The Bismarck tribune., 1933-02-02
|H0T DEBATE MARKS
INITIAL HEARING ON
PROHIBITION REPEAL
Vets and 0rys Clash Before
House Committee At Ses-
sion Wednesday Night
INTERRUPTIONS BARRED
Chairman Rules Speakers May
Not Be Questioned BY op-
ponents Without Consent

Heated debate over q bill to repeal
al state prohibition laws featured q
hearing on the measure before the
house temperance committee here
Wednesday night.
The committee laid down rules that
opponents and proponents of the pro-
posal would not be allowed to ques-
tion each other without being granted
the privilege, after Thomas w. Gales
Fargo, head Of the Anti-Saloon
League In North Dakota, was inter-
rupted by supporters Of the bill when
he arose to speak.
The hearing attracted large au-
dience that heard G. p. Stone ol
Mandan, who sponsored the initiated
measure by which the provision for
prohibition in the state constitution
was repealed, explain the measure.
Rep. w. E. Goodwin Of Mandan, au-
thor Of the bill. States Attorney G. p
Kelsch Of Morton county, and Usher
L. Burdick, former assistant U. 8. dis
trict attorney at Fargo, spoke in be-
half Of the repeal measure.
Gales, strongly condemning the re-
peal proposal, said prohibition in
North Dakota is to prevent the ''evila
Of the liquor traffic"
He said II the dry laws are the
cause Of liquor violations. then II
could be said murder laws are the
cause of murder.
He warned the committee that II
the liquor laws OF the state are re-
moved the state will be wide opeu,'
providing q haven for bootleggers
and moonshinerS.
He said II the officers in the state
can not enforce the prohibition laws
1t Is their duty to resign. Referring
to q remark previously made that 1t
cost half million dollars q year to en-
force the dry laws in North Dakota,
Gales said that cost was not exorbit-
ant since 1t figures only about rs
cents per capita for all the residents
Of the state.
We Already Have IT.
He called attention to hundreds of
dry petitions sent to the legislature.
Stone told the committee that the
reason for repeal Is mot to bring
back beer or liquor but to regulate
what we already have" He said
there are mot less than 200 places"
In Bismarck and Mandan where IL
Quor from the rottenest to the best"
can be purchased, and where the
school boy and school girl drink al
cohol and beer Of the rottenest kind
possible"
Goodwin said the statutes which his
measure would repeal are known as
enabling acts-laws that aid the con-
stitutional measure repealed In No
vember. THE object and purpose Of
the legislation" he said, 'is to carry
out the demand Of the people made
known in November"
Rep. r. E. Strutz, temperance COM
mittee chairman, said Stone had pre-
viously made q statement that the
cost Of enforcement would have paid
the taxes and debts Of the farmers
and admonished him not to make
wild" statements. Stone said he did
not believe he had made the state
ment Is quoted, and explained that
the money spent would have built q
state capitol in North Dakota and q
courthouse In every county needing
one and there would not be the tax
burden there Is today.
Rep. M. r. Lllehaugen, member Of
the committee, said the legislators
have given their oath to uphold the
constitution and the 18th amendment
while In office and "how can We take
up time with this bill" He suggested
1t should wait until the 18th amend
ment iS off the books.