Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-08
ANTI-CIGARETTE
BILLS BOTH PASS
THIS N ORAlAG
Thirty-FWe Representatives
Are In Favor Of Drastic
Legislation
SENATE WRANCLES OVER
GILL'S FISHING MEASURE
Bill Is Passed Today In Spite
Of Dnnick's Vigorous
Opposition

Both anti-cigarette bills before the
house Of representatives were passed
this morning after a fight that lasted
about two hours, or from 1880 O'Clock,
when they were made special order OF
business, until 1890 O'Clock, when the
final vote on H B. No. 26S was taken.
When the reading clerk started to
read H. B. No. 269, which is the Sween-
ey bill to which so much objection has
been made ON account of its drastic pro-
visions, Forbes moved that H. b. No
A36 be considered first. This motion
carried.
Stott, father Of H. B. No. 436, ex-
planned that the law at present allows
the merchant to sell to boys between
the ages of is and 20 years and be-
cause so much complaint had been made
about boys smoking between those
ages, he raised the age limit to 2l
years. His bill he said eliminated the
features whereby boy could forge his
parents name in order to get cigarettes
as can be done nolv. He said the limit
| of the penalty was also raised from 50
as a minimum and $50 as a maximum to
| $50 as a minimu and $3.50 as a maximum
lTor violations. Circuit and justice courts
are also given original and concurrent
i Jurisdiction. For smoking in public
places the old fine OF from $5 so $40
was raised to $40 to $50. With these
provisions in his bill he thought it ought
to pass.
Representative Forbes said H. B No.
26S was absolutely unconstitutional and
/ that No. 436 was not Objectionable. He
said the supreme court of the United
| States held that bills similar to No 2nS
were unconstitutional He said the
Webel Kenyon act put the teeth in the
prohibition bill but as there was no
such act regarding the Interstate ship
ment of cigarettes, it could not be en-
forced He stated that cigarettes are a
legitimate article of commerce and can
be sold in original packages and no one
can prevent it. He cited four decisions
of the supreme court to justify his
stand.
Representative Lewis admitted that
although laws were passed against MUIR
der, treason, arson, drunkenness, yet
people would do these things, and he
, thought that no matter what law was
passed against cigarettes they would be
secured. He was in favor of the bill.
Eaton thought No. 26s was undoubted-
lly unconstitutional but that the legisla-
tme did not dare adjourn without TAX
8 ing some action regarding the measua, >
70 Representative Elmorc, chairman
of the committee on health and public
morals, the question was the most per
picking the committee had to deal with.
He said the assistant attorney general
told him shipments of eiragettes into
the state could not be prevented He
q said the tremendous demand for such
4 Legislation required they should DC
= something but that something should
= be practicable
ri Lunger asked X the statement OF ths
tobacco manufacturers that they woult
Q help in enforcing the law ii passed Al
q H. b. No. 436 was not merely grand
\ stand play, or if they were in earnest
d and E,lmore was not able to answer.
Representative Ritner said they has
rs about 40 bills to discuss today and call
t, ed for the previous question. II carried
IS and when the vote was taken the bill
passed with 81 ayes, 20 noes and ab
es sent.
n Those voting for the bill were: Bar
se Der, Bowman, Burdiek, Callan, Cart
~ mill, Clark, Corbett, Dedman EatoE
IN Elgin, Elmore, Forbes, Fuller, Hodgel
es Seymour Jones, All Jones, Knbh, Lai
ferty, Lewis, Mackay Mann, MaEtii
at Matthew, Mueller, Porter, P0rtw0o'
ms Ritner, Schimpff, sheldon, Stafril
IN Stephens, Stott, Thomas Willett, an
toll Speaker Stanfield.