The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1920-01-02
FIRST MOVE
UNDER HOUSE
!. Bill. NO. 60


unique action of a governor doing what
the state legislature did not have the
strength to do-repeal a law-was the
latest bit of administrative jugglerY
by Frazier (who "signs where he's told
to sign') when on Monday he advised
Attorney General William Langer that
no bills of the state licensing depart
ment dated after December 81 would
first move under House Bill 60.
This state license department WHICH
mas jurisdiction over pool halls, soft
drink stands, Taxi-cab stands, bowling
alleys, dance halls and theatres, was
established by action Of the 1919 regu-
lar session of the legislature. ~
~ When Langer jumped the traces and
at the time the special session was
called, the Lemke League members ot
the session received their Instructions
to repeal the law, this taking Langer's
law enforcing department from him.
However, the church organizations, the
w. c. T. o., the North Dakota En-
forcement League and other influences
brought such strong pressure to bear
that the bill to repeal the law. was lost
in the house. It was reported out
with amendments which practically
killed the law, but this too was again
unsatisfactory. Then bill came out
of the League caucus retaining the~de-
partment but transferring it bodily TO
the state sheriff-thus Furnishing Ian.
ger. .-..-. ..''
Monday morning at a meeting of the
state auditing board-the old board
with LANCER, Hall, Kositzky and the
Governor present, Treasurer Olson be-
ing in the hospital-the governor adj
vised LANCER that no bills of the state
licensing department would be paid
later than December 81.
The inspector and deputies and Ste
nographer, under the governors STATE
ment, have been working since Decem.
her 21s without pay. Up to M 1rday
the state sheriff had not been named
and no call had been made upon either
the inspector or the attorney general
to turn over the department. y
9 On Monday when the goveIncr's
edict was issued. the department be-
gan the investigation and action for
the revocation of the license Of a
dance hall at Minot which city officials
there declared lisreputable and dis
orderly; received and attended to 26
applications for licenses of various
kinds; attended to three complaints OF
law violations in allowing minors In
pool halls; answered 81 letters re-
uuesting information concerning laws
OF various kinds: all in accordance
with the duties of the Office.
Yet the governor said no bills would
be paid, which meant salaries as well,
and the department employees worked
without pay
The governor declared the depart
ment imperative December 21st. the
date ten days after the special session
when H. B. so was claimed to have
been effective. He had not, prior to
saying no more bills .of the licensing
department would be paid, named a
state sheriff to whom the department
+, is scheduled for transfer, nor had any
request been made on the department
for its surrender.
II. is not reasonable to suppose the
officials would quit, lock up the desks,
let mail, complaints applications,
money and work accumulate. nor VIC.
late the oaths of Office by failing to
off1ciate until the department had.
properly been turned over to proper
succeeding official.
The announcement of the governor
therefore is practically repeal Of the
department. However, Earle H. Toste~
win, Mandan, State Inspector; H., J.
Baird, Robinson, and Peter Scott, Dot
tineau, deputies, and Miss Emma
Lundquist, Williston. clerk ars cortin.
uing to do their work and care for the
department until it is at least de
manded surrendered to the Bolshevil-
administration. .s5. zs.#s