Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-27
FAMOUS HOUSE BILL NO; II
rs LAID AWAY WHEN THE
CL1NcHER MOTION PASSES
TABLINc BILL FOR THIS
SESSION.
lends STRENUOUS Cln|PlI1N.
Prohibition Lobby Has Done Lit
tie Else But Work for Mea-
sure Since Session Started.

After short debate, the senate yes
terday defeated House Bill No. u,
creating a special law enforcement
official to administer the liquor laws.
The vote stood % to ~ with four
absent and lot voting. Senator Lind
strOm failed to vote on the first roll
call and Senators Hyland, Sandutrom
and HOversOn were absent. Senator
Leutz moved the indefinite postpone
ment OF the bill.
Upon motion OF Senator Hughes. Of
Burleigh county the clincher was
applied and the bill cannot be revived
again except by two-thirds vote OF
the senate. The motion to reconsider
the vote and lay the same on the Ia
Bile passed by q vote Of rs to 21 with
two absent and not voting. Sen
ator Sandstrom came into the senate
chamber after the first vote and voted
to sustain Senator Hughes motOn.
Makes Attack.
Senator Leutz made the first attack
upon the bill urging that it was an
unnecessary measure on the grounds
that the machinery was sufficient now
to enforce the liquor law He de-
clared that ii the bill passed any
mans home might be invaded and the
traditional theory that mans home
Is his castle would be violated.
A short address in support of the
bill was made by Senator Putnam,
chairman OF the temperance commit
tee. He urged 1t upon the grounds
that the present officials were too
busy with other matters TO rive the
temperance laws sufiicient attention.
He also said the smaller cities and
villages we're not in a position to en-.
force the present liquor laws. n
Logical Argument.
Senator Davis made d very logical,
argument in which he stated that the
present laws and legal machinery,
were adequate and that each year
the liquor laws were beingsmore rigid.
ly enforced He stated 1t as his belief
that this act would let down the bars
and afford county officials an excuse.
Senator Hamilton urged similar
argument against the bill as did SEN
ator kretschmar.
Mcbride Scores.
One Of the telling speeches against
the bill was by Senator Mcbride Of
Stark who said that in the interests
of economy aside from the merits of
the bill the measure should not pass.
He also declared that there were
enough peace officers to enforce the
law. s4- .s,t .,.s
Senator Davis and others made the
point that the liquor laws of the state
will be enforced just as well as public
opinion in the respective districts de-
maHd.
A Teetotaier at That.
Senator Emmons of Allen county, q
life long advocate of prohibition and
a total abstainer, himself, gave a po.
tent argument against the measure.
He declared that it was unwise to
provide double scheme OF enforce
ment for one set Of laws and maintain
a single standard for others.
''6ir Martin Historian.
Senator ''Bill' Martin from Nor.
ton gave a little "reminiscences OF
Burleigh county politics and told OF
what Rev. Watkins had done here as
county constable. Most Of his remarks
while not germane to the bill, illus
trated the futility of special law en-
fOrcement officer.
"Rebukes" Senator From Morton"
Senator Bronson "rebuked" Senator
Martin for his statements and la
mented the fact that personalities had
been injected into the discussion. He
also resented the inference that Rev.
might be appointed enforce
ment officer had the bill passed. He
said this was unfair to the bill. He
urged its passage merely on the
grounds that it should pass.
Short on Arguments.
Throughout the entire discussion
he friends failed to adduce one argu
ment in support of the measure, Sem
ator Gibbons was forced when asked
Dy Senator Davis to admit that the
liquor laws were much better enf0rc.
I'd in the state now than few years
ago and tina each year statistics
show that less and less stimulants
ire being shipped into the state.
Lobby Disappointed.
There was tense excitement as the
'ote was taken. Mrs. Elizabeth Pres
on Anderson was seated in the front
'ow of the gallery and behind her
mt only partially in sight sat Rev.
Watkins. A murmur of disappOint-
nent was heard from the temperance
obby as the clincher motion speed
ID the measure to its tomb.