The Libby herald. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1911-1913, 1913-03-14
THIRTEENTH LEGISLATIVE SESSION
PASSED LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS
Many are Good Ones, Some are Bad ard Few Rotten
CcyernorStewart Vetoes County Bills on the Grounds
That the Existing Law Covers All Points

ne thirteenth general assembly
OF Montana passed into history
early last Friday morning, having
accomplished many things tha,
were promised to the people ii the
democrat party was entrusted with
power, IN the house of represen
tatives there have been some
stormy scenes, but upon the whole
it was fairly strict attention to bust
ness. Speaker Mcdonald was less
fortunate than some of his prede
cessors in not always having a
tranquil body over which to pre-
side.
On some occasions the speaker S
rulings did not coincide with the
views of the majority, which re-
suited in few revolutionary tao
tics in overriding his will, but as
legislative assemblies go, the house
was ordinarily we'll behaved, but it
can be said to the credit of Speaker
Mcdonald and those members who
occasionally objected to his rulings,
the questions involved were those
of policy and not personal,
In the senate, peace and har-
mony reigned supreme. Lieuten-
ant Governor Mcdowell, an ex-
perienced and tactful parliament
tartan guided the senate craft with
diplomacy, exc client judgment,
good temper and great success.
The present lieutenant governor
was twice speaker of the house,
has presided at three ses-
sions of the legislature and has to
his distinction the honor of never
having been overruled in any of his
decisions.
PARTY PLEDGES REDEEMED
The chief measures to be brought
before the legislature were those
pledged by the party in its plat
form, and these with one exception,
were enacted into laws, probably
not as some would have had the
laws to read, but regarded as a
good beginning in the direction of
progress and reform. The bills for
the creation of the public utilities
cOmlssiOn, and for a tax commits
sion, were not as many democrats
would have had them, thinking
that special commissions should
have been created, and not to have
additional burdens in look
ing after the public utilities by the
railroad mission, upon which
was conferred this additional power.
The tax commission bill provides
that the duties be perlol med by the
state board Of equalization, which
IS made up of the governor, secre-
ary of state, treasurer of state and
OF state. Many thought it
would have been better to have
created a special commission which
would have had more opportunities
of going deeper into the very i'm
portant questions of re-valuation
Of all classes of property.
The only reason assigned for not
creating a special commission was
hat as the states exchequer was
rather low, and the necessity to
practice economy seemed impera-
i've, consequently the state is not
put to any additional cost, except
tor clerk hire in carrying into force
The provision of these two laws.
PLATFORM BILLS
All platform bills except the COM
compensation bill, were passed, and
most of them were approved, but
as some did not reach rhe governor
until late, he will defer action,
taking advantage of the I5-day /
limit to attach his signature. The
following were the measure, prom !