The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1917-03-09
Notes on South Dakota Leg
islature.
Norbeck Rural Credit Plan Now Law
Most Important Legislature in
Recent Years.


enterprises approved by the people
but the Senate raised the million
to FIVE million. The people must
first adopt the amendment aud un
der the terms any proposed enter
prise must first be approved by a
two-thirds majority vote OF the
Legislature. The possibilities are
unlimited. If the people so elect,
they may engage in manufacturing
warehouse, elevator and milling
business throughout the state and
i'll any kind of internal improve
ment, providing the voters at the
next election adopt the constitu-
tional amendment which has been
submitted to them. 1t is this same
amendment which the armers of
North Dakota were contending for
at Bismark, but which failed to get
through the North Dakota legis
lature.
William B. Talmage, General
Agent of the National Organization
Of the Farmers nun-partisan league
whose office is at Fargo North
Dakota and X. w. Morser of Sioux
Falls State Manager and Secretary
of this League for South Dakota,
were in Pierre during the closing
days of the session, and in iater
views with local newspaper men
expressed themselves as highly
gratifed with the legislation which
had been passed at this session in
South Dakota.
Probably the most important
piece of legislation enacted at this
session was the rural credits bill
which was fathered by Governor
Norbeck and was known as his pet
hobby. In this law the red tape
has all been done away with and it
has made as easy as possible for
the farmer to secure his money.
The New Zealand plan was quite
generally followed in drafting the
law. The plan has worked sue
cessfully in New Zealand for the
past twenty five: years aud it is the
plan which was advocated during
the campaign by the Farmers Non.
Partisan League during the North
Dakota campaign last fall but
which the North Dakota legislature
has failed to enact into law.
Under this plan the state bor-
rows the money, issues bonds and
loans the money direct to actual
farmers, men who are farming
their farms. The measure will in
no way profit the land speculator.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made for "a revolving fund used in
connection with the rural credit
law. Gov. Norbeck estimates that
the state can borrow its money a
four per cent or less and that it
will be practical to loan the money
at five per cent, basing his figures
upon present day interest rates.
Blank applications for the securing
of loans will be furnished by the
Rural Credits Board Of which the
Governor is chairman and the mon-
ey will be loaned direct by the
Board to the borrower. The law
will be III operation after July list.
Great cooperation has been
manifest between the various de-
partments of state during the pre-
sent session of the legislature Gov.
+, Norbeck and the members of the
Legislature have worked i'll perfect
harmony and this is responsible TO,
the excellent legislation which has
been passed. Governor Norbeck
is one of the largest land owners
in this state and OF course is inter
ested, naturally in any measure
which will be of benefit to the agri
cultural interests of South Dakota
He has been one of the hardes'