The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-14
SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY IA, 1916.
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATURE.


Judging entirely from the happenings Of the first two
weeks the Fifteenth legislative assembly-by the time the
sixteh day rolls around-wl be acclaimed the pro-
gressve legislature in the history of Montana Particu
ary the last week responsible for strengthening this be-
lief Extremely radical is the way appears the people
blies whch-whie probably absolutely under the
troll of corporatons-were markedly influenced by the
wishes and the interests the states big business"
1t is gradually beginning to dawn of the odtime
legislators and henchmen of the Interests that they may
be against different sort of proposition this time. The
first thought that would be little harder than usual
but that the same results would be achieved.
The real import of it all began to dawn with the an
nouncement of standing committees in the senate and
house. Oh those committees look like they were all
right but wait till they get their little out You'll see
then that the old condition prevails That was the
way which the politicians of the old school viewed this
first step toward popular They had the
smooth workmanship of the powers before and impressed
they with the infalblity of its machine that they
could not comprehend. Gradually their firm belief has
grown little less firm and the sight of the funeral corege
which wnded its way to the political graveyard last Friday
with invisible government in the title role of corpse has
at last convinced them that the big fellows put It'll
over this session they going to do real work
Of course, there's many slip but there will have be
number of them if the Fifteenth assembly to be
roled by the corporate interests Of the state You
find many in Helena and in all sections of the state
who still believe that the finish will be the and that
they will flash by the wire in the old orderpopuar
government second by But where you find one of
these you count many who looking this session
of the legislature confident that will return the people
some honest progressive and heretofore merely dreamed
of legislation. 4
Senator Whitesde up against the gait in the senate
when he attempted to emascuae Senator Kanes resolution
providing tor an investigation of pubuic utilities and min
ing companies he won temporary success in the house,
when he succeeded in pulling the wool the eyes of Rep
resentative White from Fergus long enough to influence
him to introduce and have passed resolution which would
have effectuay tied up the house committee which to
have in charge the investigation along the same lines as
called for by the senate.
He will have hard time putting it over again--that is
on an unsuspectirg victim. Mr.. White back the
next day and vndcated himself in the eyes of his team
mates by Withdrawing his resolution and submitting one
similar to that offered in the AS has been told the
substitute carried and roll call the strength the
poatons seen to be less than had been estimated
That first roll call doesn't that the full strength Of
the grand old army of the A. M has taken the field but
the vote OF 90 to 20 does show that Dan Kelly Roy Alley
and the other generals the field had better bring
up their heavy artillery and the quicker they get the job
the better for them. And, at that it looks stormy
Among the other legislation introduced and dubbed
raoca are measures designed to have the bond it's
own officials and carry its insurance on public
buildings
The question of constutionaty having some effect
on the farmers demands for terminal elevator and it is
not known just what the outcome of this will be. The
measure introduced by Smper Cascade is not the equity
measure according to its representatives This bill has not
yet been drawn but will make its appearance some time
this week.
Economy in the matter of employees new wrinkle and
there couo De great saving made in the expense of the
legislature. However, this session bids fair to be con-
Quoted cheapy as was the last and this means
the cost of these assemblies has been increasing bv
thousands of dollars every two years.
1t looks like progressive legislatures its bills smack Of
progress it votes like progressive body and the inter
ests beginning to think that might be progressive
assembly after all. Who knows? 1t might be-
Profit sharing is the best safeguard against ldoested
labor legislaton-Wal Street Journal