The circle banner., 1917-02-16
WHAT THE STATE LAWMAKERS
ARE DOING AT THE CAPITOL
Legislative Happenings of Past Few Days
legislative Happenings of Past Few Days
State School For Girls.

That there is an urgent need for q
, state industrial school for the girls
of Montana is the belief of Mrs. e
the Montana Federation of Women's s
clubs, who declares that the womens
clubs throughout the state are urging
the passage of the bill introduced in
the house this week by Mrs. Emma
ingalls,, representative from Flathead
county.
Regarding the merits of this bill,
Mrs. Houston says. "The legislative
committee of the state federation, of
which Mrs. J. N. Kelly of Bozeman is
chairman. considered most thoughtful
ly matters of legislation in which the
club women of the state are interest
ed, and decided to concentrate their
efforts for legislation on the thing they
deemed of most Importance, the es-
tablishing of a state industrial school
| for girls. This decision of the COM
mittee was approved by the state fed
Grafton at the convention In Helena
last June, and it has been approved
| by the various district conventions
or the state federatlOn.
X X X
Favors State Insurance.
The senate has declared in favor
of state insurance of public buildings
by adopting the minority report of the
insurance committee recommending
for passage senate bill No. of
O'Shea.
The majority report, recommended
the measure for slaughter Hogan and
Norris signed the minority report. Ho-
gan moved as a substitute the minority
report be adopted and declared three
levies of a cent each would take care
of all losses on public buildings in
Montana for the past 20 years. He in
sisted the new plan affords complete
protection, whereao under the present
system only partial protection is afford
ed because full insurance is not car
ried.
He said that during the past four
years Montana has expended $168,000
in premiums, while the loss has only
been $4,000. He said the farmers fav-
pred his bill, the retail merchants en-
dorsed it, and the only opposition came
from the insurance companies.
X X X
For Tax Commission.
Among the notices of house bills in
troduced is one by White providing for
a non-partisan tax commission, drafted
along the lines suggested by Governor
Stewart in his biennial message. The
commission would report with recon-
mendations to be embodied in legis-
lation. They would investigate all
kinds of property and would be en-
powered to subpoena witnesses, en-
ploy public accountants and incur
such other expenses as would assure a
thorough investigation.
X X X
Would Abolish Offices.
The senate bill by Brewer, abolish |
ing the offices of inspector of weights
and measures, was considered in COM
mittee of the whole, and referred to |
the committee on Judiciary. Brewer |
read figures showing the exceedingly |
small number of scales and rules con- |
demned during the past four years and |
said it was not right to ask taxpayers
to spend $4,000 for such a thing. |
Healey offered an amendment to abol.
ish also the office of chief deputy.
X X X
To Get More Time.
1t is said at the capitol that the COM
mittee having in hand the inquiry into
the taxing of mining and other corpo-
rations would ask for more time be-
fore making it's report The original
date on which the house committee
was instructed to report, is thought
too soon for full investigation to be
made and as there seems to be no de-
sire to hurry the committee. further
time, no doubt, will be granted.
Revising Primary Law.
The committee on committees Of
the senate has named Edwards, Haley,
Lane and Muffly to act with the house
committee in revising the primary
law.
Senator McCone has introduced his
bill to repeal the primary law and sub
stitute in its place the convention sys-
tenn, the delegates and alternates,
however, to be elected by a primary
vote.
r X
Would Compile Early State History.
Senator Edwards has presented a
signed by leading citi-
zen of the state. asking for the pas
sage Of bill giving Granville Stuart
$4,000 year for two years to compile
data bearing on the early history of
Montana. The communication was
read and transferred to the house, and
later Senator Edwards introduced a
bill to provide for this.
r \ +
Building at Fair.
Construction OF building to be
oH, |