Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-03-08
Legislature Just Adjourned En-
acted Important Laws.
STATE is MADE BONE DRY
Rural Credits Act, New Highway Meas
ure and Internal improvements
Amendments Next in Line.


plished the session Of the legislature
just ended has been a remarkable one,
comparable only to the first and tenth,
and perhaps exceeding both OF those.
Some of the things of paramount i'm,
p0rtance may be mentioned. In the
ordinary mind perhaps the first place
should be accorded to the bone dry
prohibition law. This is expected to
do more for good morals than II
other act of any legislature. With the
machinery provided for it's enforce.
ment, including the state c~onstabulary,
it seems to be the last word in the
attempt to improve personal conduct
by law. Evidently public sentiment
supports the movement and much is
confidently expected from the measure.
\ = 4.
Next to this, and much more impor-
tant in a material way, is the rural
credits act, which is expected to sup
ply to actual farmers all the money
they require for their business at min
imum interest and easy payments run
ming over thirty years. When it is
understood that in much of Western
South Dakota rates for farm loans
ran as high as 10 per cent, and a COM
mission in addition, the value of rural
credits will be appreciated. Since it
is doubtful II a loan ever will be
made under the complicated and bur
densome conditions of the federal act
DIR state act becomes more vital.
X K X
The new highway law perhaps Is
third in order. 1t clothes the highway
commission with ample power and pro-
vides maintenance, and accepts the
benefits of the Shackleford bill passed
by congress.
Il !. i.
The several constitutional amend.
ments submitted relating to internal
improvements put up to the people
the right to say Just how far they want
to go in conserving and developing the
natural resources of South Dakota.
They may go the full length, taking
off the lid utterly, or they may limit
such activities to n or more specific
lines, as power, cement, hail insur-
ance. etc. In addition they may make
each of these enterprises stand upon
its own feet and finance itself, or they
may grant power to the state to lend
its credit to them.
4 Il j.
The new military code revolution
ICES the state militia to meet the de-
mands of the new army bill. 1t ae-
cepts all of the privileges and respon-
sibilities of the federal act and is TN
extensive enactment.
+ II \.
The irrigation code provides for the
organization of irrigation districts
and for bonding the same to provide
funds for irrigating agricultural lands,
It is a mighty important measure to
large sections of the state and under
it the benefits effected by the Belle
Fourche project will be multiplied in
other regions.
The provision for investigating the
possibility of providing our people
with coal from our own mines is likely
TO result in an annual saving OF many
millions of dollars. With the advanced
rates OF this season 1t is probable that
South Dakota's coal bill approximates
$14.000,000. We expect to save at
least one-half this amount by develop.
ing our " rich Ignite mines.
4 i j.
These are only a half dozen out OF
several hundred measures enacted.
The appropriations will run a million
or more higher than last year, the
great portion Of it going to the educa.
s tional and charitable institutions.
Three new offices have been estab.
lshed-the state sheriff, the rural
credit bank, and the highway commits
sion The Importance of each Of these
establishments will. 1t is deemed cer.
tain, Justify them before the public.
i. =
Admittedly the constitutional provi
sion which convenes the legislature
cOncirrently with the Inauguration of
anew governor places the latter in a
hard position. but Governor Norbeclx
has carried the burden al it al easily
2 any former executive He has Il
method which has excited the admire,
ton 81 every . When lie desires
to meet the members and Visitors fo
the capitol he steps out into the NJ.
~ ~ ~ - l.HA