The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-14
WEEKLY LETTER
FROM PIERRE
OoiNGS OF THE WEEK AT THE
STATE CAPITOL AMONG THE
LAWMAKERS
BATTLE OVER RICHARDS PRIMARY LAW
The Law Has Some Supporters and
There Will Likely Be Warm Fight
Legislative Gossip Of Week

Pierre, January 10.-Governor Frank
M. Byrne's recommendation in his In.
augural message that capital punish
ment be abolished in South Dakota is a
feature of the rather slow first week
OF the South Dakota legislature. It has
found response in bills introduced in
either house by Senator M. Pin Beebe
of Ipswich and Representative Geo. N.
Steele of Highmore. Maine, Michigan,
Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Kansas
at present are without the death
penalty.
The first shots in the big battle
which will be fought against and in
defense OF the Richards primary were
fired this week by the republican state
central committee, which condemned
1t and appointed a committee with
Chairman John l.. Lockhart at its
head to submit a substitute to the
elections committees; and by Repre-
sentative B. F. Ruhlman of Faulk,
who introduced a resolution in the
house calling for revision or repeal,
which however. was bereft of its
thorns by a fight on the floor led by
Blake Of Huron. Richards announced
intention to fight revision or repeal
except through the people means a
certain hot fight.
Representative John I. Howe of
Stanley has early introduced a resolu.
ton for the submission Of an irriga.
ton amendment to the constitution
the same that lost last fall-which will
permit the legislature to provide for
the formation of irrigation districts of
lands appurtenant to the same water
source, the election Of officers and the
issuance Of bonds for improvements.
Mr.. Howe believes that its enactment
by the legislature and people will do
much to enable the struggling trans
Missouri communities to get on their
feet by their own individual efforts.
The South Dakota Voluntary High.
way Commission Of which z. C. Issen-
huth. Redfeld. Ben M. Wood, Rapid
City and N. o. Monserud are members,
is well satisfied with the 1911 county
unit good roads law and it's workings,
-and for the present is combining it's
propaganda to securing a law for con.
vict labor on highways; and an ppro-
priation Of 500, 900 to construct high
ways on state lands and on the state
lines.
There are three bank guaranty bills
before the legislature. The first was
initiated by Chairman James Codey
Of the democratic state central CON-
mittee last June; the second was in
'tiated this week by the South Da-
kota Bankers Association, and the
third, practically similar to the bank
er's bill is supported by the admins
t%ration, and was introduced in the
senate by McMaster of Yankton, and
in the house by Tscharner Of Perkins
county. Sentiment seems favorable
to some sort Of a guaranty law. Which
n will prevail is a big question?
Statewide prohibition is the pro.
gram of the South Dakota anti-saloon
league announced through it's superin-
tendent r. s.. Holsaple who arrived on
the ground this week. 1t will require
a constitutional amendment, which he
thinks the Legislature will be ready to
submit. The liquor forces are repres-
ented this season by H. B. Schlichting
of the Central City brewery.
The women's suffrage ladies have
not as yet decided what they are after
although another attempt at the sub
mission of a universal suffrage amend
ment may be the result. However,
many are to be seen in the Hobbies
becoming acquainted with the new
generation Of legislators.
A soil survey of the entire state. is
the hobby of Representative J. G. Nc
Farland Of WATERFOWL. and the object
Of the first house bill of the 1915 ses-
sion, which he sponsored. The meas
Ire provides for an analysis OF the
soils Of South Dakota, Of which the
number is legion. and the establish
ment of demonstration plots. IN pri.
vate lands In each soil district where
the proper treatment Of that particu-
lar soil will be taught under the direc-
ton Of State College agronomy ex-
perts who will have the whole matter