The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-26
THE Legislature
EFFORTS BEING MADE TO IN
CREASE SALARIES OF
STATE OFFICIALS

Pierre, Jan. Ex-senator Stuten-
roth of Sphinx Is collecting informa-
ton about salaries paid in other
states TO be used I'm support of his
resolution for a constitutional
amendment. permitting the legisla
ture to fix salaries of state officers by
a two-thirds vote. He finds the PEG
pie work for South Dakota for less
than similar service in nearly every
state in the union. The constitution
fixes most of the salaries of state Of
icers at $500 per year. The attor-
ney general gets but $1,000. Efforts
to increase the salary of the attorney
general by separate amendments to
the constitution failed, the PROPOSE
ton being voted down in the vote
no" campaign. AS a result the de
partment in its important suits has
employed assistants which were paid
more than the attorney general him
self.
While the modest legislator is say
ing little. a private poll reveals the
fact that few OF them believe they
are paid enough by the state for their
services. Living is high in Pierre
during the session and the members
must keep up correspondence to keep
posted. These things and the cost of
stamps, laundry, board. washing and
incidentais eat up the small per diem.
This Is to say nothing of the time
spent to prepare the legislator before
the session for the best service. The
sessions are limited to sixty days and
a member can draw no more than
$500, or $50 per year, for the two
years he holds office. The opinion is
quite unanimous that $40 a day
would be no more than fair compen-
sation.
How good laws may be evaded is
shown in the lobby talk on Senator
Stoner's nepotism bill TO prohibit a
state officer from employing his wife.
1t is suggested hat two state officers
could employ each others wives
without conflicting with the law.
Possible fine of $1,000 and one
year in Jail for the circulation OF
false statements derogatory TO banks
or trust companies calculated to stop
malicious criticism of the financial
conditions of such institutions, is Ike
| Lincoln's bill, which If il passes may
make people more guarded in trust
| talk. Senator Waters removal bill
| makes il mandatory for a circuit
| Judge to remove any states attorney
' sheriff, mayor or commissioner, mar
sshal or constable for any n OF the
'ollowing six causes Refusal OF
neglect to perform duties. corruption
tnffan YafurnnArraf nnnViatinn ri
ebony or for intoxication. Complaint
nay be filed by any five electors by
he states attorney or attorney gen.
eral and shall be by the attorney
GENERAL when directed by the govern
Or. The law would require the gov
| srnor 10 direct the filing of a com
| )laint when ii shall appear that any
| officer should be removed for the
causes stated. Early hearings would
be provided for and a judge could
suspend an officer meanwhile.
1t is generally admitted hat the
blue sky" law passed in 1913 is o
good law and has worked well. saw.
ing the people of the state many
thousands. However, there are som,
weak points that may be attacked IL
the courts. Experience in Other
states shows this and efforts will be
made to strengthen ii. George Cos
son, Iowa; Grant Fellows. Michigan
md w. l.. Moore, Arkansas, three oil
the most competent attorney gen
erals in the country, have evolved
out OF their experience a model blue
sky bill designed to meet all attacks
on constitutionality and furnish uni.
form law for all states. The com
mittee on judiciary OF the house has
this model bill before 1t and may un-
dertake to have it substituted for tho
old law
Little railroad legislation has beer
introduced SO far this session. Train
men are anxious to get through
6fty-car limit bill and expect to have
such a bill introduced after the re
cess.