Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-03-01
SMOKERS HIT
BY new LAW
ANTI-CIGARETTE ACT PASSED BY
IDAHO LEGISLATURE is SUR
PRISE TO MANY
DISAGREE OVER PRIMARY LAW
House and Senate Take Opposite
Stand ON Election Legislation

Boise, Idaho, Feb 25, 1921.-To the
Herald: The sale or gift of cigarettes
in Idaho will be an act of bootlegging
II the governor signs senate bill No.
1874, which was passed by the house of
representatives Friday morning by
vote of 33 to 49,
] Speaker Peter G. Johnston vacated
the chair to speak for the bill, relin-
gushing the gavel to Bourne of Ban
mock. Previously he had ruled out of
order motion by Welker of Washing
ton to postpone the bill indefinitely be-
fore it was reached on the calendar.
BY this ruling the motion, renewed
when the bill was reached. became de-
batable, and the rest of the morning
was spent debating it. No other legis-
lation was considered.
Z All the debating was upon the mo-
ton to postpone. After that motion
placed on direct passage at once.
/ The anti cigarette bill was placed
upon the statute books of Idaho at the
behest of the Mormon church. When
it was first introduced in the senate
there was hardly legislator outside
the Mormons who considered that it
ure was looked upon as freak legisla-
tion because 1t was realized from the
start that it could not be enforced,
that it does not prohibit possession
and that tobacco users will under the
law. be compelled to send out of the
state to satisfy their desires, to the
detriment of Idaho dealers. Under the
new law it will not be possible to sell
or in nr.u pfn fol in fnr in
the G+t~.k against the cigarettes it is
made unlawful to have for sale or TO
give away tobacco from which cigar
cites may be made.
Only one speech for the bill was
made in the senate and that was by
Senator Harding, Mormon democrat
No one opposed the measure. TO the
surprise of all the bill carried with
only 10 opposing votes, many voting
out Of courtesy to Senator Harding
who made an eloquent appeal for the
measure Strange as it may seem
many senator's were carried away by
the eloquence of Senator Harding and
today they are regretting their hasty
action. II was almost generally
thought, however, that the house
would surely kill the bill No work
the evening before the bill came up
for third reading and then it was too
late. The Mormons had marshalled
their forces and were in full strength.
Speaker Johnston, a Mormon bishop,
took the floor to sponsor the bill
Efforts are now being made to in
duce Governor Davis to veto the anti
cigarette bill. l doubt that the cover
nj will hfc fn
The following is the anti-cigarette
bill passed by the legislature Friday
and sent to Governor Davis for his ap-
proval:
BE it enacted by the legislature of
the state of Idaho:
Section l. That section 1862 of the
compiled statutes of Idaho be- and the
same is hereby amended to read as fol-
lows:
Section 1862 Sale of cigarettes
4" 1t shall not be lawful for any
merchant. trader, peddler pharmacist,
druggist, apothecary, or any other per-
son or persons, male or female in this
state, with or without license, to inn
port for sale. or to have in his possess
sion for sale or to sell by wholesale or
retail, or give away, directly or indi-
tcNAiJf W any ptiHOi VI PURSUITS, fndlb
or female. within the state of
Idaho, cigarettes for smoking, or any
paper made or prepared for the pur-
pose of making cigarettes, or the COM
pounds of tobacco used in the filling
or makeup of cigarettes .. Any
druggist, apothecary, or any other per-
son or persons in this state violating
the provisions of this section shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. and
upon conviction thereof shall be pun
ished for the first offense by a fine of
not less than $50 nor more than S100,
and for the second offense by a fine
of not less than 800 nor more than
5000 or by Imprisonment in the county
Jail for a period of not to exceed six
months: Provided That the provis-
ions of this section shall not apply to
the sales of jobbers doing any inter
state business with customers outside
the state.
Relating To Minors. u
Section 2. That section 1868 of the
compiled statutes of Idaho be, and the
same is hereby amended to read as
follows:
Section 1868. Use of tobacco by
minors. Every minor person who
shall buy accept or have in his pos
session any cigarette, cigar or tobacco
in any form, or who shall buy, accept
or have in his possession any cigarette
paper or other paper or wrapper in
tended for the wrapping of tobacco in
the form of a cigarette. or compounds
of tobacco used in the filling or make
up of cigarettes, shall be guilty of
misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by fine of
not more than 500; and every person
who shall give, sell or furnish, directly
or indirectly, any cigarettes, cigars or
tobacco in any form, or any cigarette
paper or other paper or wrapper in