The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-12-16
SOME OF THE LAWS IN PROSPECT
One of the Measures to Be Asked for
Looks to the Closing of Saloons on
Sundays, Another Contemplates
Some Changes in the Laws ReIat-
ing to Pool Selling.

independent, anu uUI one VI Lu0u
has been convinced that the coming
session of the lawmakers will be a
day less than the law allows nor do
they believe there will be any honest
attempt made to curtail the length
of the session. While it is the general
opinion that there will be no hard
fights, such as there were two years
ago over the passage of measures af
fecting the large mining companies,
there will be nevertheless many
many measures of general interest
introduced which will consume time.
Among the measures that will come
before the legislature will be one hav-
ing for it's object the closing of sa-
looms on Sundays. In furtherance of
the measure petitions are being cir
culated over the state for signatures,
and these will be presented to the
legislature. The petition reads as
follows:
TO the Honorable Legislative AS
sembly of the State of Montana:
1--WE, the undersigned residents and
citizens of the state of Montana re-
specially request that you pass a
law at the present session, to close
saloons and all other places where in
toxicating liquors, wine or beer are
sold as a beverage from IL o'clock
Saturday night until o'clock Mon
day morning and to provide a severe
penalty for violation of the same"
Another measure that will require
Of af ooic 1of will
be the initiative and referendum.
Such a measure has been presented
to every legislature since 1897, but
it has never mustered a sufficient
number of followers to pass either
house. There are a number of mem
bers of the lower house who are
pledged to it, and it will have some
support in the senate, but as the re-
publicans have always unitedly OPP
posed the submission to the people
of an amendment looking to putting
the system into effect, it would seem
as the republicans are in control of
the house, that it will not get be-
yond that body if it is introduced
there. Some of those who are in
favor of the measure are of the opin-
ion the governor will recommend the
passage of a Jaw submitting the ques-
ton to the people. But so far as
known the governor has given no in
timation as to how he stands upon
the question.
Whether such a law is enacted or
defeated, it is good for the consump
tion of at least a weeks time in the
house, and possibly more if the fight
gets real warm,
There is no question but bill viii
be introduced looking to the creation
of a railroad commission. Severa
members-elect who have talked abou
prospective legislation have ex
pressed the belief that a law creatins
such a commission would be recon
mended by the governor If such
law is enacted there will be a figh
on the question whether the member
of the commission shall be electe
by the people or appointed by tn
governor. Until a general election
if a commission is created the men
bers first holding the position woul
be appointed by the governor. State
adjacent to Montana now have raj
way commissions, and there is goin
to be a determined effort to have on
in Montana 1t will be opposed O
the ground that the state has no
enough people on the payroll, an
the advocates of the measure will
called upon to show what such cor
missions have done for other states
The fight on the railroad commi
sion bill will be more bitter thu
that upon the initiative an refere
dunn, and it will consume more tim
The women will take up a consi
cradle part of the time of the legisl
tive session. The woman suffragis
have been waging an active campais
for several months, and they will
before the legislature fortified wi
arguments and a determination
get the question of giving them t
franchise submitted to the vote of t
people. The advocates of WON
considerably by Montana legis
lures, though they have not G
many votes, and there is no reas
to believe the consideration Civ
them at the coming session will
less than in previous years.
There is an unanimity of sentimt
among all the members-elect of
legislature who have talked abb
the subject, that Montana needs
the shape of law worse than a.
thing else new road law. The c
that was enacted two years ago
proved an absolute failure, and fl
if any counties in the state have be
able operate under it. 1t is pt
member who cannot have the re
law or game bill to introduce d
ing a session, and there is no gu