Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-02-18
SENATE VOTES TO
DUST MULCT LAW
JANUARY /, 1916
This Action Separate and Dis.
tinCt From Proposal to
Submit Prohibitory
Amendment.
HOUSE MAY FOLLOW SUIT
Some Temperance Leaders Feat
to Rely on Statute Alone,
and Want 1t Fixed In
Constitution.
PRESENT STATUS OF
IOWA LIQUOR FIGHT

IOWA LIQUOR fI1TI
Senate passed joint resolution to
submit to voters question Of adopt
ing prohibitory amendment to
state constitution. This measure.
under Iowa procedure, cannot
come before voters until general
election of 1918.
Senate later passed bill to re-
peal mulct law statutory enact
nent) under which all Iowa sa-
looms o are operating. Such a
measure, if passed by both houses
and signed by governor, regularly
would go into effect July !, 1915,
out an amendment was incorporated
putting it into effect January l,
1916.
These W. measures are entirely
separate M distinct, but not con-
f1icting. Many OF the dry" lead
ers fear to rely upon statutory
prohibition alone, which could be
wiped Out at a subsequent legiS-
lative session. For that reason
hey want it reinforced by a con
Stitutional provision, less likely to
be disturbed.
, Iowa's former prohibitory amend
ment, approved in 1882, was de-
clared ineffective by the courts on
account of clerical errors in the
legislature, either intentional or
accidental, by which the journals
of the two houses failed to show
the same record.
The present mulct law was en-
acted in 1894 and provides condi-
lions under which persons who
manufacture or sell liquors shall
not be liable to the penalties fixed
N the statutory prohib1tory enact
ment.
If the mulct law is repealed by
the legislature, tina puts the state
dry" after January /, 1915, under
the terms of the statute previous
to h mulct tai amendment.
Even if the voters should reject
the prohibitory amendment, when
submitted, that would not affect
the code restrictions, except that
1t might show Il sentiment which
might induce legislation to restore
saloons.
If the voters should adopt the
p~rohibitory amendment that would
make a constitutional inhibition,
additional to the code regulations.
The constitutional restriction
could not be removed unless APP
proved at two sessions OF the
legislature and later approved by
the voters.
Des Moines. Ia. Feb. 13.-Iowa "drys'
twice, and decisively, in the sen
ate yesterday. Following the adoption
of h resolution for submission to the
of a prohibitury amendment, the
senate, by a vote of n to %. passed the
Clarkson bill, which provides for the
repeal of Iowa's famous and exclusive
law. Following the passage OF
the bill. Senator Clarkson mailed il
down. with a motion to reconsider, thus
any likelihood of the mem
bers backing up on the measure.
1t is claimed that the house is over
whelmingly dry and that the prohib-
tory amendment resolution and the
Clarkson repeal bill will both he passed
in the lower body. The Temperance
of the house. like that Of the
is in control Of the "wets." and
fight may be necessary to keep the
house committee from Withholding 3
report on the two temperance meas
The "drys" are on the warpath
however. and claim they will have nc
in forcing the bills out for
If the committee continues in q
spirit.
The senate vote on the mulct law re-
peal bill was as follows:
Yeas-Allen. Arney, Balkema. Doe
Crist, Darrah, Doran, Eel
lows. Fleck, Foskett. Foster. Francis,
Head, Jones, Latter, Larrabee
Lindley, Nye, Parker. Robinson, Tay.
lor, Thomas. Voorhees,. Whitmore, vii
son-27.
Nays-Caswell. Eversmeyer. Enger
Farr, Frailey, Gillette. Greene, Hage-
mann. Helmer, Henigbaum. Hilsinger
Jackson. Kimball, Perkins, Quigley
Ream. Savage, Schrup. Sheean. Thomp.
son, White Of Benton, White OF IoWa-
%.
Absent--Chase.
Head Turned Scale.
Senator Francis Head. Of Linn coun-
ty. made the passage of the Clark son
bill possible. 1t was he who ed
to extend the time for the 60
Ing into effect from July 4 to January
|. This amendment was adopted and
won to the dry column Senator James
M. Wilson who was opposed to the re-
peal otherwise.
Senator L. E. Francis, or Dickinson
baked at the Head amendment. He
declared that for political reasons the
state should go dry as 500 as possible
In arguing for his amendment and
the bill Head declared he is through
with politics after this session of The
assembly. He declared that he did not
care what the political effect Of the
passage Of the Clarkson bill is, He lie,
conscience rather than expedienuy
guide him in his actions.
Senators Clarkson. L. w. Doe and i
II. Allen spoke in support Of the Heald
Referred To Platform.
Senator Hagerlnann, of Bremen co,ln-
ty, tried to whip the republicans into
line by cautioning them about their
political platform of last summer. He
declared that enactment Of the Clark
son bill would be a great asset to the
party.
Senators Perkins and Schrup made
speeches against the bill. Both declared
they are for real temperance and that
the way to get it is through a prohibit
tory amendment and not by ~repeaIin.
the mulct law.
Senator Clarkson closed the argu-
ment. He took shots at both Fraa.1s
and Thompson. The former for refer
ring to the political phase of the oues-
ton. and the latter ror impugning no.
tives Of senators back of the
he turned TO Lteutenan Al
Governor Harding. Great God. Mr.
President, has the time arrived when
mans party is greater than his coun-
~~1