The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1921-01-27
Legislative News
By our Special Correspondent,

| adjournment the house member
made their first tackle of the
Richards" primary law. The dis
cussion called out the sentiment
among some of those members that
the law while absolutely bunk in
every way was the work of the
people themselves who voted for
it without reading it, and that it
should be left until the same force
wiped it out, but the general ex-
preston was that the Legislative
members were elected to enact
reasonable laws and as the prim-
ary was anything but that several
changes should be made to cut out
lot of the bunk" from its pro
visions. The first vote was on the
Eparty endorsement feature, which
was repealed by the bill up, and
this failed Of securing a constitu-
tional majority. The next was to
eliminate the debates" features
which has made it a laughing
stock over the country and this
went through. Then on reconsid-
Grafton the first bill was again
pulled out and passed. There are
other bills to follow which will
eliminate other features after
which it will be fairly good pri-
mary law, as primary without
the frills. The result will no doubt
be another referendum campaign
in which the law will be paraded
for another campaign. Along this
line, but in a different bill is one
which limits the amount which a
candidate can spend in boosting
for or against a law or constitu-
tional amendment, as a candidate.
The existing law limits the amount
which can be spent In campaign
for or against a law or amendnqent
to five hundred dollars, but there
is no limit as to the amount a can
didate can spend to boost or work
against law if he makes it part
of his campaign, and the new bill
attempts to place a limit at that
gate as we'll as at the front en-
trance.
Among the measures which will
come up soon after the session re-
sumes work will be one which will
seek to increase the benefits under
mothers pension laws. In addition
to place within that law provis-
ions for children who are held to-
gether as family where both par
! ents are dead, and an older sister
takes up the duties of head of the
family and maintains the family
together. Another will be one with
provisions for an increase in the
amount to be paid to claimants
under the workwan's compensation
law.
One bill already presented which
will look good to jurors proposes
to increase jury fees from three to
five dollars a day. Under the pre-
sent rate many jurors have been
compelled to put in time on jury
duty at an expense greater than
the amount they secured for such
services, and while it is possible
that the average man ought to be
willing to serve as juror at his
own expense, he does not look at
it in such light as general pro-
position. Another jury bill being
prepared but not yet introduced
is intended to. remove the restric-
tions against women acting as
Jurors, and to give them that pow
er and right equal with the male
portion of the population of the
state which it is now restricted,
Representative Walker of Haa-
kon and Stanley counties was the
leader in the argument for the re-
peal of a part of tie Richards pli-
mary law, the first move toward
pairing off the 'trimmins" on that
law, and to try to make it prac-
tical workable primary act for the
state. This started long dis
cussion resulting finally in two
different provisions being peeled
off so far as the house is concern
ed with otkors T., como r,o.lg thru
different bills 1ot yet ,,,.roducel.
Incidental to Legislative action
Pierre entertained live bunch
from Philip this week when the
high school team calle dewn and
wiped the home team o.i tie nap
in basket al. Thsv repeated the
dose with the Indians Saturday
evening. The boys put in their
spare time getting acquainted with
the general interior make up of
the state capitol from the dome
down through the tunnel to the
power plant and were in evidence
while they were here.
Senator Cock Of Butte on the
last day before the recess aeenrad