The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-02-01
The S. DAk.w LEGISLATURE
DoiNGS OF THE LAWMAKERS
AND GOSSIP AROUND THE
CAPITOL AT PIERRE.

Western Newspaper Union News see,ics.
Revision Of the jury system In
South Dakota is contemplated by
Senator Cock, of Butte. in a bill he is
preparing. He would draw circuit
court juries on the same plan that
federal jurors are drawn, either from
the whole state or from large districts.
The object Of the bill is to get away
from local ~prejudices which may pre-
vent enforcement Of existing laws.
This bill, with the one providing a
special assistant attorney general to
cooperate with the state sheriff and
the one already passed by the senate
removing the power of circuit judges
to suspend sentence, is part of a
general program of Legislation grow
ing put of alleged lax enforcement Of
the prohibition laws in particular and
disregard OF other laws.
The question OF the legislative $500
expense allowance will come on the
floor of the senate for action. The
committee on legislative expense
adopted a favorable report on the re-
peal bill, adding an emergency clause.
This clause'puts the act in immediate
effect, cutting off the allowance for
he present session. II also makes a
:wo-thirds vote necessary for passage.
Its backers say that when the bill
m up an amendment will be of.
tered TO wipe out expense allowances
If all state officers.
Anti-saloon league leaders here con-
ierring with members OF the iegisIa-
.ure are calling attention to the de-
eision of an Ohio court that the word
solicit" in liquor laws, applies to
those who try to buy as well as to
those who try to sell intoxicants. The
wording of the Iowa law is very
similar to that in South Dakota, ac-
cording to Fl. r. Dawes, superinten-
dent of the league in the state. Under
The South Dakota statutes anyone who
solicits liquor is classed as a boot
logger.
The long felt need for provision for
pensioning in some honorable way
those Instructors in state institutions
who have given their lives to their
work and are ready to step out, but
cannot for the need Of making a
living, is responsible for senate bill
No. Ia, introduced by Bogue, of Turn.
sr. who would authorize the board of
regents to create emeritus pc sitions
i the institutions.
luced a bill to make notes in pay
ment for stock in any corporation non.
negotiable. High pressure stock sales
men have sold blocks of as much as
800, 900 to single purchasers in east
ern South Dakota in recent years.
taking notes and selling them to
banks which are collecting in litiga-
lion now in progress in many Eases
Prohibition Is tackled from another
angle by Senator Mertens. Of Potter.
and Representative Hagg. of Corsop,
in bills introduced They would wipe
out the of the Peyote bean
and mescal by prohibiting their poses
sion, gift or sale. with an emergency
clause to put in immediate effect a
penalty of up to 5000 fine and six
months in Jail.
The compensation Of county Judges
would be somewhat increased, to
s., 1000 for the first 0,000, 900 vslua-
ton of the county. and 500 additional
FOR each $5,000,0 900 additional In value.
The purpose of the measure is said to
be to relieve present pressure OF the
circuit courts of the state by remov-
ing minor cases from their calendars.
Extension OF credit to South Dako-
Ia farmers to a maximum Of S., 900, 900
Is contemplated in a bill prepared by
Senator Convey, OF Trip. He would
form a farmers finance association
for 25 years corporate life. with the
governor. the commissioner of agri-
culture, a banker and a producer Of
grain or live stock as directors.
A new herd law to meet constantly
changing conditions in the range
country in the western half of the
state has been prepared for intro
duction by Senator Erskine, OF
Meade. 1t covers general questions OF
the trespass Of animals and clarifies
proc edure in the collection OF dam
ages therefor.
That there will be no increase in
salaries of officers OF state depart,
ment or institutions is the opinion ex
pressed by members Of the leyisla.
ture, who tell Of suggestions from va
rious quarters that such increase
would be acceptable.
Procedure in the law courts would
be FASTENED by holding up pay OF
Judges until their court calendars are
cleared under a bill introduced in the
senate by Wagner. democrat, oil
lCodington.