The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-16
BITTER DEBATES ON
FLOOR MARK BATTLE
over $500 ASKED
Charges Of Personal Interest
And Vengeance Fly as
Minority Protests
SPECTATORS REPRIMANDED
Dispute Centers Over Whether
Members in Special Assem-.
bly, May Vote

Amid shouting and tumult, charges
OF personal interest, and claims Of
threatened legislative vengeance
against those who voted against the
measure. the house late Friday pass
ed a bill appropriating $500 to de-
fray costs OF special session called
last July by deposed Gov. william
LANCER.
The bill called forth an intensity
of feeling which no other measure
has produced, and spectators saw tho
picture of house members INDUCING
in shouted, heated argument q mi
nority members battled to block the
measure.
Even spectators were reprimanded
as the battle reached its climax with
an attempt to gather . two-thirds
majority to suspend rules Of the
house. The attempt failed.
L. r. Burgum Of Stutsman opened
the battle with the claim that mem
beers Of the house who attended the
special session could not vote on the
measure, under rule 10 OF the house,
which prohibits Representatives from
voting on q bill in which they have Q
personal interest.
Personal Interest Cited
Burgum maintained that since the
bill was one to appropriate money
with which to pay salaries Of those
who attended the special session. they
would therefore have q personal In
tereSt" in the bill.
Immediately, w. J. Goodwin Of
Morton, majority floor leader. WAS
on his feet. protesting and denying
the claim Of Burgum.
1T doesn't mean any such thing"
Goodwin protested. THAT rule doesn't
apply here. There Is no personal in
terest in this bill on the part Of any
Of the house"
III it doesn't mean that-what doeA
it nean?" questioned Edwin Traynoe
Of Ramsey. THE rule Is clear"
Harried by minority members en-
all sides, 0odwin's voice rose AZ he
attempted to meet the tactics Of hls
opponents.
AS l.. L. Twichell Of Cass pressed
the question of whether the house.
present at the special ses.
sion could vote on the measure, God.
win, his arm outstretched, shouted.
You can take your vote-but don't
forget that we've got the vote to put
it across and we're going to put it
across. All you're doing Is making
yourself late for dinner. I deny my
intent in this bin u personal"
Twichell with q smile chewed VIC.
on his cigar. but did not =.
ply.
Charges Intimidatjo0
Late in the argument. EaF1o L
Clarke Of LaMoure, charged he had
been threatened by . prominent
Of this house that Il I voted
against this bill my normal
school would be closed. In spite Of
that I vote no." Clarke attended
Glendale state normal school.
This is the first time in my life
that question like this has ever
come up Goodwin expostulated. Is he
protested against invocation Of the
house rule.
We'll, it's the first time we've ever
had to deal with . situation like
this" Traynor shot back.
He turned to the speaker, and de-
manded q ruling on the question
special sessionists could vote
on the measure.
"Yes-give w . ruling" chorused
members.
Crashing his gavel on the top u
the desk, Crockett declared, ''ths
house members viii vote their own
Demands Rules Suspended
As the clamor over the rule In
E. ]. McIlraith Of Divide,
one of the new members in the house.
leaped to his feet and demanded the
rules be suspended for tho purpose
Of voting on this measure"
Echoes Of viva voce vote On the
bill were still rolling through the
room when Twichell was on his feet
. roll call.
Il want to point out that it takes
Z two-thirds vote to suspend the
rules-so II you haven't got two
thirds, the rules won't be suspended
Excitedly, Goodwin sprung from
his seat. to question then ! under.
stand that il this roll call fails q
strength, the rules are not suspended
and members Of the special session IN
this house win not b entitled to
voter"
you're wrong. Mr.. Goodwin" came
the voice Of Crockett. ''The chair
has said the members VIII vote their
own convictions"
You mean to ten mo you're 60
Ing to suspend the rules yoursel17
shouted Twichell. IT that's %. then
what's the use Of having . ron call?'
Nels P. Noben Of Golden Valley
moved Twichell's demand Tor . roll
can be laid on the tahle.s
Five Member Abeant
"You can't lay . roll call On the
table," snorted Twichell
A call Of the house was demanded
BY Earl .. eynington q PembinA.
which disclosed five absent members.
three q whom entered the house IN
time 20 vote.
Durgum. who had asked his Open
ine statementS - printed IN The tour
nal, saw the house majority order
them stricken from the record
minutes lstor. 8 Nohen angrjls
Continued - pags UovaD