800 



SOUTH DAKOTA. 



was decided to admit disabled veterans who 

 have dependent families, if their income does 

 not exceed $400 per annum. Experience has 

 shown that the pensions, if allowed to the in- 

 mates, cause much demoralization ; and it was 

 therefore thought be.>t to make a rule that those 

 having families should assign them the pensions, 

 excepting a small amount for spending-money, 

 and those who had not should place their pen- 

 sions in the hospital fund, since the appropria- 

 tion is not, large enough to provide help in that 

 department. 



The Insane Hospital. The whole number 

 of inmates in this institution is 283, of whom 

 103 are men and 120 women. 



Legislative Session. The second Legisla- 

 ture met on Jan. 6. and adjourned on March 7. 

 Much of the early part of the session was con- 

 sumed in the election of a United States Senator 

 to succeed Gideon 0. Moody, whose term of office 

 expired. The candidates of the three parties 

 were changed during the course of the balloting, 

 and at the fortieth ballot the choice fell on Rev. 

 James H. Kyle, of Aberdeen, the Independent 

 candidate. He received 75 votes, against 55 for 

 Sterling, Republican. Considerable excitement 

 was caused toward the close of the balloting by 

 a resolution in which it was declared to be a 

 " matter of common notoriety, based upon what 

 appears to be good authority," that negotiations 

 were pending between the Democrats and the 

 Independents of Illinois and South Dakota. The 

 object of these negotiations was said to be the 

 election of the Democratic candidate in Illinois 

 by the help of Independent votes, in exchange 

 for Democratic help to the Independents in South 

 Dakota. 



The new Senator is a Congregational clergy- 

 man, a graduate of Oberlin College and of Al- 

 legheny Theological Seminary. He has had 

 charge of several churches in the West, and was 

 for some months previous to his election finan- 

 cial agent of Yankton College. In the election 

 of 1890 he was chosen State Senator from Brown 

 County, having attracted the favorable attention 

 of the Farmers' Alliance party, it is said, by his 

 utterances in a Fourth of July oration at Aber- 

 deen. In the senatorial contest his name was 

 substituted for Gen. Campbell's on the Inde- 

 pendent ticket, on the thirty-first ballot. Sena- 

 tor Kyle took his seat on the Democratic side of 

 the Senate chamber. 



The Australian election law was passed, and a 

 new revenue system was adopted. The penalty 

 on delinquent taxes was changed from 3 to 1 per 

 cent, on March 1, and 1 per cent, each month 

 thereafter. Interest on delinquent taxes was 

 cut down from 20 to 12 per cent. The county 

 and State boards of equalization were given 

 power to raise and lower assessed valuations, in- 

 stead of power to raise them only. 



A new apportionment reduced the membership 

 of the Legislature from 169 to 126. giving the 

 Senate 43 in place of 45, and the House 83 in 

 place of 124. 



A bill for township irrigation by artesian wells 

 became a law. It was also made applicable to 

 counties not having township organization. 



A school law providing for uniformity of sys- 

 tem throughout the State was one of the results 

 of the session. A bill prohibiting an agreement 



for the payment of mortgage indebtedness in 

 any particular kind of money passed both Houses. 

 It was feared that this law would prove a disad- 

 vantage to borrowers by causing the withdrawal 

 from the State of many loan companies. 



Among bills passed was a new fence law. which 

 is of importance to the grazing interests. It 

 provides that all unorganized counties of the 

 State and all counties hereafter to be organized 

 shall allow stock to run at large until decided 

 otherwise by a majority of the people. The law 

 has been tried in the Black Hills with success. 

 The people of Pierre and representatives of the 

 Black Hills are enthusiastic over the success of 

 the bill. 



Another measure that was passed makes it 

 necessary for the auditor to turn over all insur- 

 ance fees received, thus abolishing the office of 

 commissioner of insurance. 



A bill authorizing the Governor to convey to 

 the United States Government, under certain 

 conditions, the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, 

 was vetoed, but was passed over the veto. 



Other measures enacted were as follow : 



Providing that school funds shall bo invested only 

 in first mortgages on farm lands and in State aiitl 

 national bonds. 



Providing for the organization and management ot 

 State banks. 



Accepting grants of money to the Agricultural Col- 

 lege from Congress. 



Making conveyance of homesteads valid and legal 

 in case the owner is married, whether executed by 

 joint instrument or separate instrument. 



Prohibiting dower and courtesy, and confirming all 

 conveyance of real estate except that of homestead. 



Refunding Insane Hospital bonds. 



Changing the name of Dakota Agricultural Col- 

 lege to South Dakota Agricultural College, and also 

 prefixing " South " to the name of Dakota University. 



.Providing^ for the issuance of funding warrants in 

 payment of outstanding warrants, whenever such 

 funding warrants can be negotiated at their face value 

 or at a premium. 



Authorizing the Board of Ecgcnts to hold farmers' 

 institutes at the Agricultural College, for instruction in 

 farming and dairying. 



Limiting the tax levy in cities to ten mills ; also 

 limiting bonded indebtedness. 



Joint resolution asking Congress to modify the 

 patent and copyright laws, and to provide for con- 

 struction of elevators for storing farm products. 



To punish the creation of indebtedness against the 

 State and the drawing of warrants without express 

 appropriation ; and fixing penalty of a fine of $1,500 

 and imprisonment for not less than two or more than 

 five years for violation. 



Allowing counties to bond for irrigation. 



The following is the list of appropriations for 

 1891-'92: For State officials, $72.000; expenses of 

 State offices, $28.800; Legislature, $73.418; print- 

 ing, $10.000; State University. $41.100: Madi- 

 son Normal School, $18,600 ; 'Spearfish Normal 

 School. $21,400; Reform School. $32,000; Agri- 

 cultural College, $12,000; School of Mines, $10,- 

 000; Deaf-mute School, $24,700; Penitentiary. 

 $57,900; Insane Hospital, $120,500; Soldiers' 

 Home. $32,906 ; bonded indebtedness, $108.000 ; 

 public examiner, $4.200: State militia, $8.000; 

 insurance of public buildings, $1,800; Board of 

 Charities, $3,000; Board of Regents, $2.000; 

 mine inspector. $4,000: Board of Agriculture, 

 $4.000; railroad commissioners. $10,000; Com- 

 missioner of Labor and Statistics, $2,750 ; main- 





