The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-01-18
With the Legislature

there would be no people to arrest
that it would make the position OF tn
attorney general ridiculous and tina
the white people should have specla
officers as the federal government pro
yides for the Red man, were just
few of the highlights brought out.
Representative G.. p. Peterson o.
Towner county, believed bill No. 81
was good measure and should bt
discussed. Attorney B. &. Tennesol
OF Fargo. said the bill carried merit il
it and l.. l.. Stair, Democrat, Bottineal
county. declared the people had elected
a good man as attorney general anC
believed that William LANCER woulC
see to the enforcement of the laws. he
said If more Offices were created anC
added to the police, there would soon
be no people to arrest. Representa-
tive Stair said the people want to- put
the duty on some one else and for that
reason he opposed the measure.
l.. 4. Bowman Is Heard.
E. A. Bowman OF Kuhn, candidate
for speaker OF the house early in the
assembling Of the legislators, said the
state laws are not enforced in all
counties, that Iowa has similar law
and that it is an economical way OF
enforcing the state laws. He read a
letter from the attorney general in
which the latter expressed himself in
favor of such law.
Representative Church OF Benson,
said II am in favor of the law"
Representative Tenneson of Fargo,
asked why three members?" and 1t
was explained the bill calls for lone,
two or three officers not to exceed
three citizens"
Mees Opposed to Measure.
"If we are to have law enforcement
it must come from the office of the
attorney general whom we placed i'll
office for that purpose, averred r. W.
Mees of Morton county. IF the at
torney general hasn't assistance and
power to bring about law enforcement,
am in favor of enacting legislation
which will invest him with SUCH"
Il agree with Representative Mees,"
said Representative Singer of the 49th
district, land if the attorney general
has not the power to bring about en-
forcement, lets give him such at this
session. If he needs assistance, let
him make his selection and then we
will have the duties under one roof
Voice From MOuntrail County.
Walter J. Maddox, one of the young
members of the house stated the bill
would make the position of the attor-
ney general ridiculous, but believed
the legislature should give him auth
ority to carry out his power.
Representative Hanson of Grand
Forks, said II think we need some
body to look after the enforcement of
the laws and anbther thing we don't
like TO get at them at home. If the
federal government needs officers for
Indians, think we need them in North
Dakota to enforce the laws for those
who are suffering
Hagan Speaks His Piece.
II don't believe it is good legislation
for us to pass laws for work which
we are paying elected officers to do
said Representative A. NJ. Hagan.
Representative J. C. Miller of Bot
tineau, argued that the citizens can't
enforce the laws and that he was in
favor OF the bill. "
How much would you have to pay
toward the expense of these three APP
pointed officers?' asked Miller. "You
wouldn't need to pay more than five
cents and you would pay your share
of the cost of law enforcement for the
state. There are, lots of laws running
wild over the state If LANCER knows
that we need thebe special officers are
you going to tie his hands? | say
emplIatically no!y',
Moen III hettinger..
II know as a matter of fact the laws
In the~cOunties can be enforced under
our present statutes" said Representa-
tive Henry Moen of Hettinger. II per-
sonally had occasion to enforce them
in my own county, and l know the
laws were absolutely enforced in
respect to liquor. The fact remains
that if you appoint one, two or three
officers you are only duplicating or
throwing the responsibility from one
man to another. 1t would, therefore,
be my opinion that the proper pro-
cedure is to give assistance to the at
torney general and the states attor-
neys throughout the state and let the
attorney general have the supreme
power
LathrOp Would Amend Bill.
Representative Lathr0p would have
the bill amended to make the work
under the direction of the attorney
general.
Representative Sidney Smith of