Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1891-03-05
ANOTHER CLOSE CONTEST.
'fhc Struggle Over the PrOhibi-
tory Penalty Clause Re-
nGWed.
Matters Generally Becoming
Lively rs the Session
Closes,
The Bill Taxing Franchise of
Railroads Lost in the
Senate.

Senate.
BISMARCK, March 3.-Special.-
chief event IN the house today was
the fight on the repeal of the confisca.
tiOn and imprisonment clauses in the
prohibitory law. The bill came up at
o'clock. A long amendment was read
which the opponents of the above clauses
stated fully covered the case, and left
ample protection to enforce the law by
fines. It IS plain that strong senti-
DeCt exists in favor of doing away with
the severe penalties above referred to-
Numerous petitions from the temperance
societies were read against any repeal or
amendment to the law, and several favor
ing the repeal. A number of good
speeches we're made; Mr.. Lutz making {.
strong SPEECH that attracted great deal
Of attention. The fight was a close Que,
the vote standing a number Of times on
important motions 30 to 30. and 81. It
requires 32 votes to carry, and tonight
the 32nd man cannot be found, although
there are several individual hard drinkers
aud general FOUNDERS voting with the pro-
hi0itiOnists against their own convictions.
This singular spectacle is commented or
BY all and Is spoken of as sharp commen.
1ary on the sincerity of the leaders. The
bill evidently should have been dis scussed,
at least this phase Of it, long since, and
the points brought out before, that were
today. Few people realize the severity
of this measure. Its punishment for
something that has been a common and
hcensed occupation with thousands OF
law abiding, taxpaying people of the
state, is nothing less than is awarded
criminals, and the most depraved out
laws of society. The temperance people
in order to keep this despotic law on the
statute book are exc erclsing every device
known to legislative procedure, and
while protesting desire to be fair, are
plainly anxious to take and make
any kind of advantage. In
erder that members might have
~ opportunity to read the amendments
offered today, they were ordered printed
and will be again before the house for con.
sideration. as we'll asthe whole bill, to.
morrow at o'clock. 1t is expected that
. final result will then be obtained. II
Ahe bill should pass the house with the
Penalties stricken out, it is believed il
will find easier sailing In the senate.
ROUTINE.
In the house the bill passed giving the
asylum water supply $500 additional
appropriation.
The county depository bill was indefi.
Aately postponed. Ihe bill against
sounterfpiting labels and the bill provid.
ing for fees Of clerk of court, substi.
3ute for 139, also passed. The Firemen'e
tournament bill which was lost, was re
considered today. 1t appropriates
$4,000 for this purpose; The famous rev.
onue bill, No. 225, was lost by vote of
resolution endorsing reciprocity, &c. ALI
Three independents voted no.
passed a woman's suffrage bill Monday
The vote stood Is to l6. 1t Is not OK.
pected that the house will pass it, but a
number of members declare they will
not take the responsibility of killing it,
and will let the senate take its medicine.
The ways Of the senate are past finding
out. There is strong talk of reconsldering
it. Senator Fuller voted with the ma
jorlty. Gov. Pierce once vetoed a bill of
she same kind passed for some equally
strange eison by members strongly op.
posed TO any such measure Individually.
Tue DILL taxing franchise, right of way,
rolling stock, etc, Of railroads was sub.
iect of a protracted debate in the senate
again today. The at, orney general rem
dcred his opinion that The gross earnings
law was constitutional. Mr. Ink offered
an amendment excepting roads that paid
taxes under the gross earnings system.
Mr.. johnson of Trail, said that one OF
The greatest roads of the state refused to
pay the taxes under the gross earnings
law He did not want to zee the taxes 60
0nnpid in the future.
Mr. Cashel understood that the Nor
thern Pacific had not paid it's taxes for
1889 because some of the counties had
instituted suits against the company,
and it did not feel like paying it's taxes
twice. Hs opposed the repeal of the
gross earnings law, and favored the Ink
amendment.
Mr.. Worst thought it was absurd to
talk of taxing franchise-a privilege OF
liberty. The lux amendment was
adopted. and then the entire bill lost by
q vote of rs to 16.
The apport,onment bill which was in'
tended to benefit the Red river valley
and settle the long and short term mat
ter besides, WAS lost as IL failed to get {
consideration today, and this was the last
day 10 which the bill could be concurreC
in. Most Ut the members we're IN the
house listening to the debate on the pro
hibition bill.
A motion was sprung to raise the pa!