The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-07
RECOMMENDS MANY
new AMENDMENTS
Attorney General, In Annual
Report, Suggests Important
Statute Changes.

Pierre, S. D., Dec. 6.-The attorney
general, in his annual report to the
governor, makes many legislative rec
concentrations in his letter of trans
initial, which is being sent to MEM
bers ELECT of the coming Legislature for
their consideration.
The attorney generals report Is for
the biennium ENDING November ID,
1915. The report advises statutes to
be enacted requiring the attorneys OF
the counties to furnish legal advice TO
all local public officers within their
district, and also to require the at
torney general to advise state officers
and boards other than those now mem
toned by statute. Unde the law, he
Is supposed to n opinions only to
states attorneys and certain state Of
ficers. The office has been rendering
opinions to all officials, boards and
state institutions, but it makes more
work than h attorney general can
take care OF.
Another recommendation is to dele
gate the administration of the blue sky
law to q special commissioner or at
least to q special assistant, because the
present statute making the securities
commission consist OF the public ex-
aminer. insurance COMMISSIONS and
attorney general means that these Of
ficials are too occupied with other du-
ties to give the time necessary to the
blue sky work which It deserves.
1t should be made the duty of some,
public officer to actually enforce the
laws of South Dakota, he advises. The
statutes imposed no special duty upon
the attorney general relative to en-
forcement Of law. "The theory Of our
statutes seems to be-" the attorney gen
eral says, that the people will spon-
~taneously enforce their own criminal
laws. In view especially OF the adop-
finn Qf the fpCant aIncftnn nf arfinIA
"a, Of the state constitution, prohibit
ing the manufacture and sale Of intoxi-
eating liquors, 1t occurs to me that 1t
Is OF the greatest Importance that 1t
be made the duty OF some public Of
ficer to execute and enforce our laws.
II local Officers are to be expected to
take primary responsibility in the en-
forcement Of the law, the statute
should definitely prescribe their duties
and furnish some general state officer
to supervise their work.
Notwithstanding the condition OF
our statutes In this respect, during the
past w years / have received a large
number of complaints from different
parts OF the state regarding numerous
violations Of the law, and have received
numerous requests and demands that
l see that the laws are enforced"
suggestions are mad for the amend
ment or q number OF statutes, among
them n n concerning the interest
paid by all repositories of state funds
shall be deposited to the credit of the
general fund Of the state. 1t is rec
commended that this section be amend
ed so as to require the interest on the
daily balance of the school funds be
credited to these funds and not to the
general fund of the state.
Recommendation to correct ambigu-
Gus statutes relating to the incorpora-
ton OF insurance companies, some Of
which require articles to be filed with
the insurance commissioner, others
with the secretary of tate. More
time is suggested for county auditors
to make the copy of lists of voters.
He further recommends that the
states attorney appear in all courts
and perform any and all legal services
for the county which may be required
OF him in his official capacity for the
salary provided by law. AT present he
is only required to appear in the circuit,
court while representing the county in
criminal actions. There are 20 rec
concentrations for amendments of laws
in his report.