The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-02-18
CRIMINAL BUREAU
DEFEATED IN House
BY INDEPENDENTS
Friends Of Administration Break
Away From Measure Fa-
vored by Governor
$4,000 COST SCARECR0W
Leaders Urging Establishment
Say Absence in This State
Will Attract Crooks
$4,000 COST scAREcRow


Independents in the lower house Of
the North Dakota legislature broke
from the ranks Saturday and helped
to kill the administration measure to
establish bureau OF criminal appre-
hension and Identification. The vote
stood So for and So against the bill
with five members absent.
Attention has been centered on this
bill since the opening Of the legisla-
ture as an outstanding recommended
ton Of the administration. Governor
George F. Shafer urged it In his in
augural message. states attorneys
and sheriffs in convention here in
January supported It and 1t was
thoroughly gone over in committee
and by the house as whole.
Each time that 1t came before the
house it created trouble with the op-
position gradually increasing. It's de-
feat, however, came as a decided sur
prise.
Cost Of such bureau has been
held against 1t. the bill proposing
$4,000 for maintenance. Nonparti-
san league members constantly
stressed the added burden 1t would
bring to the taxpayers. Independent
members OF the house voting against
the measure took no active part In
the floor discussion, registering their
opposition only by their vote.
Debate Is Short
II. F. Horner, Cass county, author
of the bill. and L. L. Twichell, Cass
county, defended the measure on the
floor. J. H. Burkhart. Ward county
and O. E. Erickson, Kidder county
led the opposition. Debate was short
The house killed another bill by the
closest vote OF the session. 53-55, with
five members absent. It was meas
ure to require posting Of prices Of
milk and milk products 1T cream
stations. Seven bills were passed but
none Of major interest.
Sitting as the committee Of the
whole the house voted for indefinite
postponement q bill to give legislators
So additional pay for services on COM
mittees. M. H. Lynch. Richland
county. led the attack on the meas
ure. declaring that 1t was not consti-
tutional He said that the people Of
the state twice had voted down an
increase In pay to members Of the
legislature. George Aljets. Wells
county. pointed out that II legislation
concerning appropriations were sub
mitted to the people. little would
pass.
r,~;ol.eo,> hovo,a %t,n on,4oci+;rv> ~
the, criminal bureau bill by motor
for indefinite postponement.
Recommended BY Shafer
Horner responded by explaining
that the matter was an important
one and should not be summary dis
pensed with. Twichell pointed out
that Governor Shafer recommends
tn bill, that states attorneys ant
sl1eriffs supported It and that "they
should know as much as we do abou,
it,"
IF states attorneys are for the
bill. have letter here from q state.
attorney opposed to It," Erickson said
He read the letter to the house.
There is no deception In our con.
ter.tion that the states attorneys ane
sheriffs are behind this measure
Horner replied. This is q matter o.
record and you have only to 60 to thu
convention reports for It. Othel
states have such bureaus and unles.
we want criminals to flock to NORTH
Dakota. we need one here"
G. G. Turner. Stark county, who L
a former sheriff. said that the sher.
ifs convention In January wa!
unanimously behind this bill.
Good Offsets Cost
I'VE can try this bureau for twt
years and II 1t fails in It's duties. tn,
next legislature can dispense with 1t
e. p. Bishop. Stark county. asserted
TT is q good measure and will brin(
more good to the state by far thar
its COST
Failure to enforce the law Is on,
Of the difficulties Of the state and ma
b tion," F. q. Kneeland. Stutsmal
county. contended. 1.-TWO reason
why the law is not enforced are tina
criminals are not caught and tina
evidence is not produced when the.
do come before the courts. This bill
will help strengthen law enforcement
through bringing about more arrest
and more corrections"
There Is no member Of the hous
but favors law to help apprehen,
criminals" Burkhart responded. Il
this bill were less vicious, the minor
ity Of the house would support It. A
it stands it is one Of the most viciou
measures at this session Of the legis
! lature:'
spoke against the measure from tn
same standpoint, maintaining that
should be confined simply to . btu
, rea,l Of Identification.
! Scales Cause Debate
Two minor debates broke out o.
the floor earlier In the day. Befor
passing 9 bill to provide inspection
Of scales, weights and measures uu
der jurisdiction Of the state food com
missioner. the house divided alon
party lines with but two or thrc
Noupertisans voting for the bill.
Twichell. leading the independents
:ontended that the sl1eriffs have ia
duty Of inspection Under the preseu
law. ,that they do not care to do
lnd that most scales 80 tiuiuspecte<
Burkhart held that county comma
sioners are obligated TO 80 that shes
IFS take care Of these dltics and thu
there Is no reason why tho work can
not be properly done under the pre-
ent law.
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