Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-01-02
The LEGISLATURE
Coming Session of Legislative is the Next
Event in Importance in State
Public Affairs

1 <1udlIS. .
Pierre. 30.-The Fourteenth Biennial
Session of the South Dakota legisla ture
convenes at Pierre, at noon, Tuesday,
January 9th, 1915. The first day is de-
voted to the Inauguration of the Cover
nor and the various major state officials
and the completion of the organization
of both houses. This includes the cleo
tion of the Speaker of the House; the
Chief Clerk of the House, and the minor
elective positions. Of the 103 house
members S4 are Republicans and 10
Democrats. OF the Republicans 81 are
majority, 81 minority members. with
two representatives of unknown politi-
cal complexion. OF the As senators. "a
are Republicans and IL Democrats. The
Democrats regularly occupy one side of
the senate which is jocularly called
"The Cherokee Strip"
Since the November election friend
ly battle has been waged between c. A.
Christopherson of Minnehaha and P. J.
Tacharner of Perkins-the 1918 speaker
for the Craftsmanship of the house.
Caristopherson is said to control the
Republican caucus. G. w. Gardner of
Hand is the only candidate out in the
open for the Chief Clerkship, and is re-
ported to have sufficient pledges to land
the job. Will Van Camp-an old house
member-is reported to have signed up
enough votes to land him the Secretary
of the Senate position. The number of
candidates for the minor elective and
appointiye positions is legion-fve can
didates to the place is considered a con-
servative estimate-and during the first
days of the session the lobbes swarm
with would-be assistants to the legisla-
ture.
This should be preeminetly business
session The direct vote for United States
senator" constitutional amendment rob-
bed the legislature of its most spectacu-
lar function-so with no senator to elect
serious work will begin right off the bat.
The big apparent work from this van
tage point appears to be taxation reform.
In 1911 our present tax commission was
agitated; in 1918 it was created, with
power and instructions to thoroughly
study our revenue system and report to
the 1915 session. This commission was
done and it is understood that COM
plete new revenue code has been drafted
together with half dozen proposed con-
stitutional amendments. The issue pre-
sents big possibilities for constructive
statesmenship.
We haye now had one election under
the Richards Primary. The effort to
repeal it in toto failed. There is great
divergence of opinion as to its merits;
one camp favoring complete repeal and
substitution of new primary law; the
other desiring to remodel it where it
may have proved weak. 1t is certain
that advocates of both lines of procedure
will attempt to secure new legislation.
There appears to be very nice legal
question as to whether the legislature
has any power at all to interfere with
law enacted by the people. That it has
no such power is the position of Mr..
Richards and is strongly supported by
many eminent lawyers. Mr.. Richards
will resist attempt at direct legislative
interference. He, himself, will present
several amendments for submission to
the people. 1t seems likely that the
question will ultimately get into the
courts on the Richards Primary issue
and final adjudication secured.
1t is likely that new law will be
sought whereby judicial primaries will
be kept out of partisan infuence-with
all candidates for circuit and supreme
judge running as independents.
Supt Holsaple of the Anti-saloon Lea
que has moved bis headquarters to Pierre
for the legislature and will bend every
effort towards securing further anti
liquor legislation. The saloon interests
will have regular organization in re-
buttal. There is some suggestion that
statewide prohibition amendment will
be sought. However. it seems that the
conservative temperance men will be
content with revision of the 1918 local
option law, whereby the words "voting
on such proposition" which were forged
into the engrossed bill, after they had
been stricken out on the floor of the
house-may be removed. Under this
enactment majority of those voting on
the liquor issue is all that is required
under the law as the legislature intend
ed majority of all votes cast was neces-
sary.
1t has not been made public whether
or not the ladies will seek another sub
mission of the suffrage issue. They are
the most picturesque of campaigners
and during the session food the loobies
with cut flowers, etc. 1t is certain there
legislative committees will be on the
Job, with some sort of a betterment idea.
The irrigation amendment enabling
districts to be formed and bonded for
irrigation purposes, which was defeated
by small majority last November-will
again be suggested to the legislature for
submission.
| HARRY A. ROBINSON.
The output of South Dakota gold mines
this year was valued at $7,27O,0O0, COM
pared with $7,3l9, ,294 in 1918, according