The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-20
Monday Earned That Diss...es =
ton in the House Because
Of the -Four Bills.
INTRODUCED ALL PERTAINING
TO THAT IMPORTANT SUBJECT
Resolution Condemnlng Polygamy
Caused Some Discussion Senate
Had Up Number Of Important Mat.
ters-Senat0r Rice Has . Bill to In.
crease States Debt Limit 100000.
lBy George Davis.)

Wy N0VxD0 D3V40sJ
Bismarck, Feb. 20.-This was what
might be termed prohibition day in
" the house that body passing at least
four bills relating to various features
OF the prohibition law. Most of them
passed without any serious opposition
even Representative Streeter who is
an avowed resubmissionist, coming to
the rescue Of Chairman Haugen of the
temperance committee and moving to
reconsider the vote by which some of
the bills were passed and to lay the
motion to reconsider on the table. The
day was one of work rather than talk,
: only few matters, among which was
resolution offered by Representative
Buttz asking congress to submit an
amendment to the national constitu-
ton to the legislatures of the several
states for ratification or rejection on
the matter Of giving the federal
courts jurisdiction in all matters of
polygamy as we'll as those of divorce.
sAWng rise to much discussion. Mr..
Stevens made the point that the resi-
luton was out of order because the
house had indefinitely postponed a
concurrent resolution passed by the
senate on the same subject. Major
Buttz argued that the point was not
we'll taken because the senate reso-
luton was in effect memorial to
congress asking that body to call
constitutional convention of all the
states for the purpose of proposing
amendments. He stated in support of
his contention that the federal con-
stitution had been amended fifteen
times since it went into effect hun
dred and twenty years ago but that
not one OF them had been proposed by
constitutional convention, all having
been proposed by congress and adopt
ed by the states. This amendment
proposed the other method provided
by the constitution. He also called
attention to the. fact that it provided
for an amendment on the subject of
divorce which the senate resolution
did not. The speaker was about to
overrule the point of order when Mr..
Stevens asked that he defer Judgment
for two days so that he (Stevens)
could cite some authorities on the mat
ter, and motion to this effect was
made and carried, the speaker an
nouncfng that the motion was carried
and the speaker was relieved.
The resolution reads as follows:
Whereas, the recent investigation
made by the senate of the United
States as to the qualifications of one
OF Its members, has developed the
fact that polygamy exists in several
OF the states, Notwithstanding the laws
that exist in said states prohibiting
the same, and
Whereas, the practice of polygamy
is condemned by the law abiding peo-
pie of the United States, and there
Is sentiment prevailing throughout
the country for more effectual rem
edy to eradicate the evil complained
OF, by giving the federal courts juris-
diction over and control of that ques-
ton, as we'll as that of divorces; at
the same time reserving to each state
the right to make and enforce its own
laws relating to marriages. therefore.
be It
Resolved by the house of represen-
tatives of North Dakota, the senate
concurring, that the congress of the
United States is hereby petitioned to
take the necessary steps to provide
for constitutional amendment, to be
submitted to the several states, where
by polygamy and Lolygamous cohabi-
tation shall be prohibited, by giving
the federal courts jurisdiction to en-
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