The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-03-19
SOUTH DAKOTA
LEGISLATURE
is IN SESSION
First Extraordinary Assembly
in History of State Began
Yesterday
TO DUPLICATE OUR SPECIAL
Matters to Come Up Generally
Same as Those Recently
Considered Here
'TO DUPLICATE OUR SPECIAL

Pierre S. D., March l9.-The South
Dakota Legislature met today in spe
cial session to enact emergency legis
lation designed to meet war cOndi
tiOns in the state. Chief among the
subjects 10 be considered are ratifica
tion of the federal prohibition amend
ment extension of the states police
power to cope with prO-German activ
tiles, appropriations TO meet increased
expenditures Of state institutions and
entranchisement of South Dakota sol
diers in France.
Prohibition advocates predict tina.
the ratification of the program, in
TACT, r0Jably will be complete in "a
week or ten days.
Seven Bills Reported.
At the house meeting tonight sew
en- bills were reported by their respec
tive committees and given first anC
second readings. One joint resolution
by Representative Swanson of Brow:
county also was given two readings.
The bills read for an appropriation
Of Sl4,3O0 for repairs to Aberdeen nor
NAL school, $4,000 additional expeise
for Separfish normal, $3,963.G0 to can
eel warrants issued by spearfish. $40,
O0J TO purchase additional land for
state schools, bill legalizing the as
sessment by countries of funds for the
support of home guard organizations
and donations fer war relief societies
bill putting accident and health
insurance companies under the pres
ent insurance commission laws gov
erning- all other insurances and bill.
creating and legalizing state coun.
Gil of defense and appr0priating $20,.
900 for their use in cooperation with
the national council of defense in war
work, also were given readings.
The Swanson resolution calls for a
vote of confidence in the national gov
ernment and called for all farmers of
the state to support the nation by sup
plying all possible food 4
Governor Peter Eorbeck called the
session following agitation all over
the state, which seemed to start from
no where all at once and to have the
full support Of practically every news
paper in the state.
The legislature. according to Gov
ernor Norbeck, is to consider bills of
vital importance to the state. Two
OF the expected measures deal with
the states military forces, and the
rest are the outcome OF conditions
brought about by the war,
No Time Limit.
While there is no time limit set
for the session, guesses vary as to the
length Of the meeting. The governor
has indicated indirectly that he thinks
the needed laws should be passed in
little more than a week. Legislative
"dOpesters," however, on some hands,
refuse to agree with him, maintaining
that, since the bills are all big ones,
that more time must be taken for
their consideration, and refuse. they
say. TO be "railrOaded" through the
work.
At least five bills are already pre-
pared. or at least will be ready fol
presentation at the opening tomor-
row. These measures are set forth
in the executives official call as legis-
lation of vital importance. The bills
are for the readjustment Of the state
twine plant; help for the exhausted
fuel funds at state institutions; fran
chise aid for soldiers serving the
country and state tbroad; legal auth
ority for the state council OF defense
and state home guard corps and con-
sideration of the federal prohibition
Not Less Than Two Weeks. ..
These five bills alone, according to
some of the legislators arriving here
ahead OF the session, will demand at
least days time in each house, and
will make adjournment in less than
two weeks hard. #
Just what treatment will be accord.
ed TO the expected additional meas.
ures is not known. AS yet no an
nouncement has been authoritively
made of any other legislation, but
there are rumors of several other mo.
tions to be proposed, among them be-
ing change in the game laws to per
nit fishing and hunting for longer
periods as an aid to the food conserva
ton move and one for state labor
similar to the one now in force in
Maryland.
There is also considerable talk Of a
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