The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1917-01-26
Owners association was formed. The

Owners association was formed. The
purpose of the mine owners associa-
ton is to present to the legislature
the mine owners side of the case,
Twenty-eight mining companies OPP
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 a statement in
which he places the books and rec
ords of the largest mining company
operating in the state at the disposal
of the legislative committees. and Of
fering to facilitate, in any way pos
sible, the legislative investigation.
Farmers will be interested in the
state hail insurance bill, which pro-
poses a state board of hail insurance,
and provides for the raising of funds
by levying on all lands subject to in
jury. 1t is proposed to levy a 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 rs 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 n 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 leglsla-
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, mas
much to do with the shaping OF al
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 1s
that the business of the legislature
is going forward with expedition and
dispatch.
Mason's usury bill has a good
chance of becoming a law. 1t ' az
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 a vote of &c to 20.
A bill has been introduced at the
instance of commercial travellers tc
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 $12,000,OOO or
various public institutions. These
expenditures would have to do will
new buildings and added facilities fol
the university at Missoula, the agrl
cultural college at Bozeman, the nor
NAL school at Dillon, the Deaf ant
Blind institute at Boulder, the Or
phans' home at Twin Bridges and tn
asylum for the insane at Warn
Springs. The arrangements of all o
, these institutions have asked for va
rious extensions, and the need o
buildings is apparent. The matte
!, will probably take the form of a bone
issue, and the decision will be up t.
, the electors.