Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-09
MAY DO AWAY
WITH LICENSE
DEPARTMENT
House Committee Majority
Urges Giving Powers
Back to Cities.
tBy stan Coreep}ndcnt.) }

Bismarck, n. p, Feb. 9.-Abolition
Of the attorney general licensing de-
partnre1t and restoration to cities and
villages Of the state OF the regula-
ton. licensing and inspection Of pool
halls. theaters. taxicab stands. soft
drink places. and dance halls. was
recommended by the majority Of the
mouse state affairs committee in
amendments offered to Senate Bill IS.
The measure originally introduced
in the upper house by Senators
Church and Miklethun. leaguers. 4 re-
vision Of the Sresent law. was pre-
pared by F. l.. Watkins. It increases
the scope of the bill TO include all
places where tobacco or cigars are
sold: increases the number of inspec-
tors from two to five: amends the
of business and provides a penalty OF
revocation of license for violation OF
any two laws. or of any one law twice.
AT the time of the original passage
of the law in 1919 objections were
made in that it was said to take
money from cities of the state which
previously had aided greatly in pay
ment Of police department expenses,
and at the same time did not relieve
local officials of their regulatory
duties.
Passing the senate 33 to is. the
new amendatory bill was referred to
the state affairs committee of the
house. That committee has amend
ed the measure SO as 10 require a IL
cense of all the places listed under the
act. but such license shall be pro-
! cured from the city auditor or the VII
lage clerk. Requirements as to fornt
of license renain the same the gen
eral change being made that menl-
bers of city councils. aldermen. COM
missions or board OF trustees are sub.
stituted within the bill in place of the
state inspectors. In addition to vo-
lation of state laws. violation of any
city or village ordinance is deemed
sufficient for cancellation of license.
! The fees as prescribed in the meas
ure as originally introduced remain
| the same but under the amendment
Of the majority OF the house state ai-
| fairs committee, will be paid to the
village or city treasurer instead Of the
attorney general.
! F. L. Watkins and others have been
around the capital constantly since
the opening of the session lobbying
| for the passage Of the new bill. With
| in the past few days billiard hall men.
! theater managers. city officials and
others have been making an even
more active campaign for the return
| of regulation to cities. Temperance
orga nizations have filed large num-
ber of kilograms urging the passage
of the measure. but one W. c. T. U.
organization took the other angle and
urged return of inspection and Ii
censing of pool halls to the munich
pality.
! The opponents of the Watkins
measure increasing the scope of the
attorney general licensing department
have also prepared printed state
ment which has been generally circu-
lated. stating their reasons for repeal
of the state control.
! The house divided along factiona,
lines on the adoption Of the majority
report So to "a. 1t is expected that
the same vote will be registered in
the final vote in the house. but that
the senate will kill the house amend
ment. and the department law remain
in the present status for the corning
two years.