The Montana nonpartisan. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1918-192?, 1919-02-01
LAW MAKERS GO
SLOW AND EASY
Nothing Of Importance
except so called Re-
construction com.
RED FLAG BILL PASSED-OPPO-
SITlON TO BI-MONTHLY BILL
SHOWN -. COUNTY DIVISION
STILL. ALIVE, BUT MOST OF
TIME DEVOTED TO KILLING 1T.

TIME DEVOTED TO KILLING 1T,
Helena--Nothing Of very great i'm
portance has yet popped up in the leg
islative halls. The Red Flag Bill was
passed without a dissenting vote by
those present. House Bill No. II re-
lating to the incompetency Of persons
to contract marriage, House Bill No.
rs regulating the placing of home-
less illegitimate children. A bill to
provide for the payment Of travelling
expenses for court stenographers and
bill for certification to county and
city treasurers Of county and town
tax levies were also passed.
A bill relative to the appointment
of policemen and powers of police
commissioners was presented for its
third reading, but was withdrawn
and referred to the committee on ju-
dietary when the question was raised
that it would prevent the suspension
of police chiefs by mayors.
The printers next came in for a
grilling when it was found that a
considerable number of discrepancies
from the original bills were in the let
ter press.
| Reconstruction Up-to-Date.
A bill has also been introduced as
House Bill 1870 pretending to take
care Of returned soldiers. But SO far
as we are able to gather from reading
the transcript, at present, it merely
takes care Of number Of officials.
Here is the greater part.
Soldier Land Board Provided.
To carry out the purposes Of the
act, a soldier settlement b0ard
is to be appointed by the govern
or. consisting Of three members
to be known as commissioners,
one to be designated by the gov
ernOr as chairman to receive
salary Of $4,000 per annum and
the other two to receive $4,000
per annum, each. They are to hold
office for a term Of two years
from time of appointment. The
attorney general shall be legal ad-
visor of the board and shall pros
ecute and defend any actions aris-
ing. The board shall appoint such
employees it may deem necessary
and fix salaries.
The board shall not be appoint
ed until such time as the governor
receives official notification that
federal law has been passed and
approved. providing for the Coop
Grafton of the United States with
the state of Montana, having for
the object the settlement on land
of soldiers and others Of this and
other states who served with the
armed forces Of the United States
in the recent and other wars Of the
United States.
Reclamation With u. S. in Plan
. Projects may be undertaken
with the United States involving
reclamation of lands within the
state by drainage, irrigation, re-
m0val of trees and stumps, build
!. ing of leevcs, roads, land leveling,
fertilization, sanitation Or other
means as may be found prac-
able to make the lands suitable
for agricultural purposes and rur-
al homes.
} The board is authorized to uti-
lie public lands Of the state and
to acquire such lands as may be
deemed suitable for agricultural
purposes. together with water
rights. rights of way, etc. Lands
may be leased until it may be
deemed advisable to sell Or use the
the same. Any lands belonging
to the state shall be available
for disposition by the board and
the state land board shall Coop
crate in every way necessary to
carry out the purposes OF the act.
The board is authorized to per-
form all acts necessary to coop
crate fully with the agencies of
the United States engaged in
work of similar character and TO
obtain for the state the full bene-
fit Of the proposed act of con-
} gress.
Title Powers Of Board.
} When it is desired by the
board to acquire land, it shalt
. give notice by publication in one
or more newspapers of general
circulation calling for offers frors
owners Of land Of the character
: desired. After Il thorough inves-
tigation by the board OF federal
experts, and approval Of title by
the attorney general and ap-,
prOval OF the purchase by the
United States, the purchase may
be recommended to the govern
or. and upon his approval the
= lands shall be acquired by pur-,
chase. gift or condemnation.
The board is authorized to take
title in the name Of the state in;
fee simple and may convey title,