The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-21
THEiLEGISLATURE
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WILL GO
MUNICIPAL SUFFRAGE
FOR WOMEN.

Pierre, Jan. Elf the sentiment
in the senate is anywhere near in
proportion to that which exists in the
house, and there is every reason to
believe that ii is, the death knell of
capital punishment in South Dakota
has been sounded. III. ID. 81. de-
handing the abolition of the death
penalty in this state, passed the low
er assembly by a vote of 63 to "a.
This is considered a great victory for
Gov. Byrne, as II was placed first
among the recommendations which
he made to the legislature in his an
nual message.
The European war. which threat
ened to break put in the house
Through joint resolutions by Jacobs
and Labrie, memorializing congress
to prohibit the shipment of war mu-
nitlons to Europe, was settled so far
as hat body is concerned, by the vot-
ng down of both resolutions. The
idea that the state should not Inter
fere or even attempt to influence The
national congress in a matter apper-
tanning to international affairs pre-
vailed.
The senate's investigation of legis.
%lative clerks proved extremely short
lived. The committee appointed TO
inquire into the matter reported to
that body that all the third house"
were doing their duty and the recon-
~mendation was unanimously adopted.
II. b. 81, forcing express COM
panies and corporations to pay their
taxes and If not satisfied. TO seek re-
dress in court afterward. passed the
house without a dissenting vote.
The prospect of having municipal
| suffrage for women thrust upon them
by legislative enactment after they
had succeeded in escaping statewide
suffrage by constitutional amend
ment in the election last fall, is not
| pleasing to the liquor interests. and
| they are planning a coup which they
hope may interfere with the passage
of the municipal suffrage bin. The
/ plan is for them to become ardent
| suffragists all at once and insist on
no halfway measures. So these
forces that have opposed woman suf-
fragc as a constitutional amendment
may now be found urging and insist
ing that an amendment be passed
and submitted by this legislature for
that very thing.
Plainly. municipal suffrage as con-
templated in the bill which Mrs. Pyle
at the head of the suffrage forces at
the capital. has had drawn and sub
mitted to the attorney general before
introducing 1t, would be just as bad
for the liquor interests. South Da-
kota towns decide for themselves
whether they shall be wet" or dry"
and IL the women may vote for city
and town officers and for all meas
ures put to vote by cities and towns,
they will have just as much to say
about the sale of liquor in South Da-
kota as though they could vote for
governor and congressman.
That may be why the women were
willing to accept partial suffrage at
the hands of this legislature with a
fair prospect that they would get 1t
without waiting two years and risk
ing defeat again in a vote no" cam
paign at the hands of the people. But
the liquor interests would prefer to
nut off the issue, and will likely COM
ulicate matters seriously by muster
ing their forces in favor OF changing
the constitution to permit women to
vote. III they can get through the
amendment instead of the municipal
suffrage bill, there will be a delay OF
two years and the chance that suf-
frage will be defeated at the polls as
1t was before.
The bill of Thompson of Mime
haha, which was reported favorably
in the house, cuts only $500 from
the original amount asked for the
penitentiary at Sioux Falls, which
was $125,4S2. This will permit the
purchase of the stone quarry asked
for. enlarging the Irvine plant and ex-
tending the prison wall to make room
for the new building.
A bill that passed the senate Is by
Urdahl OF Lake. making it possible
to take mortgages on crops in favor
OF the lessons of land for the whole
lease period.
Senator Sheafe's bill, IL passed,
will give Watertown a start toward
it's insane hospital to be known as
the Northwestern hospital for the
insane. 1t calls for $4,000 for Sc
curing plans. building a barn and
other preparations for the prospect
i've institution.
The joint committee of the two
houses appointed to investigate the
matter OF construction of a govern
or's mansion presented its report, in
which 1t is recommended that the
lpresent session make provisions for
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