The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-09-16
ELECTION LESSONS


ltiIt, otDl. 10 ue dtlOEIltA
general has this year prepared a con
densed statement on each of the CON
stitutional amendments and initiated
and referred laws which will appear
on the ballot this fall. This state
ment gives the purpose of the law in
question in concrete form, so that
every voter can know exactly what
the effect of a vote no" or yes"
will be on the question. This is a
new provision and should result in
each voter clearly understanding the
result of the passage of the law in
question. Four years ago, in the ses-
sion of 1913, such an act was intro
duced and passed, but through mis-
take was lost. 1t was brought out
again in 1915 and is now a South
Dakota law.
The secretary of state arranges the
constitutional amendments, initiated
and referred laws on the ballots and
the sample ballots, out today, show
that the following order has been as
signed:
Constitutional amendment No. l is
the one authorizing the state to en-
gage in the construction and main
tenGnce of good roads. and the sup
plying of coal from South Dakota
fields.
No. 2 is the amendment providing
for irrigation of agricultural land in
South Dakota, giving the Legislature
pense of the lands.
No. 3 relates to reyenue and fl
nance. As the constitution now
stands it authorizes the legislature to
make an annual tax levy of , mills
for ordinary purposes, , mills more
to pay interest and principal on the
public debt. and a sufficient amount
in addition 10 pay any deficiency in
general expenses which comes from
the preceding year. The amendment
limits the possible tax levy to > mills
for all purposes.
No. 4 is the amendment permitting
any county, or two or more counties
jointly, 10 establish a system of rural
credits. and thereby loan money and
extend credit to the people Of the
county upon real estate security.
No. 5 is the amendment providing
for the calling of a constitutional
convention.
No. 6 is the amendment providing
for woman's suffrage.
No. 7 is the amendment providing
for prohibition.
No. s is the amendment providing
for long term OF lease of school lands.
No. 9 is the amendment authoriZ-
ing the legislature TO fix the salaries
of state officers, removing the con
stitutional restrictions now i'm force.
The initiated and referred laws
are also given numbers.
No. is the Richards primary act,
initiated by Richards, which if enact
ed would repeal the present primary
law and revive the old Richards law
with some changes.
No. 2 is a liquor regulation law.
1t requires a majority of the electors
of any township, town or city in ia
vor of the sale of liquors at retail to
vote upon the question before the
corporate authorities are permitted
to grant license. The measure vas
passed by the legislature and was re-
z W. hA bAti w. ina IL n VI
ent law on the same subject, but
omits therefrom the words vote on
such proposition" thus making the
change above stated.
No. 3 is a bank guarantee measure.
This was initiated during the 1915
session, and later in that session a
banking measure was enacted, filling
the same purpose. Consequently if
this one is passed it will repeal the
1915 measure and will put in place
a new law on the same subject, diff
fering only in matters of detail.
No. A is another initiated bank
guaranty law.
No. 5 is a referendum on the act
passed by the legislature providing
for five-sixths jury verdict in civil
cases. Under the old law twelve
jurors must agree; under this ten
could pass a verdict.