The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-02-22
CENSORSHIP OF
MOVIES PASSES
AFTER A FIGHT
Sixty.Two House Members Vot.
ed in Favor of Bill at Night
Session
SEND FOR A SICK MAN
Supporters of Bill Muster Nee.
essary Strength-Other
4 Action of House

North Dakota is in q fair, way to.
day to have another commission-a
moving picture commission. this
time sae# f. f. 4,
The house of resentatives pass
ed House 3iil No. S13a. providing for
the csnsofslip OF moving pictures, by
vote Of 81 to 48 at its session last
night. The house also strengthened
the anti-cigarette law by making II
unlawful to have on ones person an
unusual quantity Of cigarettes, In
tended for sale.
The movie bill was the star attfac-
ton Of the night session, and debate
on it drew some applause from the
gallery. The vote was not entirely
on party lines. although the charge
was made that Nonpartisans we're
seeking passage Of the bill SO as 20
create a number Of new jobs. One
or two. local women workers for the
league thave been mentioned .as pos
sible appointees of the governor to
the board, If the bill becomes law,
although the board would sit in Far
go. ~, -' y
Speaker Twitchell opposed the bill
vigorously as political = measure
pure and simple and Rep, Preszler
pointed to law now on the statute
books under which he said the at
torney-general could prohibit show
ing of immoral films. During the de-
bate Speaker Twitchell suggested that
there might be another election soon.
How soon?" asked Rep. Whitmer.
1T might be In sixty days." re-
marked the speaker.
There was some parliamentary
jockeying before the bill came to
vote.f Rep. Preszler moved that the
bill be indefinitely postponed. Rep,
Patterson moved, that this motion be
laid on the table and Patterson's mo-
ytion prevailed, with IS ayes. Rep.
Miller said that whilo there were a
majority Of the representatives pres
ent in favor OF the bill there was not
a constitutional majority. He wished
action deferred, but others asked a
call Of the house, and used up con-
siderable time while a hurry-up call
was sent out for absent members.
Rep. Burkhart, who was absent and
had been sick, was brought to the
statehouse and soon there was ma
jority. H.. .....sf.- .
=. Many Oppose Bill. .
Many speakers were in favor of the
bill, including Rep. Miller, Qo-author
with Representative Halcrow, Rep
resentatives Patterson, Reichert, Vo-
gel, Shorman and Walter Maddox
and among those who opposed it on
the floor were Representatives Boyd,
Shipley and Sagen. They de-
clared censorship of movies neces-
sity for the protection of the youth
of the state. .
The house held late session in
an effort to dispose of as many bills
as possible. 1t was not intended to
have any bills on third reading this
afternoon, a holiday, but the house
was to devot6 itself to general or
ders.
Bills Acted Upon.
Bills disposed Of yesterday follow:
II. B. 105-Relating to selection of
county and state committeeman
Passed 80 to o. e}2eas 10
H. B. 197-Proyiding for non-polit-
ical state ballot. Passed 66 to As.
H. B. Providing method Of
nominating candidates for offices of
presidential elector, United States
congressman. etc. Passed 81 to As.
H. B. 186-Amending constitution
to provide ten-year term of office for
supreme court judges. Passed so to
A. -,
H. B. Making state anti-in-
junction law conform to federal law.
Passed 9e,sto II. ls.. u.
H..B. 15s-Making more liberal pro-
visions regarding Indians made citi-
zens voting. Passed %l01 to 0.
/ H. B. 14S-Making daylight rob-
berry Of bank q felony:
berry of bank a felony. Passed 1O7 70 O..
II. B. 43-Providing for licensing
OF engineers. Indefinitely postponed.
H. B. 206 06-Authorizing boards of
county commissioners to issue refund
ing bonds to fund or refund for the
purpose of purchasing seed grain.
Passed 81 to 2. 3
H. B. 21O-For an act to cancel
uncollected personal property taxes
assessed for 1910 and prior years.
Passed SO to II. "
H. B. 141-Repealing act providing
for twice year payment of taxes.
Defeated Is to 81. ~.
H. B. 12S-Defining corporate ex-
cess In joint stock companies. Passed
81 to AZ. f'- ~
H. B.. 132-Providing for state cen
sorship of movies. Passed 62 to As,
with three absent.
II. B. 169-Re1bting the size Of
caboose cars. Passed 1O4 to 0.
Il II. B. 15SvAmending election law
Passed 101 to 0.
H. b. 139-Amending law relative
to county commissioners powers and
dntiss with respect to contracts let
on competitive bid. Passed SO to ~.
H B. 19-Increasing salaries Of
workmen's bureau commissioners
Continued on page 81