The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-02-15
RULE ON
ENF0RCINGLAW
CAUSES DEBATE
House and Senate at Odds on
Bill to Change Licensing
Department
OIL l. E A S E BILL GOES
Measure to Aid Drilling in Bad
Lands Observation-Disclosures
Bill Revived
OIL L E AS BILL GOES

Senate bill IS promises to become
one Of the largest bones of contention
of the legislature.
The house late yesterday accepted
the bill, as amended, which changes
the entire plan of licensing of pool
halls, dance halls bowling alleys, the
aters, moving pictures, taXicabs,
places where soft drinks and tobacco
are sold. s-
1t is probable the measure will pass
he house, and those opposed to the
house action are replying on con
ference committee to knock the
amendments that are Objectionable to
them. a r
The bill, as it passed the senate pro-
vides for an enlargement Of the duties
OF the state licensing department. The
house amendments would virtually
abolish the department permitting
towns and cities to license the places
named in the bill, and relying on To-
cal authorities to enforce the law.
Representative Miller, Nonpartisan.
OF BOttineau county, is one OF the ac-
tive workers for the bill. During de-
bate he declared that local enforce
ment of the law could not be depend
ed on, and he opposed the house COM
mittee's views, but took the position
that the best hope of winning his fight
on the measure was to vote for it and
let it 60 to conference committee.
", r. For Home Rule.
Speaker Twitchell spoke for the bill
as amended, and declared that as
amended by the committee it provided
for more strict penalties and would
make for greater law enforcement.
The question was not one Of lpW en-
forcement, he said,. but whether it
was more practical to have state en-
forcement department or have the cit,
les enforce the law and regulate their
own liceasd businesses.
Representative Walter Maddox de-
clared that it appeared to him that the
people opposed to strict enforcement
opposed the senate bill as it came to
the house and those for strict enforce.
ment favored it, saying "the temper
ance people of the state want it and
am willing to stay by them"
q Speaker Twitchell called attention
to the fact that the license fees
amounted to about $50, 1000 and that the
licensing department Of the attorney
generals office spent about 100000 in
enforcement work. He said that the
few deputies visited town in the
state about once every six months
and that the enforcement was joke:
Representative Vogel, Bauer and
Shipley stood for the bill as amended
by the house committee, because they
said it provided home rule.
Debate Oil Lease Bill.
The house engaged in debate over
house bill 166, which provided that
the land commissioner might permit
drilling for oil on school section, the
state to get one-eighth OF any OIL
found, and providing that not more
chan four wells should be drilled or
contracts given for over five years.
Representative Kitchen sponsored
the bill, saying it was intended to per-
nit drilling on school section or the
Bad Lands in the hope Of finding OIL,
and developing the resources OF the
state.
Representative Vogel declared that
the resources Of the state and nation
has been wasted too freely. The Dill
was Indefinitely postponed.
The house agreed to reconsider
house bill No. 43, the engineers IL
cense bill, which was killed on COM
mittee report 1t may be redrafted ny
the state affairs committee.
Three new bills were approved Tor IN
PRODUCTION by the committee on de'
layed bills, They, are house bill NO.
2O8, requiring all public printing to De
done in the state; house bill No. glo
providing for the cancellation of per.
sonal taxes unpaid for the year l9lo
and previous years, and house Dill NO.
2l1, amending the law governing Ia
borer's liens.
Kill Two Bills.
The house killed these bllls: H. b'
S4, providing for state factory m
spector: H. 3. 166, empowering the
state land department to grant certain
permits for sinking oil wells.
The house passed house bill NO. lz|,
to hermit owners of cattle killed as tu-
bercular to receive greater compen'
sation and house bill No. 1873, per-
mitting the board of administrator
to approve increase Of normal school
courses to four years and grant bache-
lor of Arts degrees.
uANJc HANSEN