The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-01-19
RESUME OF PROCEEDINGS THUS
FAR OF TWELFTH LECIS-
LATIVE ASSEMBLY
MICH LEGISLATION ACCOMPLISH SENATORIAL CONTEST
DOES NOT INTERFERE. COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
LABOR LEGISLATION.

Helena. January 15.-The senator
ial contest is not interfering III any
way with legislation when Ihe
Twelfth assembly proposes to enact.
DESPITE the keen interest that mas
been shown since the first vote was
cast last Tuesday. the whee.s OF law
enactment are whirling along at q
rate that gives promise OF the al
vancement Of legislation OF which
the state appears to be indeed COM
parative]y early in the session.
Thus far this session 1O5 house Dl'ls
have been introduced and more than
60 have made their appearance III the
senate. These are in the hands OF
the various committees and are
scheduled for report back to the
resnectiye houses within the course
of few days. Two joint memorials
and AS many loint resolutions nave
been adopted in each house during
,he fortnight the legislators have
been III Helena.
Interest for the toga was not as
keen as was anticipated. Instead OF
being paramount the first week the
LEGISLATORS were in session, it was
hardly considered. Members OF both
houses anticipated the shelving OF
legislation during the fight and for
this reason introduced their bills
ear]y and advanced them as rapidly
as possible. During the second week
of the session more time was given
10 the consideration of bills than
during the first, contrary t" general
expectation.
The Twelfth assembly has already
ratified the income tax amendment
and memorialized congress to pro-
vide for an amendment to the con-
stitution making possible the elect
ion of senator's by direct vote. Com
press has also been memorlallzed by
the Twelfth assembly to open the
Crow reservation, relieve the set
tiers on the Lower Yellowstone rec
,amation project and grant Montana
5O. 600 acres Of land for an asylum for
the insane,
Two investigating committees and
a special committee are already max
ing progress with the subjects OF
their probes and another one will be
started to work tomorrow, providing
for an investigation Of the livestock
board, especially with reference to
the handling OF estray funds. The
mines and Cary act joint invest'ga-
tion committees are still at work,
but in all probability will not report
for many weeks. The committee ap-
pointed to investigate the advisable
-ity of purchasing the site and build
ings used by the state as an asylum
for the insane started to work yes
terday, but the magnitude Of their
task probably will not permit Of
report before the closing days OF the
session.
A good start has been maze toward
the enactment Of a primary law in
this state. Representatives .Byrnes
of Lewis and Clark, and Binnard Of
Silver Bow, and Senator Everett
have introduced bills providing for
nominations by direct vote.
There are three bills in the house
which have for their purpose the pro-
vision of the commission form of
government for Montana cities.
They were introduced by Blackburn
of Silver Bow, Woody Of Missoula,
and Hotter OF Lewis and Clark.
Bills contemplating reapportion-
ment have been introduced in both
the house and senate. In the former,
Bell, of Yellowstone, is advancing Il
hill providing for reappointnlent Oh
u basis Of 4, 800 population, and in
the senate Senator George is Advunc-
ing u similar measure, while Senator
Sykes has y bill making 1000 the
basis OF reapportionment.
The house bill has already been
Of, but the senate has two
paSs bills under consideration. One
by Donlan makes the giving Of free
transportation by the railroads to
state officers, county attorneys and !
sheriffs compulsory, and provides !:
s-....