The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-02-05
THE LEGISLATURE
GEO. TX. FARMER OF MADISON
EXPLAINS THE TENT
BOOK BILL.

known as mouse Dill Oh or the text
book bill, is here from Madison, eX-
planning the provisions of the meas
ure to those who want more light.
He came at the request of friends OF
the bill, who believe that it is all
right in its general lines, and want
to help carry ii through with a few
slight amendments as to the MAXI
mum book prices, but who were not
as familiar with It's features as Mr..
Farmer, who took up the work of
drafting for the committee of the
state association. He has been busy
answering questions Of those who
want to learn just what is not clear
TO them. In this relation there is OBJ
lection to the measure on the ground
that there are a lot Of book contracts
which will not expire until 1917. and
10 pass a law at this time would not
help the situation in any way. But
the supporters OF the new act say If
the old law stands there will be a
lot of preliminary work done in 1916
on contracts. a little referendum
work on any act presented in two
years would allow new contracts to
Wall " all0RAitA v NtoiR H1N "
law now will in no way affect the ex-
listing contracts, but will be ready
before anything new can be sprung
on the people in that manner. In
fact, there is so much manipulation
that some of the members are eX-
pressing a belief that the big book
companies are back of all the discus
sion and talk going, i'm regard to 81,
and that enough dust may stop prog
ress. But that is something too deep
for the average man to get at the
bottom of,
Senator Whittemore moved a re-
consideration of the vote of the day
previous by which the bill giving the
legislature power to fix salaries of
state officials was amended to make
the necessary majority three-fourths
instead of tw%o-thirds. He said a
three-fourths vote of the senate was
"a. The Cherokee strip might defeat
any proposal by the legislature to fix
a salary. S%tutenroth said no larger
majority should be required on a sal
airy proposition than Tor any other
appropriations. Urdahl urged the
need OF safeguarding the treasury.
The motion to reeosider failed. IL to
81. McClintock moved an amend
ment TO make the bill read instead of
Elk salaries" increase pay to an
amount commensurate with the du-
ties of the officials" The amendment
carried. Stoner did not like the
form OF the resolution. He believed
salaries are too low and wanted the
proposed increases named In the res
olution. Browne thought there was
no more chance for such an amend
ment than for the proverbial snow
ball in regions below. Hayes believ-
ed the people were in the main gen
erous and fair to public officials and
that the synopsis of the measure to
be prepared by the attorney general
would make all clear.
The new bill which is being work
ed out to prevent the selling of blue
sky" in South Dakota provides for a
different method OF checking the ven
ders in the unstable commodity.
Whereas under the old law Ii was left
to the securities commission to deter
mine whether DR. not investment
companies seeking to do business in
the state offered a reasonable chance
for investors to earn interest on their
money, the plan now is merely to
provide severe punishment for frauds
In investment offerings. 1t is alleged
that no commission can determine
certainly the value of an investment.
Instead of passing on investments.
they are now to enforce fraud laws
and II Is believed the heavy penalties
provided for fraud will check the dis
position of fraudulent companies to
operate in this state.
The bunny hug" law which gave
South Dakota some n~otoriety in the
freak legislation line two years ago.
Is not freak legislation at all. accord
ing to the sober judgment of the
house. which by a decisive vote re-
fused to take favorable action on the
bill TO repeal the act. One member
went so far as to say ii was the best
law passed by the 1913 session. Ii
prohibits the grizzly BEAR" snake
wrestle." turkey trot." bunny hug
and all suggestive and immoral
dances. The committee that had the
bill to repeal the law under consid-
GRAFTON thought best to leave it on
the statute books and the house
voted to sustain this decision. 81 to
10.
South Dakota must get along with
out its famous swapping law" In
order to get rid of ii as quickly as
possible the house had passed an
amendment and the law, n of the
products of the legislative instincts
of r. o. Richards of Huron, will be
repealed as soon as the governor
signs the bill.
Incidentally the several counties OF
the state will have on hand some ex-
pensive seventeen-column blank fl
ing books in which ii was hoped by
the author of the bill that laboring
men would record their need of work
and employers their need of labor
with the result that the jobs and the
jobless would be brought together.
The law never fulfilled its purpose
and ST few made use of it that il was
practically a dead letter.
Hot Springs representatives in
force were before the house temper
ance committee protesting against
the house bill to prevent the sale OF
liquor within five miles of the SOL
diers' home. They protested that il
was mt fair fa cfup1a ouf Hot CnrSpps