The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-02-21
THE LEGISLATURE
SENATE PASSES BILL RAISING
SALARIES OF STATE
OFFICERS.

Pierre, Feb 21.--The senate pass
ment to increase compensations of
state officers after amending it to
put the salary of the governor at
SIS 5000 and that of the judges of the
supreme court at $4,000 All other
state officers are placed at $4,000
each
In the house the rural credits act,
carrying an appropriation of $780,
600 to put ii into effect, was passed
without a dissenting vote, and the
general irrigation code, TO allow the
creation of irrigation districts with
J in the state, was passed by a like
vote, both of these having been au-
thorized by the people at the election
last fall
Suffrage had an inning in the SEN
ate on the motion Of Senator Alseth
to indefinitely postpone both his mu-
nicipal suffrage bill and the Dowdell
bill to give suffrage to women on
all offices for which they are not pro
hibited by he constitution from vot-
ing for.
While Dowdell strenuously op-
posed the indefinite postponement, il
was carried after his protest had been
made, and neither Of the local suf-
frage bills will get out on the floor
for action.
These bills have been opposed by
the equal suffrage workers on the
ground that they would complicate
the situation when the general suf-
frage vote would come up at the next
election
The initiative and referendum
amendment proposed by Senator
Mclean. of Day county. proposes a
petition of 25 per cent Of the voters
of the state before a law passed by
the Legislature may be referred.
which would be a much harder prop
osition than the gathering OF the 5
per cent now required. He changes
the plan of initiation of laws by re
quiring a petition of at least / 5 per
cent of the voters of the state which
must come from at least 90 per cent
of the counties Of the state When
such petition is to be filed with the
I Legislature for their action it must be
at least ten days prior TO the opening
OF the legislative session at which the
law is TO be submitted But initiated
acts need not be submitted to the
{ Igr, Ia L., a
with the secretary Of state at least
/ four months prior 10 the election at
which they are TO be voted upon
The senate has passed the house
! resolution submitting to vote the
constitutional amendment increasing
the pay of state officers. amending
the resolution TO provide for a salary
of $4,000 year for the governor
$4,000 for supreme court judges.
$500 for circuit judges and the at
torney general and $4,000 for other
elective officers. This is one of the
two resolutions which the senate de-
cided to add TO the already long list
of amendments TO go on the ballot at
Aht hNAI IiNNAiVAit ht oihti 10 AIN
Benson resolution from the house for
the resubmission of an amendment
permitting the tax commissioner to
make property classifications for tax
alton purposes.
The senate has taken up the house
prohibition bill and ii is under dis
cussion in that body. The senate has
passed the senate bill carrying an ap-
preparation of 5000 for a soil sur
vey of the state. The house has
procedure for counties which desire
to provide means for hard surfacing
their highways.
The house passed the l. w. w. bill
providing a penalty for any person
going into a factory or store or onto
farm and threatening hired help
for the purpose of making them
strike or demand higher wages.
/ The 1917 session of the legislature
promises to make a record for ad-
vanced legislation along the lines Of
agricultural development of the
state. Propositions advanced in for
mer years, but which failed to receive
strong support are now being consid-
cred seriously. Gov Norbeck is per-
sonally interesting himself in these
measures Of special interest to the
agricultural industry and 1t is pre-
dicted that practical legislation Of far
reaching Importance will be enacted