The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-12-07
MANY
new AMENDMENTS
Attorney General, III Annual
Geport, 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 rams
initial, which is being sent to mem
5ers-elect of the coming Legislature for
their consideration.
The attorney generals report is for
he biennium ending November Is,
1916. 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
.orney general to advise state officers
and boards other than those now men
by statute. Under the law, he
s. supposed to render opinions only to
states attorneys and certain state Of
eicers. The office has been rendering
opinions to all officials, boards and
state institutions. but 1t makes more
work h the attorney general can
take care Of.
Another recommendation is to dele
gate the administration of the blue sky
law to a special commissioner or at
least to a special assistant, because the
present statute making the securities
commission consist of the public ex-
aminer, insurance commissioner and
attorney general means that these Of
f1cials are too occupied with other du-
ties to give the time necessary to the
blue sky work which 1t 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-
t~aneously enforce their criminal
In view especially of the adop-
l1On at the T4rant alaptinn nf arficla
24.fof the state constitution. prohibit
ing the manufacture and sale of intoxi-
caLlffg liquors, 1t occurs to me that il
Is of the greatest Importance that it
be made the duty of some public Of
ficer to execute nj enforce our laws.
take primary responsibility in the en-
forcement of the law, the statute
should definitely prescribe their duties
ana LurTlSn some general state officer
10 supervise their work.
Notwithstanding the condition of
statutes in this respect. during the
past two years / have received a large
number of complaints from different
parts of the state regarding numerous
Vlolatlons OF the law, and have received
numerous requests and demands that
! see that the laws are enforced"
suggestions are made for the amend
ment OF q number of statutes, among
LIZ oHc concerning the interest
paid by all repositories of state funds
shall be deposited to the credit of the
general fund of the state. It is rec
ommendad 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-
of insurance companies some ~
which require articles to be fled with
the insurance commissioner, others
with n secretary of state. 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
nnd 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
only required to appear in the circuit
our while representing the county in
actions. There are % rec
concentrations for amendments OF laws
In his report.