The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-01-18
LAW ENFORCEMENT.

House Bill ~, providing LOT one anu
not more than three special law en-
forcement officers, has pork written
in every line. The measure hardly
deserves serious consideration. Two
years ago the senate buried House
Bill Il, which was drawn along the
same lines.
All the arguments advanced then
hold good now. Prohibition is not the
issue involved in House Bill No. 81.
The Tribune's position on this legis-
lation has often been challenged on
the ground that it is foe of .prohibi'
ton. OF course, the charge is untrue
and puerile. Ever since the franz
ers of the constitution wrote the dry
plank into the organic law, the Trib-
4. una has been an advocate and sup
porter Of prohibition. 1t is even more
firmly convinced than ever that pro-
hibition is q good thing for the state
and is unalterably opposed to any
thing but a strict enforcement Of the
liquor laws.
> But the cause of prohibition is not
involved in House Bill No. 81. Friends
Of THU bill seem to cloud the issue
by pNtuns, the anti-liquor label upon
it. Many we'll intentioned men are
thereby misled.
This bill provides for one or three
special law enforcement officers. II
shifts the burden of responsibility
from the Offices OF states attorney, at.
torney general, sheriff, and every ad'
ministrative official now charged with
the enforcement of our laws.
This legislation let's down the bars
and makes it possible for dishonest
officials to shift the burden and make
the special law enforcement officials
~. l,,uh. n1l PA! on - ;..'', -
"Sf.eyTfs.'t Hut .}nn 49,. 'Mry
A. we, said two years ago. when
similar measure was up for consider.
alton; 'j". :;
"Most emphatically this act is not
in the interests Of law, enforcement,
but will operate directly to the bene
fit OF the blindpiggers and bootleg.
gers"
But within the last few days, the
necessity for such fool legislation has
been completely eliminated. The
United States supreme court has de.
clared the Webb-Kenyon law consti
tutional. Any state that wants to 60
on bone dry basis can do so
Charles Edward Russell, in a recent
article in these columns, explained
the air-tight, nature of this law. II
any possible reasons existed for spe
cial officers they have been wiped
away by this decision.
1t is unfortunate that the good men
and women lobbying for this measure
fail to see that they are affording an
abb for every weakened states at.
torney in North Dakota, in addition to
piling up the costs of law enforce.
ment
Every lawyer in the house and sen,
ate knows this to be true.
What is everybody's business is no
body's business. The theory Of this
bill carried into the administration Of
all departments Of state government
would produce confusion twice con.
founded
Because faction of the prohibition
forces is clamoring for its passage is
no reason why the legislators should
dispense with reason and pass bill
clearly foreign to the spirit Of all law
enforcement.
We are attempting more and more
to nx responsibility in our state gov
ernment. There is considerable de-
nand for fewer officials, az evidenced
fl The agitation for shorter ballot
House Bill n is contrary to the spi:'t
u the times.
Tho1saads Of frisnds Of prohibition
II North Dakota oppose this bin on
10 sams grounds - the Tribune.
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