The Ronan pioneer., 1917-01-26

Owners association was formed. The
purpose Of the mine owners associa-
tion is to present to the legislature
the mine owners side of the case.
Twenty-eight mining companies op-
Grating in the Butte district comprise
this new body, and it is expected that
the membership will spread to all
sections of the state where mines are
operated. The association proposes
to show that it furnishes employ
ment to $4,000 or $4,000 men in the
state, and provides, through it's pay
rolls, a big local market for farm
products. Cornelius F. Kelley, vice
president of the Anaconda Mining
company, has issued statement in
which he places the books and rec
ords of the largest mining company
of the legislative committees, and Of
fering to facilitate, in any way pos
sible, the legislative investigation.
X
Farmers will be interested in the
state hail insurance bill, which pro-
poses state board of hail insurance,
by levying on all lands subject to in
jury. 1t is proposed to levy tax on
all lands growing crops subject to in
jury by hail, providing the owner de-
sires to insure by this plan. The
amount of tax per acre is determined
by the board, not in excess of so
cents an acre on lands planted to
grain. nor more than 25 cents an acre
for lands planted to hay crop. The
state board of equalization is en-
powered to make such levy according
to recommendation by the state board
of hail insurance.
The tax levies are chargeable to the
taxpayer who is insured, and spread
on the taxroll and collected by Off
GERS charged with the duties as in
the manner and form of other prop
erty taxes and if not paid shall be a
lien on the lands against which same
are levied.
There is less partisanship in evil
dence at this session of the legisla-
ture than at former sessions. Gov
ernor Stewart is, of course, the leader
of his party in all legislative matters,
and because of this leadership is dom
inant in the democratic house. Sem
ator John E. Edwards, president pro
tenn of the republican senate, has
much to do with the shaping of af-
fairs in the upper house. Ronald
Higgins. of Missoula county, is
spokesman for the republican minor
ity in the house. Between these men
the best of feeling seems to prevail.
The members of the two parties hold
caucuses, of course, and decide upon
matters of party expediency, but
there are few measures that call for
concerted party action. The result is
that the business of the legislature
is going forward with expedition and
dispatch.
Mason's usury bill has good
chance of becoming law. 1t as
reported on unfavorably by the house
committee. A minority report fav-
ored the fixing of the rate at not to
exceed 10 per cent and this report
was adopted by vote of e6 to 26.
A bill has been introduced at the
instance of commercial travellers to
compel hotels to install SAINT ry
drinking fountains.
The legislature will give the peo-
pie of the state an opportunity to de-
eide whether or not they care to ex-
pend something like s12,00O,000 on
various public institutions. These
expenditures would have to do with
new buildings and added facilities for
the university at Missoula, the agri-
cultural college at Bozeman, the nor
NAL school at Dillon, the Deaf and
Blind institute at Boulder, the Or
phans' home at Twin Bridges and the
asylum for the insane at Warm
Springs. The managements of all of
these institutions have asked for va
rious extensions, and the need of
buildings is apparent. The matter
will probably take the form of bond
issue, and the decision will be up to
the electors.