Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-16
FIGHT ON
PURITY MEASURE
Battle on Floor Is Hot for ar
Hour; Delay in Voting
Saves Bill for Time.
IMPASSIONEO PLEA IS MADE
Cordell Leads Scrap in De-
fense, While Davidson and
Snyder Head Opposition.
Special to The World.

Special to The World.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 15.-Pro-
nounced opposition developed in the
senate today to the attorney gen
erals bill" providing for removal OF
officers failing 10 ENFORCE the prohipl-
tionary law altho supporters or inc
measure were victorious by having the
bill made a special order OF business
for Wednesday afternoon
This postponement of action on the
bill in committee of the whole or in
open senate saved the bill, as today
those hostile toward the measure
greatly outnumbered its supporters.
Senator Harry Cordell, chairman OF
the prohibition enforcement commit
tee who is father of the attorney
generals bill" so-called for the power
with which II will endow the attorney
generals department, led In its de
| fense. Senator's Snyder of Oklahoma
city and Davidson Of Tulsa are its
most pronounced enemies.
Parliamentary Scrap Raecs.
With president protempore Board
| i'm the chair, a parliamentary battle
ragged on the floor of the senate for an
hour, one side wanting immediate ac-
ton on the bill and the other delay
| ing because some Of the members Tor
the defensive were absent.
Senator Cordell made an impas-
stoned speech declaring that enemies
OF prohibition end law enforcement
were attacking the bill and demanded
\ such action az would record the vote
Of every senator in every move Tor or
against the bill which authorizes the
attorney general to bring proceedings
/ for removal of county officers with
] - ha
prosecute the officers for failure to
enforce laws in the supreme court
originally.
Too Much Power.
Enemies of tho bill declare that II
gives the attorney general too much
power and provides for unfair prose-
cution of county officers. Supporters
of the bill declare that its passage
means absolute enforcement of all
prohlbitory and antigambling laws.
Each side will endeavor TO have
every member present when the bill is
called up Wednesday.
Gas Shortage Up.
Failure of the gas supply in okla
homa City and other cities was
brought to the notice of the senate
Monday afternoon by Senator Burns
Of Oklahoma county in n resolution
asking for an investigation into the
methods of gas distributions by the
/ Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
The resolution declares that for five
or six years there has been gas failure
in Oklahoma in the time of greatest
need. II recites that complaint has
been made that there Is "A discrepancy
between the amount of gas supplied
by the Oklahoma Natural Gas com
pany to the Oklahoma Gas Il Electric
CO., and the amount distributed by
the latter company to consumers,
Taking out of heat units in the manu-
facture of casinghead gasoline and
the pumping in of air to adulterato
the gas are practices complained of
Cigarct Bill Read.
The anti i-clgaret bill came over to
the senate from the house of repre-
sentatives Monday and was read for
the first time.
Tomorrow it will come up for sec
ond reading and assignment to com
mittee. This bill, fathered by Repre-
sentative j. q, McCollister. which pro-
hbits the sale or barter or the smok-
ing of cigarets, is expected to die IN
a senate committee without strug-
gle. If the Legislative chloroform Is
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWELVE