The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-03-02
THE Legislature
DISPOSITION TO RESENT CLOSE
INSPECTION OF OMNIBUS
APPROPRIATION BILL.

priation bill. carrying 100000 more
than two years ago, are arousing the
hostility of the contingent which de-
sires to push the bill across. right or
wrong. The pork barrel members
do not like to have the various con
c~essions dissected and publicly dis
cussed and they are talking of over
riding those who have been holding
out for specific consideration to each
separate section of the big %appropria~
ton bill.
The pork barrel" combine had its
machinery better oiled In the senate
side, where 20 Of the AZ sections of
the bin were given general 20. k"
in one afternoon. On the house side
where a disposition was manifested
to go into the merits OF the appro-
p%riations, the first afternoon devoted
TO the omnibus bill disposed Of but
three sections.
With but a few days remaining OF
the South Dakota legislative session.
ii is apparent that the appropriation
combine will have a clear swing, rs
at all previous sessions. Petty on
cessions, judiciously distributed,
have lined up enough support for the
omnibus to carry 1t through although
il is doubtful If there is a member
in either body who favors all of the
appropriations designated.
The bill to gather in a part of the
present state game fund and pay old
time county game warrants out of it
was called back on reconsideration
and nawrsnH Il mill taIn nara nf
county claims, some of which are
nearly fifteen years old.
The Northwestern hospital for in
sane at Waterfowl has come through
the senate with only six dissenting
votes after Ii was defeated in the
house. This will bring il back as a
house issue. and strong efforts will
be made by the Watertown people to
get 1t through both houses at this
session and allow them TO begin
work on the institution at hat place.
The Berndt antilobby bill for state
officers came back for the third time
In the senate after being twice
killed" and goes OF the calendar for
another vote.
The house has passed the bill
which requires all receipts from auto
licenses which belong to the state to
be sent to the state treasury by coun-
~ t%reasurers instead of the present
system of making remittances to the
secretary of state, in whose depart
ment the business Is handled. The
bill reduces the auto licenses to half
the old rate, and without doubt the
requirement hat the remittanees to
the treasurer will bring that fund
more nearly into line with the gen
eral policy of handling state funds.
But the bill as it has passed the
house has put the cash into the state
fund, and requires the secretary of
state TO pay the clerks for handling
the department and sending out auto
tags, but makes no connecting link
between the two as to how the secre-
tary is TO get the money to make the
payment. The auto owners will have
to dig up, and the state will get the
money, but there is no appropriation
OF the fund for the use it is intended
for. and the constitution holds the
auditor and treasurer down in their
payments to money which is appro-
priated. Unless the connecting link
is put in by the senate the auto de-
partment will be in hard lines.
The road tax situation has been
complicated by a decision on the
! part of Attorney General Caldwell
who on inquiry of Representative
Tscharner. holds that under existing
statutes the county commissioners
!: nave no authority to levy a road tax
!: upon cities and organized civil town
!: ships in addition to the local levies
of these municipalities 1t has been
: the general custom for counties to
levy such taxes in the past and a few
days ago a bill passed the house reg
uiating the control and expenditures
of such taxes, which will not be hard
to look after under the decision OF
the attorney general.
The much talked Of text book bill
came out in the senate Saturday aft
ernoon without any recommendation
by the committee. and there will be
an effort on the part of the opposi-
ton to put ii out of existence as soon
! as the committee report is up to be
acted upon. The lobby on that par
ticular measure has been about as
active as upon anything else which
, has been up. the representatives OF
, the little book" supply houses being
, here in force, and charging that 1t is
a bill of the big concerns.
! That the allowance of expense ac.
counts for state officials in addition
to their salaries does not increase
their compensation" under the mean
ing of the constitution. is the opinion
of Attorney General Caldwell, on in
quiry of State Auditor Handlin on his
query as to the rights of members oil
the supreme court to draw $50 a
month each as expenses as provided
J by law at the 1911 session. He holds
! that expenses may be allowed in a
reasonable amount either on itemized
vouchers. or in lump sum-, and be
completely within the constitutional
: provisions. A bill to make a similar
allowance to other state officials was
defeated in the house on the ground
that it a unconstitutional. The
/ railway commissioners of the state