The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-01-02
south DAKOTA SOLONS'
OPENING OF THE FIFTHTEENTH
SESSION OF THE SOUTH
DAKOTA LEGISLATURE.

Pierre, Jan. Especial The fiji
teenth biennial session of the South
Dakota legislature convened in the
statehouse at noon today. In the
opening of his address to the legisla-
ture, Gov. Norbeck congratulated the
people of the state upon their won
derful prosperity, upon the resources
of the state and upon the high class
of her citizenship generally. The
first subject taken up by the row
ernor was that of prohibition. He
recommended a law putting into eff
feet the prohibitory amendment
adopted by the people at the general
election, asking for a law which can
and will be enforced. He recon-
mended the creating of an officer to
be known as the state prohibition
commissioner. 1t shall be the duty of
this officer to gather evidence as to
the violation of the prohibitory law
and if necessary to make complaints
and generally to seeure the enforce
ment of the law. Recommendation
is also made that the governor be
empowered to remove states attor-
neys or sheriffs who fail TO remove
the law.
Gov. Norbeck said, speaking of the
state educational institutions: Our
state is fairly well provided with ed
ucational institutions, although the
location of some is rather unfortu-
nate and consequently reduces the
attendance" He suggested hat the
report Of the board of regents be
carefully read and that so far as pos
sible their recommendations be heed
ed. He urged upon the legislature
the need of more trained teachers for
our common or rural schools. where
80 per cent of the people of our state
get all the education they ever re-
ceive. The lack of trained teachers
is, possibly, ~traceable TO ONE needed
revision in the course of our normal
schools. He advocated that our nor
NAL schools be enlarged and shorter
courses offered and that every adj
vantage possible be given that class
of our youth which are preparing
themselves TO teach. Provision Is
asked by the governor for a law per
hitting the forming of school dis
tricts i'm unorganiZed counties.
GOV. Norbeck emphasized the
greater need of practical education at
our institutions and especially at the
agricultural college. in order that the
student graduates may have the prac-
tice as we'll as the theory of farming.
i He maintained this can only be done
by actual labor performed in the
various lines. He believed that this
would get the student graduates in
closer touch with the people in the
various communities. for the farming
communities justly look askance up
on the young farm experts from the
college unless they can perform well
each and every piece of work con
nected with the operations of a form,
and he recommended that the legis-
fature provide the necessary
for adopting more of the practical
part of farming.
Gov. Norbeek discussed successive
ly the departments of the board of
charities and corrections, game de-
partment, tax commission, railroad
commission, etc, giving credit for eff
ficiency and making recommended
tions for legislation TO meet the re
quirements in the growth of the de
partments.
The budget system plan of making
appropriations was discussed and
commended by Gov. Norbeck. He
thinks that the budget system can
not be properly put into effect in this
state without a constitutional amend
ment and recommended that the leg
islature submit such an amendment
to the people al the next general
election.
For the purpose of handling the
floating element which comes into
South Dakota in such large numbers
during the fall of the year, Gov. Nor
beck recommended the establish
ment Of a state constabulary, TO be
composed of the sheriffs, police Off
GERS and constables, and that they
be made subject to the call of the
governor. Along this line he further
recommended hat the law be so
changed as TO allow railroad COM
panies to make reduced rates within
the state for harvest hands and that
it be made a felony to ride on any
train by force or intimidation or to
carry concealed weapons while trav-
cling on trains. II suggest" said
the governor, that train crews be
invested with police power, with au-
thority to maintain order and protect
property, under the provisions of