White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-11-18

Carson City Nov. 1.-THE business
of many of the people, the pleasure
Of most of the people and of interest
to all the people was widely and at
times animatedly discussed at the
conference held in the senate cham
Der of the state capitol last Monday.
The conference came as the result
of the request made by President
Coolidge to the chief executives OF
the states throughout the union and
which Governor Scrugham outlined
in his invitation to Interested parties
to attend.
Long before the request came FROM
the chief executive of the nation,
and particularly while the legislature
was in session early this year, United
States District Attorney George
Springmeyer was loudly calling for
assistance from state, county and
municipal officers throughout Nevada.
The legislature, however, in the face
of these appeals answered only by
wiping off the statute books of Ne
vada the prohibition laws and leaving
the sovereign state with only y
worthless printed document known
as the Whitley act and which the law
makers were fully advised in an
opinion written by Attorney General
piskin and submitted to the lawmak-
ing body by Governor Scrugham in
ample time for correction of the con-
stitutional defect, which was clearly
pointed out by the attorney general,
if the majority OF the members of the
senate and assembly had felt so in
ciined.
All roads leading to the state capt.
tol were lined with automobiles early
in the morning and Immediately fol-
lowing the arrival of the railroad
train the procession along the main
for the beach rather than dry con-
ference.
Promptly at 10 O'Clock Governor
Scrugham concisely outlined the pur-
poses of the conference and called
upon Captain J p. Dornelley to ad1
dress the conference. Captain Don
nelley explained that his department,
being new one, is only skeleton
at this time and that Is the reason
for the call for assistance from the
federal government. THE PROPOSE
tion of help does not mean that the
federal government is unable 10 en-
force the act" said Captain Donnel-
ley. "It was not the intention O.:
congress when the act was passed to
have Il enforced solely by the fed
eral department, therefore 1t was ex-
pected the enforcement of it would
be helped by the local and municipal
officers the same a. any other law
upon our statutes" The enforce
ment officer then explained that his
force was limited as compared with
the vast territory required to be COW
cred. In conclusion Captain Don
nelley said, "You all know this meet
ing was called for the purpose of
formulating plans for better coopera.
ton, and later on in the meeting
feel that there will be a discussion
pro and con as to what had better
be done in the way of getting better
enforcement"
The conferees generally seemed to
feel that they were there to hear the
matter discussed pro and con, as
Captain Dcrnelley had put it, and
when Unitsd States District Attorney
Springmeyer was next called upon
by Governor Scrugham many leaned
forward in their chairs, evidently
prepared tc listen intently to some
constructive suggestions, at least on
rhe side of the pro" but before the
federal officer had proceeded to any
great degree some leaned back and
the expressions On their faces rathe-"
indicated that they regarded the lee
ture as tcon."
He referred to several district at
torneys throughout the state and said