The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-03-19
EXTRA SESSION
GOV. NORBECK OUTLINES THE
WORK TO BE DONE.

of South Dakota met yesterday
morning in the second extraordinary
session ever held, having been called
by Gov. Norbeck to consider matters
which are pressing on account Of val
conditions over the country.
Both houses convened at 10 o'clock
and after roll call the senate mem
bers marched to the house chamber
where the joint session listened to
the reading Of the message of Gov.
Norbeck which outlined the reasons
and the needs for the call of the law
makers of the state into e%xtraordi-
nary session. This in general ex-
planned the need of an increase in
the revolving fund at the peniten-
tiary Irvine plant to keep the machin-
cry in motion and allow the greatest
possible output of Irvine for the
farmers of the state, the shortage of
funds being caused by the great in
crease in the price of sisal. The mat
ter of increased appropriations in
the fuel funds of the various state
institutions was taken up, as was the
need of an increased appropriation to
complete the building started at the
state tuberculosis sanitarium, for
which many patients v e the state
are waiting, all this on account of in
creased war cost of material.
The matter of endorsement of the
national prohibition amendment to
the federal constitution was called
up as n of the matters of which the
legislature might well take notice,
and the matter of the need of a re-
volving fund for highway construc-
ton was mentioned as a need for the
reason that while the federal law
gives the state financial aid in high
way construction this is only in the
way of return of money already ex-
pended, and until it is expended ii
will not be coming from the govern
ment.
The farmer members of the ses-
sion who are a large majority are
here for business alone. and want to
push through the needed legislation
and get back home to see how the
boys" are getting things started, or
whether or not that new hired mar
Is worth q darn" and they are not
anxious to kill any time.
r. N. Holsaple is back from Des
Moines, Ia, for the session, and
wants to see the national amendment
properly adopted as a climax to the
prohibitory movement of South Da-
kota. There Is no question what ac-
ton the session will take if the mat
ter comes up to them as they showed
their views on the prohibitory policy
at the regular session in such form
that there is no question as to what
they will do with the national
amendment, which will go through
with practically unanimous vote of
both houses,
While the members will be expect
ed to confine their activities to lines
of necessary legislation, just what
they will consider as necessary is OF
their own selection, and they may
take up several matters If they feel
like a stay of several days. If they
want to get back to war production
they will also see that nothing un-
essential comes up under the guise of
necessary.
One of the matters which may take
some time before ii is closed up is
that of a law which will allow the
soldiers in France and other Euro
pean countries to vote. 1t looks sim
pie as an abstract proposition, but to
carry IL out practically means that
the election system of the state will
have to be materially changed in ev-
eral provisions, as to registration of
voters, filing of nominating petitions.
getting the ballots printed and final
ly some method of getting them past
the censor in such a way that they
will not show that they have been
tempered with after having been
sealed by the voter.
While legislation suggested will
lead largely toward appropriations to
meet increased war costs, and other
legislation which will affect war ac-
tivities, ii is likely that some will
come in one of the latest to be pre-
scented as proper subject matter be-
ing that of prohibiting the sale or
use of fireworks in this state until
after the close of the war.