The Bismarck tribune., 1922-02-02
LAW ENFORCEMENT

LAW ENFORCEMENT ,
Attorney General Johnson sounds the proper
keynote in his letter to the county officials en-
trusted with law enforcement. He properly fixes
the responsibility where it belongs upon the ap-
pointed police officials of the state and the county
prosecutors. 49,. .+.+. s..
The creation of the pool hall inspection depart
ment took from cities and. smaller political sub
divisions revenue needed for the operation Of local
law enforcement agencies and shifted the respon-
sibility to a new department which by the very
nature Of things could not be efficient but has
proved heavy tax upon the people,
Mr.. Johnson points out that the funds for the
operation of this department are exhausted, but
thatths in no wise relieves any local officer from
performing his duty in the enforcement Of law.
The Tribune has opposed the creation of special
departments for the enforcement of certain laws.
Activity of so called "reformers" to create de-
partment which would place them in positions of
ease and emolument has characterized every ses-
sion of the legislature. The kind of lobby which
is maintained from the first drop Of the gavel has
become VIGOROUSLY pestiferous. .,,..
North Dakota has staggered under a tax load
for many years but there are healthy signs that
the worm is turning.
The pool hall inspection department should be
eliminated, in fact as it is now in practice through
shortage of funds Judge Robinson's initiated
measure Wiping out this extra law enforcement
body should receive the hearty support of every
citizen who feels that the local. machinery of law
enforcement is efficient enough now to cope with
any nfractions of state laws relative to the opera
tion Of the pool halls.
Assigning law enforcement to multiplicity Of
boards and commissions means not more but less
law enforcement The local police departments,
the town marshals, sheriffs and states attorneys
are paid to perform a certain function. Create a
state department to share that responsibility with
them and in many instances there is a general
passing of the buck"
When the whole story is told of the pool hall in
sspecton department. the tax payers should be-
come thoroughly aroused to its inefficiency and
it's capacity for wasting public funds in perform
ing function that can be done better by federal
and elected officials in the various localities with
out additional cost to the state.
Attorney General johnson can serve the state
in no better way than to impress upon local off,
cials that they are under oath to enforce every
law impartially and not to make scape goat out
of any extra law enforcement body that the egls-
lature may have created to appease group of peo-
pie who believe the enforcement of certain kind
of laws takes precedence over all other laws.
The funds taken from cities and counties by the
creation of the pool hall inspection department
should be restored as sbol, Is the vicious law Gre
ating that department can be repealed so that the
local law enforcement agencies can be strengthen
ed They must do the work now while the state
gets the license money
All power to Mr.. johnson in his drive to impress
upon law officers that the responsibility for main
tanning law and order and guarding the peace,
health and safety of the community is at their
doors. !
North Dakota should lose no time in ending the
farce of divided authority that costs more and
gives less in real service. +