The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1919-04-11
A REAL PROGRESS
SIVE LEGISLATURE
People Of South Dakota Well Pleased
With Excellent Record Made
by Legislature.
THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE
GOOD,

the record Is made.
Observers Of the session and re-
viewers of the laws enacted are OF
the united opinion that it has been
. session historic in the amount OF
constructive legislation which has
been enacted.
OF splendid personnel both houses
have worked without serious clash
or bitterness until the last day. Then
they split upon the rock OF free text
books and refused to reconcile the
difference which held them apart.
They did. however, agree upon the
fundamental idea, and decided to
leave the issue of state or county
plan OF adoption to the next session.
Confronted by a condition hitherto
unprecedented when the session
opened. the members have met the
issue in the spirit OF the times. Laws
OF epoch-making character have been
enacted In answer to the will of the
people expressed by the vote for con-
s~titutfonal amendments at the cleo
ton last fall.
Laws affecting the agricultural in
dustry, the states greatest activity,
have been first In the output Of the
lawmakers at Pierre. For the farm
ers of the state they have enacted a
hail insurance law, they exempted
from taxes $500 of the valuation Of
every home, $500 OF farm machinery
and $500 in tools Of trade. The pro-
mise has been inferred that two
years hence a comprehensive plan
for the complete elimination of per-
sonal property taxes will be forth
coming. 1t is to include an income
tax and a real estate tax in lieu of
the dwelling house and the personal
property tax.
Purchase of school lands is to be
permitted hereafter upon a cash mi
tial payment of 10 per cent and the
balance on long time three per cen
a year. For the development Of the
county agent system 100000 has
been appropriated. A SIS an acre
tree bounty every ear is provided
for those who will grow trees on
their land.
In the way Of state-owned indus
tries the legislature launched the
state coal mine enterprise for the
development Of the Ignite fields with
q fund of ~$150,0O0. 1t authorized
. state cement plant with power CIV
en- to issue 100000 in state bonds.
The hail insurance was n OF the
ideas voted for by the people and
along with better roads and state
development OF the water power pos
sibilities OF the Missouri river COM
plete the outstanding creations OF
this session In the way Of these pub
lie ventures.
Many people never expected to see
the day when the legislature would
authorize q bond issue Of $4,000 900
for money to be spent In building
good roads upon the plan Of the state
wide system, yet that is what the
session did. II also doubled the
automobile tax 10 as to still further
raise money to help the good cause
along.
South Dakota has spoken in appre-
citation OF its returned soldiers. Fol-
their benefit the state Is going to
spend hundreds of thousands Of dol
lars in creating farm homes which
will be turned over to the boys for
their own upon favorable terms. One
feature not usually mentioned in this
regard Is that this plan is not re-
stricted to the soldiers alone, but any
young farmer Who has q little cash
for an initial payment and the will
to make good q hnd help from
the state to get q farm equipped with
a house, barn and implements with
which to make a start.
Soldiers are likewise to be given
preference in public state work and
= great memorial Is authorized upon
the state capitol grounds by public
subscription. Their Memorial day
has been preserved sacred to them.
The chief taxation measures were
the exemptions already mentioned
and the new classification Of moneys
and credits for = three-mill levy and
the new registration tax to be laid
against mortgages on real estate In
lieu Of other taxes.
For the schools. the outstanding
meausres have been the oppropria-
ton Of $4,000 for state aid to the
rural schools, tho 100000 for aid
to high schools which will oRer nor
NAL training to students In the high
school and free text books. The text
books are to be supplied upon the
present books which have already
been adopted and will prevail until
the next session. Then q change
may be made to agree upon . state
plan Of adoption Or it, rival, the
county unit adoption, chosen.
In the matter Of public health. the
legislature authorized employment
OF the county nurse and enacted :
law to control venereal disease, -
we'll a. enlarged the scope Of the de-
partment Of health.