The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-28
LETTER
FROM PIERRE
REGISTERS CORRESPONDENT AT
CAPITAL TELLS OF THE
WEEKS DOINGS
FIVE IMPORTANT MEASURES ARE UP
Bank Guaranty, Suffrage, the Liquor
Question and the Primary Are the
Matters Most Prominent
Pierre, January Is.

Pierre, January Is.
Five paramount questions are be-
fore the South Dakota Legislature:
bank guaranty, taxation, suffrage, the
liquor issue and the primary.
There are three separate guaranty
propositions. The McMaster or Ad-
ministration bill now before the SEN
ate; the Whitlock or Bankers Asso-
cation bill both initiated and before
the Legislature for direct enactment;
and the Coffey or Democratic measure.
The administration and bankers
bills differ little vitality except in this
particular. The administration bill
provides that in case of disagreement
between the public examiner and
other members of the governing board,
appointed by the governor from nomi-
nees of the banking association; her
the governor and attorney general
shall act with the three regular mem.
bers in asking final adjudication. The
bankers bill provides no such rem
edy. The administration advocates
argue that in case of life or death of
banks, the direct representatives of
the people should make ultimate deter
mination.-
The tax commission measure, re-
curing express companies to pay dis
puted taxes into the treasury, and
then sue to determine rights, instead
of enjoining tax as in the past and
getting use Of the money until they
took the case to the supreme court,
has become a law. About 500, 900 is
tied up at present by injunctions. A
constitutional amendment, giving the
tax commission power to classify
property for taxation purposes has
been introduced In the house.
The Waters-Withe Illinois plan
suffrage limited to unconstitutional
officers bill has been introduced in
both houses. Suffrage leaders say
that If this is not enacted they will
again submit universal suffrage to the
people, for which proposition they are
said to have sufficient votes in either
house.
The Birch bill, remedying the 1913
local option law, secured a majority of
all votes cast, rather than a majority
of votes cast for liquor to secure Ii
cense, Is the first anti-saloon measure
introduced. A statewide prohibition
constitutional amendment is expected.
The McMaster bill, substituting the
old Crawford primary. with minor
notifications, for the Richards pri-
mary has been presented. Richards
is said to be initiating certain amend
ments to his own law.
An uniform Blue Sky law, giving the
State Securities Commission power to
dissaprove fraudulent concerns;
rather than to license solvent COM
panies whose plan Of business prom
ises a fair return, as under the old law,
Is to be presented by Roberts Of Day.
Ex-Secretary of State Glasner and
Senator Hans Urdahl of Lake, have
carried on a newspaper letter cam
paign regarding Urdahl's charges of
m~alfeasance in office.
The regular legislative recess was
called Thursday noon, the Legislature
to n on Tuesday the 9th.
The Gregory county delegation Cox
in the senate, seek to have a new nor
NAL school located at Bonesteel; and
argue that the state should supply the
great Rosebud country, now without
adequate educational facilities.
The j~oint-select committee on the
construction of a governors residence
reported unanimously in favor of the
same, and were redirected TO prepare
plans and specifications for later sub
mission to the legislature.
The 1856 schedule contains the
building program for the future.
The State Land Department has pre-
pared a constitutional amendment, in
troduced in the house, to enable it to
lease state lands for twenty years,
with %appraisals every Ave years.
The state abolition Of capital punish
ment bill passed the house. and Is now
before the senate. The Beebe bill.
idsnticall In form ID before The senate
With favorable Judiciary COMMITTEES ~