The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-01-28
The LEGISLATURE
INVESTIGATION or STATES
METHOD OF ACCOUNTING
is OPPOSED.

Pierre, Jan. 2S.-The monotony of
the legislative recess was relieved by
columns of protest and criticism in
some OF the newspapers, especially
the Pierre newspapers. directed at
the proposed investigation of the
states method of accounting and au-
diting and of expenditures for capitol
maintenance during the preceding
two years. These have been supple
mented by open letters from the for
mer state auditor and the former
secretary of state. following along
| the same lines. Some OF the protest
Is hurled at Senate Bill 76 by Hans
Urdahi of Lake county, which pro-
vides for taking the management and
supervision of the state capitol build
ing and grounds out of the hands OF
the secretary of state and making the
governor responsible therefor.
Mr.. Urdahl comes In for a large
share OF the condemnation OF the
proposed Investigation, but those WHIT
are familiar with the quiet work thai
Is being done along this line know
that the Lake county man is by mt
means alone In the research worl
that is being carried on. Any one OF
a dozen men In the senate and house
| would carry on the work If Mr.. Ur-
dahl were to drop Ii for any reason,
and they are actively engaged in
helping to dig up the facts that may
be brought out later.
No particular reason is assigned
for the opposition TO the proposed in
vestigation, and as to the bill to
make the governor superintendent of
the ~statehouse the only direct objec-
ton made is the claim that IL would
create a new office. This Mr.. Urdahl
author of the bill, has already re-
futed by saying that the deputy pro-
vided for In the bill will take over
the entire duties of the head ~janitor
who is now paid a salary of $500
per year.
| A talk with a number OF members
of the legislature just before they
left the capitol for the recess vaca-
ton. shows that they are in favor of
a thorough investigation of the
| claim made by the former state au-
| ditor that the state could save $780,
600 by proper management. This in
vestigation will, of course, lead di-
rectly TO the auditors department
for the facts and figures on which
such a claim might be based and to
the secretary of states department
which directs the expenditure OF
large sums for capitol maintenance.
There should be no objection to this,
say these members. as IL there is
nothing wrong the investigation will
bring out the facts. and as long as
the claim was made by the state au-
ditor in a formal report at the end OF
his term he should have no objection
to a thorough look into the possibility
OF saving that half million to the
state.
One of the warm fights in prospect
for the coming weeks of the session
Is oil the proposal to correct the error
In the law fixing the percentage OF
votes required in any city or town to
legalize the sale of liquor. 1t is be-
lieved the liquor interests will make
their chief fight of the session around
this measure. for il the words "vot-
ing on the proposition" which 1t Is
claimed were wrongfully inserted in
the bill are taken out. many towns
where saloons are now running will
go dry. The requirement for a per
cent of the total vote instead of the
voets cast on the license proposition
will make ii much more difficult to
vote in the saloons.
The little red books. containing in
concise form, information which the
legislators require daily for reference
will soon be ready for distribution.
These books were not printed last
session. but were so missed by the
members that there was no opposi-
ton to the plan to have them printed
as soon as possible for the use OF the
legislators.
A bill providing for the closing of
pool and billiard halls and bowling
| alleys at 9 o'clock on week days and
all day Sunday is being prepared by
Representative Donahue of Trip
county. The bill calls for the strict
exclusion of minors and the abolition
of vending machines of all kinds. In
explaining the need of such a law
Mr.. Donahue said:
I'm the smaller towns of the state,
the pool halls do NOR damage to the
young boys than the saloon and l find
that many members Of both branches
OF the legislature entertain the same
opinion that l do that they should be
under stricter regulation than they
are now. and 1t is for this reason that
l am prompted to promote this piece
OF legislation which I regard ~ nec-