The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1917-01-20

MEASURES
APPEAR
LEGISLATURE NOW HAS PROHI-
BITION, GAMBLING AND DE-
VORCE MEASURES


TEN. On motion of Heidtmann of
Washoe they were referred to the
committee on the judiciary Hithout
opposition.
The first rumpus in the assem-
bly, was caused this morning by the
introduction of a resolution by Ack-
erman providing that the attaches
be required to report for duty one
hour before the regular converting
time. After considerable discussion
the roll-call was demanded on a
motion to table the resolution. The
motion to table vas carried.
Bills from the last session vetoed
by the governor were MADE a spe-
cial order in the assembl! for next
Thursday. In the senate the We
toed bills were made a special Or
der for this afternoon, and senats
bill No. 8, the Elko 100000 bond
issue bill, was passed.
Initiative Measures Appear
The proposed prohibition mea-
sure, on which an initiative petition
was filed on December Is, was sub
mitted to the assembly yesterday
afternoon by George Brodigan,
secretary of state, and is ready to
be acted upon. Under the consti-
tutional provision the initiative
measure takes precedence over all
other measures and must be either
rejected or passed, without change
or amendment, within 40 days. In
ease it is passed it becomes a law
but if it is rejected or the legisla-
ture fails to take action On it within
40 days the constitution provides
that it shall be placed on the bat
lot at the next general election.
No action was taken on the bill
yesterday in the assembly. Toge-
ther with the initiative petition on
the prohibition measure were sub
ntitted the proposed initiative mea-
sures on gambling and divorce
which failed to cur the required
number of signatures and which,
therefore, the Legislature may ig-
nore if it deems advisable. Secre-
tary of State Brodigan said yester-
day that he thought it just as well
to submit the whole lot of initia-
tive measures and get them all be-
fore the legislature.
The initiative petition on the pro-
hibition measur contained 1902
signatures. There was another pc
tition containing 26 signatures,
but was not in proper form.
On the initiative act there were
1886 signatures in regular form
and 100 that were not properly GER
titled.
The divorce petitions contained
1926 property certified signatures
and 205 that were not in proper
form.
limiting at JOkers
Opponents of the initiative prohi-
bition assert that the bill
contains a "joker" and was drafted
by manufacturers of certain soft
drinks. The Joker" they claim, IS
found in the first section of the
proposed act, which defines the
liquids and beverages coming with
in it's provisions and placed on the
prohibited list. That section of the
act reads as follows:
The word 'liquor" as used
in this act shall be construed
to embrace all malt, vinous or
spirituous liquors, wine, por-
ter, ale, beer or any other in
toxicating drink, mixture or
and all malt or brewed drinks,
whether intoxicating or not,
shall be deemed malt liquors
within the meaning of this
act; and all liquids, mixtures
or preparations, whether pat
ented or not, which will pro-
duce intoxication, and all be-
verages containing so much AS
one-half of one per centum of
alcohol by volume, shall be
deemed spirituous liquors, and
all shall be embraced in the
word liquors" as hereinafter
used in this act.
The clause reading "and all malt
or brewed drinks, whether intoAi-
eating or not, shall be deemed malt
liquors within the meaning of this
act" constitutes the Joker" accord
ing to the claims of the anti-pro-
hibs. They assert that there are
several drinks containing malt, such
as matted milk and many other SINH
lar mixtures that are popular with
persons who never taste liquor.
Committee Chairmanships
Republicans, gathered only sin
committee chairmanships in the as
sembly, the personnel of the com
mittee being announced yesterday
afternoon by Speaker Luce. Fulmer
of White Pine. chairman of the com
mittee on corporations and rail
roads: Beard of Washoe heads the