Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1917-02-16
Legislative Bureau of
the Montana Newspaper
Association, Helena J

Association. Helena
Two possibilities arise in connec-
ton with proposed new tax measures,
a tax commission to provide data for
a fair. comprehensive tax law two
years hence, or a law enacted at this
session putting a small additional tax
upon metal mines and possibly some
utilities corporations. The session
is more than half over, and while the
joint tax committee of The two houses
has secured a mass of information
upon taxes, assessments and property
in the state, and some heterogeneous
tax bills have been introduced, there
is a grave question of whether there
is still time to thresh out and pass a
compromise bill before the end of the
legislature.
In connection with this matter
there have been rumors of an extra
session. 1t will be remembered that,
at the opening of the session, the e
was a disposition among some law
making factors to take the position
that appropriation measures should
not be passed until laws had been en-
acted bringing into sight suffici MT
revenues to run the state government
and the educational and other insti-
buttons of the state. Lately some
members of the house have been pub
licly declaring that an extra session
will have to be held. However, up
to this time, nothing definite or au-
thoritive in respect to the matter has
appeared.
Legislative history during the past
week has shown a f~luctuating condi-
ton of power in the house. First the
farmers seemed to be in the saddle,
and in spite of strenuous efforts to
head them off, they brought a herd
bill, introduced by Representative
White of Fergus county, one of the
most active and influential members
of the lower body, to third reading,
which is the last stage before passage.
Then the tide turned and the stock
men forced the measure back into
their own hands in the livestock and
ranges committee. The fight over
this bill is looked upon as the first
test of strength between the farmers
and those opposed to them.
Senator Burla of Big Horn county
has been actively pushing some prac-
tical laws through the legislature.
One of his measures gives the state
capitol building a custodian, an Off
Ger which the building needed, and it
has been passed by the senate. An
other of his bills will make the in
determinate sentence law what it was
intended to be, a good law, but which
defects have much hampered in op-
Grafton. 1t doubtless will pass both
houses. He has two public lands bills
and one relating to public officers
before the legislature, all measures
for practical improvement of condi-
tions.
Old timers, pioneers of the days
when Marcus DAILY was opening the
copper wealth of the richest hill in
the world, are grieved at the death of
Representative Flanagan, n of
Days friends, and a member of the
past three legislative bodies in this
state. The legislature paid him the
fullest respect. The session has
been marked by its full share of casu-
alties among members of their fam
lilies. Representative Lennon of
Deer Lodge county losing his mother
by death, and Representative Larse
of Sanders county being bereft of a
son fifteen years old in ar automo-
bile accident.
Everybody who has been watching
legislation at Helena must have been
impressed by the measures relating
to education. There are nearly a doz-
en- bills in the two houses affecting
the public schools.
The house has passed a bill to al
low school districts to vote for an ad-
ditional tax levy over and above the
ten mill limit fixed by the present
law, when they wish to build or re-
pair school buildings or carry out
other projects. Senator Reuben
Dwight has introduced two progress
sive measures in the senate. One of
these provides that in third class dis
%tricts, in order to build or remove
school houses, or buy or sell school
sites, the trustees must be authorized
by a majority vote of the freeholders,
and notice of the purpOse of the