The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-02-11
HOUSE AB0L|SHES
ROAD COMMISSION
VOLUNTARY HIGHWAY COMMITS
SION is DONE AWAY WITH
BY ONE HOUSE
FREE TEXT BOOKS BILL PASSES HOUSE
The Opponents of Abolition Of Capital
Punishment Are Making Strenu-
Gus Fight on Two Measures

Opponents of abolition of capital
punishment are making strenuous
efforts to prevent passage by either
house of either the Beebe senate bill
which pulled a 24-18 affirmative vote
IN the house of origin, or the Steele
house bill which got through with a
1924 majority. A majority of all mem.
bers elect or % votes in senate, and
50 votes in house is necessary to pass
any measure, so that two votes will
turn the tide in senate and ten in
house.
The Anderson of Clark-State Edu-
c~ational Association free text book
bill, providing for selection of texts
by local districts, said to have had the
combined opposition of all the big
book companies who did not like the
idea of canvassing each district has
passed the house. Speaker C. A.
Christopherson, for the first time this
session, left his chair to champion
free texts on the floor.
The house has abolished the 1913
State Voluntary Highway Commission,
and its final fate is now before the
senate. Friends of good roads are
1ocking to it's support.
The governors residence committee
has reported, giving plans for a bun
gallo effect home, to cost from $27, 900
to $4,000 complete, varying in cost as
to material used.
The Howe Irrigation district consti-
tutional amendment which passed the
house, was amended in senate com.
mittee to permit the state to engage
in all internal improvements, on two.
thirds vote of legislature, but is still
awaiting passage in this form by sen
ate and afirmance of amendment by
the house.
Speaker c. A. Christopherson has
appointed Rep. Birch, Swanson, Tsch-
arner and Martin, to act with senators
Stiles, VanDemark and Anderson rs
members of the Birch-McLean Legisla-
tive Investigating committee. 1t is
expected to query ex-State Auditor
Anderson during the coming week re-
garding statements of huge savings IN
state expense through business meth
nual report. Mr.. Anderson has pre-.
DDS, as advocated by him in his az
pared a current open letter for the
press advocating the consolidation Of
state schools; reduction of the state
administration boards by placing all
der one board of three members; with
power to levy tax and apportion pro-
ceeds. He does not show any actual
graft in state administration.
The Patterson-Waltner bill, intro
duced in either house, provides that
the administration of the motor Ii
cense business shall be retained in
the Secretary of States office, instead
of being placed with the treasurer as
limited earlier in the session, with fee
fixed at $500 for dealers, $500 for
a tos and $1.00 for motorcycles. $50
of the funds thus raised is to remain
in the county to be employed by the
commissioners in improving roads.
The Waters-Withee Illinois plan,
municipal universal suffrage measure,
which the ladies are pushing with
might and main, is before committee
in either house. 1t is reported that
the committeeman are much divided
as to their opinions, and that the
house committee will report it out
without recommendation. The ants
and s~uffragettes held a debate before
the joint committees early in the
week.
The Withee No-sale-of-liquor-with!n
Home bill,
which, if enacted, will force Hot
Springs dry, was pulled by house over
adverse majority temperance commit
tee report and will be dealt with on
its merits on floor.
The primary is being wrestled with
by the elections committees, and a
modification of the McMaster senate
bill, which provided for the repeal of
the Richards primary, and the re-
enactment of the old Crawford pri-
mary with amendments to fit present
conditions, is the likely recommenda-
ton.
Whether OF not the legislature will
retain county Farmers Institutes Is a