The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-02-05
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.

IIOIOlHIVc oUSSIF.
Matters Of General interest Under
Consideration BY Lawmakers
HELENA, Feb. with four weeks
Of the session gone, the net doiugs in
the way OF accomplishments by the
Thirteenth assembly, counted in bills
that have passed and reached the gov.
ernor and been signed, are eight meas.
ures. One Of these, the only one Of
general importance, is the woman's
suffrage act. Another Of general ap-
plication Is that providing for the
terms OF those appointed to county
offices to fill vacancies. The others
relate to acknowledgements and the
rest are appropriation bills.
There have been 1913 bills introduced
during the four weeks, and 81 of these
have been killed.
The house committee, to which has
been referred the various bills ere ating
new counties, will ask the house for
instructions in view of the decision of
the attorney general that the creation
of new counties by legislative act will
be unconstitutional. This will give
opponents of the new counties as pro.
posed an opportunity to kill off the
whole bunch at one time by instructing
the committee to take NJ further action
on them. A majority of the committee
is opposed to the creation of any new
counties whatever, and If the house
refuses to instruct, the fate of all the
bills Is certain.
Representative Poulsson, of Chou
teau county, believes that the same
regulations with regard to motor
vehicles should apply in the country
as those provided by ordinances In
cities. He will introduce bill in the
house, providing that all motorcycles
must carry one light in front and
automobiles two. The bill also pro.
vides for red tail light for automo.
biles as we'll as horns. whistles or
gongs. Rights Of the road are defined
by providing that vehicles In passing
shall turn to the right.
A bill has been introduced by Rep.
resentative Fishbaugh, of Chouteau
county. providing that county roads
shail follow section lines. The auth
critics will be permitted to adopt q
different plan in case q section line
crosses bad lands or some other oh.
stacle that would make road building
extremely difficult and expensive.
House bill No. 165, by Pope, pro-
vides for regulation of grist mills and
mills operated by all persons, corpor-
ations or co operative companies with
In the state of Montana, prescribes
the amount of toll charged by such
mills, declaring them to be public
utilities, and compelling the accept
ance of grist by ell persons, corpora
lions or cooperative companies en-.
gagged in milling grain within this
state, and regulating the order in
which all grist brought to such mills
shall be ground, and prescribing pen.
alties for the violation thereof.
Il
The state fair management is AK
ing for 100000 for the erection OF addi-
tional livestock barns and $50, 900 for
q horticultural building. At last
year's fair livestock and fruit were
exhibited under canvas, the perm anent
being crowded to their
capacities. 1t is the intention to con-
struct these buildings of material tha
will make them last for years to come.
In addition q, 900 is wanted to cover
repairs and minor improvements; and
s25, 900 this year and the same sum
next year for the maintenance of the
institution.