The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-09
House Action Precludes Pos
sibility Of Prohibition
Before 1919.
MATTERS OF ROUTINE
OCCUPY LEGISLATORS
In Contrast With Day Be-
fore, Thursdays Proceed
ings Are Prosaic.

CIV. G. Ferguson, Staff Correspondent
Helena. Feb s.-Nhere yesterdays
proceedings in the house were of an
interesting and exciting nature, today's
events were decidedly Of prosaic
character. The house of represent :
atives did, however, go on record as
being opposed to tampering with the
liquor law as it stands at present. At
least the members refused to advance
to general orders H. B. 1872 by Bent and
Phelps, which prohibits the sale of in
toxicating liquors in territory not en-
braced within the limits Of incor-
this question was 81 to SO.
Not without vigorous opposition was
II. Il. 67, prohibiting the use of trading
stamps and premiums, recommended
Tor concurrence by the senate inNcom-
mittee of the whole today. Amin, Ed
wards and Hogan were the principal
opponents while Lane and Smith
championcd the bill
Lane said 1t was designed TO protect
Montana merchants and Montana
manufacturers. Smith said the bill,
gave great satisfaction to the mcr-
chants Of the state of Washington ana
had been upheld by the supreme court
of the United States.s
Edwards eIames Merchants.
Edwards opposed the bill upon the
grounds its policy was vicious, and
was one that the labor unions of the
state had been told time and again
would not be considered by the as
sembly. He said the merchants them
selves were responsible for the con-
ditions that had arisen. and that they
should not now ask the legislature to
pass laws to stifle competition they
themselves created. He charged the
merchants were trying to infringe upon
the rights Of the people and suggested
the legislators might as we'll go home
and send the retailers to pass the laws
they want in their own behalf.
Amin said the bill was so broad II
would prevent merchants from giving
suspenders away with suits of cloth
ing. would prevent grocers from sell.
Ing sugar at cut rate when Other
goods were bought. but would not pre-.
vent the premium companies from do
Ing business. He said the bill woule
simply permit the premium companie:
to do business more cheaply; that the,
would move out of the state and con.
duct wholesale business, selling ;
consumer 10 pounds of goods at tim,
where now he sells one He said
bill drawn in the interest of the mai
order houses could not have been pre-
pared better than this bill
His motion that the enacting claus
be stricken out was lost, II to 81.
Kinney provoked laugh when, il
answer to Lanes argument of pro
tected home industries, the Wibau
senator remarked he was glad to Sc
the Democrats believed in a protectiv
tariff
The Senate.
Other bills favorably acted upon i
committee of the whole were as fol
lows:
S. B. IS, defining boundaries c
Prairie county: 81 B. 1872, consolidatin
state board OF. stock and sheep com
missioners; s. B. So creating stat
warehouse commission: S. Il. As, re
1ating to grain inspection: s. B. IS
creating Eighteenth judicial distrit
out of Hill and Blaine counties; S.
6. providing for deputy county super
intendanss
On third reading the senate passed
s. II. &C. providing for deputy coun,
Continued on Page Five.)