Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1915-02-20
PIERRE NEWS
Weekly Resume of Doings by the Legis-
lature-Written for Chronicle
BY H, A. Robinson.

majority of l.. One day the pro forces
would have a majority and the ants
would jockey to prevent final roll call
the next day one or two votes would be
changed or a senator absent, and the
other side would have the offensive.
The object was finally attained by chang.
ing the rules, so that the other could re.
fuse to recognize dilatory motion to ad.
ljourn, lay on the table, indefinitely post
pone etc.
Late Saturday the Senate defeated
the Berndt senate bill abolishing the
Voluntary State Highway Commission
1924. following one of the most bitter
fights of the session, lead by Berndt,
Kuhns, Odland and others for abolition.
and Chairman Stutenroth of the High
ways Committee as chief opposition.
Earlier in the week the like Eyenson
house bill was killed in senate on COM
mttee report.
The Withee bill granting suffrage to
women on unconstitutional officers
passed the should 59-40, and is now be-
fore the senate, the elections committee
Of which has reported it in without re-
commentators. The anti forces say
that they will refer it to the people.
An attempt was made to carry it with
the emergency, by which method it
could be prevented from being referred,
but it lacked ten votes of the necessary
two-thirds majority.
| The senate elections committee, after
working most of the session upon it, has
reported in favorably the McMaster bill,
repeating the Richards law and re.en-
acting the old Crawford primary with
provision for direct election, of United
States senator and for the creation of
new parties. Its hackers believe that if
it cannot be passed through the legis-
lature with the emergency, that it will
likely be referred, and that it will stand
better chance with the voters if an old,
rather than new proposition is put up.
| The MISUNDERSTANDING committee,
Senator Van Denmark. chairman, has
been engaged all week in its work. ex-
amining Executive Accountant Truran
and ex-Auditor Henry B. Anderson. but
will not make report until 50th day.
On Saturday, Senator o. j. Lundley of
Gregory county introduced the look ed
for statewide prohibition of manufacture
and sale of intoxicants constitutional
amendment as outlined by the anti
saloon league earlier in the session. If
the legislature fails to pass it on to the
people, the league has already for intro
duction an initiated resolution fol con-
stitutional amendment in this line. The
Withee bill prohibiting sale of liquor
| within five miles of the Soldiers Home,
which would haye put Hot Springs dry,
lost in the house after being amended
to prohibit sale of liquor within five
miles of any state institution. A bill re-
quiring pharmacists to sell alcohol only
on affidavit that the same Is not to be
used as beverage; and the Birch meas
ure requiring majority Of all votes cast
to carry liquor election are before the
house.
The Stutenroth constitutional amend
ment, permitting the legislature to in
crease constitutional officers salaries by
two-thirds vote passed the senate.
1t is understood that the Bankers AS
sociation and Observation-Disclosures
measure will be pushed.
The Waltner bill, abolishing the
Springfield Normal will be up early the
coming week, after having been placed
on calendar by house after committee
report without recommendations. The
advocates of a normal school for th e
Rosebud, to be located at Bonesteel ha We
maintained lobby here the past few
weeks, and bill creating the same has
been introduced in the senate.
Senator Dayid Paterson's bill increas-
ing the age limit for compulsory educa-
ton from IA to l6 years passed the
senate.
Sunday baseball was defeated in the
house by big margin, in an effort to
repeal the present Sunday amusement
law. 1t was of special interest to the
hackers of the proposed South Dakota
State League. A bill has gone into the
senate, providing for local option on
Sunday baseball.
The Urdahl bill, placing the custodian.
ship of the state house in the hands oi
the Governor, instead of the Secretary
of State as formerly, passed the senate
by big majority.
The Stephens bill, returning the circle
to the head of the party column on the
general election ballot. which was abo
lshed two years ago, passed the senate
by close margin.
The house turned down $4,000 ap
preparation for initial improvement oi
the grounds of the proposed Watertown
Hospital for the Insane, on site already
designated Immediately adjacent to the
city. Ruhlman has introduced a bill
creating an inebriate hospital in con
nection with the present insane hospita
at Yankton, the patient to remain for {
minimum of 80 days, or until cured. ant
to be released only on taking stric
pledge.
| The Malm bill, requiring the readini
of the bible in public schools each day
without comment whatsoever, passed
the house.
The Birch bill, requiring inspection o
!. converts by county commissioners wa
killed in house by parlmeatary trick
and has been reintroduced. 1t has me
decided Catholic opposition