The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-03-07
SIXTEENTH LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY ADJ0URNS
SESSION COMES TO A CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT ON
THURSDAY; FLOORS, GALLERIES AND COR
RIDORS PACKED WITH SIGHT-SEERS:
LAST WEEK BUSY ONE; MANY I'M
PORTANT MEASURES GET
THE AXE.

The sixteenth legislative assembly
of the state of Montana passed into
history at midnight Thursday.
The application of the 50-day rule
regarding the transmission of bills
from one house to the other, with the
exception of appropriation bills, did
away with the maledictions which in
former years were heaped upon the
heads of the members of the steering
committees whose duty it was to Sc
lect the best for consideration during
the closing hours of the assembly and
allow the poorest to die, usually in
the pocket of the chairman.
Bills of minor Importance were CIV
en- little consideration the past week
as many of the most important meas
ures of the session were still awaiting
action.
Among the important measures kill
ed were the appropriation bills to en-
force prohibition, changing the num-
ber of supreme court judges from 3
to 5, placing the control Of the state
land office under the state board of
land commissioners instead of the
governor, and the measure providing
for a supreme court commission of
three members.
Governor Stewart vetoed the race
betting bill, his reason for doing so
was that the people of Montana are
oppoopposed to gambling.
A majority report of the house COM
mittee on privileges and elections rec
commended that the nine democratic
representatives from Silver Bow coun-
ty retain their seats in the legisla-
ture, and minority report that the
seats of the men whose election was
contested by their republican oppon-
ents, were submitted to the house of
representatives Thursday afternoon.
The majority report stated it as the
belief CT the committee that while it
was apparent there had been irregu-
larities in the election in Silver Bow
county last fall they had to do mostly
with the absent voters law, which it
recommends to be either changed or
repealed at once. It states that the
evidence submitted was not sufficient
to warrant seating the contestants and
that therefore to unseat the contest
ees would be to disenfranchise the
voters of Silver Bow county for the
dereliction of the election officials.
The minority report sums up the evil
dence as warranting their removal
without saying that the contestants
are entitled to the seats.
1t declares, however, that the mi
nority report is warranted in view of
the forgeries, criminal misconduct and
the voting of apparently fictitious per-
sons. However," it concludes, "no
eflection of any kind is passed against
the present incumbents of the contest
ed seats of Silver Bow county,"
The bill abolishing offices of depu-
ty game wardens passed in the SEN
ate and is now up to the governor.
The general legislative appropria
tion bill for the support of the state
institutions from March 1, 1919, to
February 20, 1920, was introduced
in the house of representatives by the
committee on appropriations and car
ries a total of $685. ,014 for the two
years.
The senate bill providing for bond
issue of $15,00O,0O0 for highway con-
struction passed the house after hot
fight. Senate bills creating normal
schools at Malta and Kalispell were
favorably acted upon in the house.
Without much discussion Sub. H. B.
s3, Mo, providing for referendum
on boxing, amended so that SO per
cent instead of 10 per cent of the re-
ceipts are set aside for the soldiers
| and sailors home, was concurred in
, and the question is to be submitted
to the people at special election to
be held the first Tuesday in Septem-
ber of this year.
, Governor Stewart signed the follow
ing bills Wednesday,:
S. B. 65-Board Of examiners for
= nurses.
s, B. 149-Relating to educational
e requirements of osteopaths.
S.B. 67-Annual statements of fire
insurance companies.
q s. B. 11s-Voluntary dissolution OF
: corporations.
q s, B. l29-Relating to salaries OF
@ state land office employees.
Il S, B. 13.-Stock subscription notes.
S. B. 135-Relating to the office OF
the state fire marshal.
: s. B. l44-Salaries Of elective state
n officers.
r 153-Dissolution Of corpora