Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-02-06
PIERRE NEWS
Weekly Resume of Doings by the Legis.
lature-Written for Chronicle
by II. A. Robinson.

following three hours and half of fer
vent debate, lead by Beebe and stephens
on the affirmative and Vandemark and
Daley ON the negative, the South Da-
kota senate enacted the Beebe bill abo.
fishing capital punishment, 24-18-by one
vote more than the necessary majority
of all senators elect. The house earlier
in the week passed the identical Steele
bill by big majority. 1t is likely that
the Beebe bill will be showed through
the house without difficulty and as it is
la pet administration measure, the Co.
vernon will sign it, and South Dakota
will become the eighth state to have
abolished the death penalty.
Thursday the house turned down by a
large majority Swanson's Proposition to
prohibit employment of relatives in
their Offices by state officials. Within
twenty.four hours the senate passed, al
most without dissent Urdahl's identical
bill, which will now 60 through the
house gauntlet.
The McLean-Birch joint resolution
for the appointment of an investigating
committee to probe into ex-Anderson's
charge that the state could save $500,000
annually by business methods passed
both houses. The senate representa-.
tives appointed are Stiles, Van Denmark
and Anderson. Governor Peter Nor.
beck offered place on the committee
to several democrats, including Zebach,
Stutenroth and Daley. Ziebach stated
that as the recent investigating commit
tee had found no graft, there was no
need for an immediate successor. 1t is
understood that the four house members
will be largely Democrats and stalwarts,
so that the anti-administration forces
will have the majority.
The Berndt measure, abolishing the
1918 voluntary Highway Commission
has attracted much attention in the
senate, and was carried to final con-
sideration over an adverse committee
report; but final passage was postponed
until the Commission could be given
thorough hearing.
The anti-liquor forces have sprung
some of their measures during the week.
These include statewide prohibition by
constitutional amendment; daylight or
7 o'clock closing instead of 9:00 a law
enabling the league to get a liquor sell
ing pharmacist and law prohibiting
the sale of Intoxicating liquors within
five miles of the Soldiers Home.
The McClintock and Hagen bills fix
ing maximum interest rates at 10 per
cent we're both defeated in the senate,
after vigorous and prolonged debate.
A great fight occurred in the house
over Roberts bill appropriating 49, 900 to
cover deficiency of Farmers Institute
work for the remainder of this year.
1t was defeated once, and was again re-
considered, again failing to get the neces-
sary two thirds vote for a special appro-
priation.
Senator Isaac Lincoln's anti cigarette
measure, repeating the present statute,
stringently forbidding the smoking, sale
or giving of cigarettes to minors; but
legalizing sale to grown ups is attracting
much attention.
E. w. Anderson's Free Text Book
Bill, endorsed by the State Educational
Association has been reported favorably
out of the House Educational committee.
The Richards 1918 Information Bur-
eau law has been repealed in both
houses.
Senator L. l.. Stephens would place
the circle back at the head of the party
ticket on the general election ballot.
The Australian ballot was adopted in
1891, with the names placed in alpha
betical order; the names arranged in
party columes in 1892; in 1901 the circle
was placed at the head of the ticket, and
in 1918 it was removed.
The Bilger bill requiring old soldiers
to establish a three years residence in
south Dakota for admission to the state
Soldiers Home which has passed the
house, was occasioned by the fact that
many patients at the Battle Mountain
National Sanitarium, residents of other
states. when discharged camp in Hot
Springs until they become citizens OF
South Dakota and then demand entrance
to the home.
A township option herd law, sponsor
ed by some of the west country mem
bers if probability. At present he
who ranges his cattle does so at his
peril. The new plan would enable any
township or group of townships to es.
tablish free range.
Senator G. s. Amsden has introduced
an agricultural extension bill, enabling
South Dakota to secure the benefits o
Smith-Lever bill, whereby the state will
secure moneys from the national govern
ment for this purpose ranging from $l6
600 to $4,000, based on the present
population, whenever the state matches
the same in local appropriations. The
plan is to grant aid to counties who viii
make certain district appropriations
not exceeding 500 per township, in pro
portion to their contribution. The plar
includes state and district leaders.
The Bilger House bill creating De
putty Game Warden in lieu of the pres
ent stenographer, and another deput,
to care for the state game preserve. botf
to he paid from the game fund, passe,
the senate after much debate.
/ Jacobs of Brown, in behalf of tn,
Aberdeen Social Science Club has intro