Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-03-06
PIERRE NEWS
Weekly Resume of Doings by the Legis-
lature-Written for Chronicle
by H. A. Robinson.

and the Fourteenth Session of the South
Dakota Legislature will adjourn. The
session has been marked by the low
numbers of bills introduced, the large
number of proposed laws nipped in COM
mittee; and the larger number killed on
the floor.
That ex-Auditor Henry B. Anderson's
statement that the state could save n
half million dollars annually bv appli.
cation of proper business methods was
unwarranted; and that the state legal
department should look into the late ad-
mnistration of the Secretary of States
Office are the principle and unanimous
findings Of the legislative investigating
committee, consisting of three progress
ives, two stalwarts and two democrats.
The neutrality-suspicious. committee
General Appropriation bill was intro
| duced in both houses late in the week,
and consideration began on Saturday
afternoon. 1t carries $2.76l. 800 for the
next two years. The General bill in
1918 as passed carried $2,46l ,4S4.
Statewide prohibition constitutional
amendment passed senate with 32 votes,
and is now before the house. The Birch
bill requiring majority of all votes cast
to carry liquor election has passed both
houses This is the 1918 measure which
passed house in this form. but by design
or accident was engrossed with the
words "voting on this proposition" in
serted, which destroyed the purpose of
the act, and was SO slipped through the
senate. The Anti-saloon League meas
ure requiring druggists to sell liquor on
affidavit that same is not to be used as a
beverage, was killed in house. Its meas
ure prohibiting sale in unincorporated
places passed that body $3.50. 1t will
effect about sixty saloons.
The Rural Credits constitutional
amendment finally passed house, after
occasioning great fight, lead by Rine-
hart of Pennington, to include internal
improvements. If this measure is en-
acted by the people, it will permit the
state to borrow large sums on its own
credit at very low interest rates, and
distribute this money, as the school
funds are now prorated to the counties,
which in turn will lend them to farmers
on first mortgage security at low rates.
Statewide suffrage constitutional
amendment passed house aud is now be.
fore the senate, where there is said to
be enough votes pledged to carry it.
The Rosebud Normal creative bill lost
in the senate by a small majority, bat
WAS killed in house before getting to a
roll call vote by being refused a place
on the calendar.
The House passed the Malm bill re-
quiring reading of the bible daily in
public schools, without sectarian COM
ment; the senate passed it amended to
may read;" the conference committee
changed it back to ''shall'in which form
it is now enacted.
The house passed the joint-select COM
mttee bill appropriating $50, 900 for the
revision of South Dakota laws into a
comprehensive code, under commits
sion appointed and directed by the su-
preme court.
The Stoner local option for Sunday
baseball, passed senate by one vote. The
house earlier in session killed bill throw
ing bar down on this subject.
The Labrie FIVE sixths civil jury bill
has passed both houses, so that in the
future 10 men will bring in the verdict
in civil cases.
The senate passed Amsden bill, against
opposition of riends of the Voluntary
Highway Commission, who wanted the
funds for its support, returning the nine
thousand dollars of the auto fund to the
counties whence it came for benefit of
roads.
The Governors residence propositio n
was killed in house, after the proposition
of buying one or the other of two large
homes in Pierre, or constructing on State
House grounds was thoroughly dis
cussed.
r. o. Richards primary amendments
were initiated and certified to both
houses the middle of the week. The
McMaster rejuyenation of the old Craw'
ford primary repeating the Richards
law passed the senate early in the week,
and is said to have majority of house
| favorable. Richards will carry the
question of repeal of his referred law by
the legislature to the courts.
The senate has kept abreast of the
calendar day by day, but the no use has
moved slower, holding longer debate
on nearly every proposition, and conse
auently has had to have morning anG
evening sessions for the week, past, and
will likely have to continue till th,
close.
The house defeated the Swanson bill
amending the 1918 printing law SO tha
state printers with plants of at least tw,
years establishment might bid on stat
supplies. This would cut out foreigi
competition, and that of the purely sta
tionery houses.
Bilger's bill permitting a county t.
exterminate prairie dogs at maximum
expense of SIG per quarter, and charg
it against the land finally passed tn
house after being once defeated and re
considered.
The Anderson free text book bill
which passed house last week, is no'
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