favorably the Nc
Master primary bill, repeating the
hichard law and reenacUing the old
crawford primary with provision for
dlrect election Of United States senator
ana Tor the creation of new parties.
lts hackers believe that if it cannot
De passed through the legislature with
the emergency, that it will likely be
referred, and that it will stand better
chance with the voters if an old, rath-
er than q new proposition is put up.
Inc Joint investig ating committee,
Senator Van Denmark, chairman has
been engaged all week in its work,
examing Executive Accountant Truran
and ex-Auditor Henry B. Anderson,
but will not make report until 3Oth,
day.
On Saturday, Senator 0. J. Lund-
ley OF Gregory county introduced the
looked for statewide prohibition OF
manufacture and sale of intoxicants
constitutional amendment as outlined
by the anti-saloon league earlier in
the session. II the legislature fails to
pass 1t on to the people, the league
has already for introduction an initial.
ed resolution for constitutional a.
mendment in this line. The Withee
bill prohibiting sale of liquor within
five miles of the Soldiers Home, which
would have put Hot Springs dry. lost
in the house after being amended to
prohibit sale of liquor within five
miles OF any state institution. A bill
| requiring pharmacists to sell alcohol
| only on affidavit that the same is not
| to be used as a beverage, and the
Birch measure requiring a majority
| of all votes cast to carry liquor cleo
| ton are before the house <5
! The Stutenroth constitutional "a
mendment, permitting the Legislature
TO increase constitutional officers sal
aries by two thirds vote passed the
| senate.
1t is understood that the Bankers as
| sociation and McMaster- Administra-
tlon pank guaranty bills have been
practically merged, and that the ad
| mlnistration measure will be pushed
The Waltner bill, abolishing the
Springfie. Normal will be up the
coming week, after having been placed
on calendar by the house after com.
mittee report without recommends
tions. The advocates of a normal
school for the Rosebud, to be located
at Bonesteel have maintained lobby
here the past few weeks, and bill
creating the same has been introduced
in the senate.
Senator David Paterson's bill in
creasing the age limit for compulsory
education from IA to l6 years passed
the senate.
Sunday baseball was defeated in
the house by big margin, in an effort
to repeal the present Sunday amuse-
ment law. 1t was OF special interest
to the hackers OF the proposed South
Dakota State league. A bill has
gone into the senate, providing for
local option on Sunday baseball.
The Urdahl bill, placing the custo-
dianship OF the state house in the
hande OF the Governor, instead of the
Secretary of State as formerly, pass
ed the senate by q big majority.
The Stephens bill returning the cir
Gle to the head OF the party column on
the general election ballot, which was
abolished two years ago, passed the
senate by q close margin.
The house turned down q $40, 900 ap-
preparation for initial Improvement
of the grounds of the proposed Water
town Hospital for the insane, on q
site already designated immediately
adjacent to the city. Ruhlman has
introduced bill creating an inebriat<
hospital in connection with the pres.
ent insane hospital at Yankton, TIN
patient TO remain for . minimum q
90 days, or until cured, and to be re-
leased only on taking . strict pledge
The Mslm bill requiring tho reading
OF the bible In public schools each day
without comment whatsoever, passes
the house.
The Birch bill. roouirin1 inanectiol