The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-03-02

minlStratiOn."
The article emphatically declares
that the forces opposed to the gov
ernor-including a practically united
democratic press and some republi-
can papers-have created a division
in the legislature among the repub-
licans, but we do not believe that
such Isl the case. However, it is
fortunate that the delay in pass
ing the administration measures till |
the fiftieth day should be given even
color of plausibilAty to such
statement.
Taking up the tremendous fight |
made against the governors meas
ure calling for a state tax COM
mission, the Call makes the follow !
ing statement, which presents a new
argument that is worthy of consid-
Grafton by every republican men,
Der of the legislature.
"The reason the tax commission
was defeated at the referendum
election was because the cry went
out to the effect that there was
chance of a nonpartisan control
of Montana, and with that control
would come the dominating voice of
/ Townley who would dynamite the
states industrial institutions with
such a vehicle and the same ones
who elected Mr.. Dixon wanted a
tax commission, but were not sure
enough of DiXon's success to vote
his tax commission also, and his
supporters advised its defeat ,.
these grounds, assuring those who
favored it, that it would come up
legislatively in case the nonparti-
sans were defeated and a fairer
method of taxation would be pro-
vided."
We do not profess to understand
all the factors operating in the re-
publican legislature to shape legis-
lation. We have chung to the be-
lief that it was a loyal republican
legislature, would be actuated in
performance of the legislative func-
ton by the single purpose to faith
fully execute the pledges of the re-
publican party, Loyalty adhere to
and support the governor in every
way, and make a splendid record
by enacting the constructive, pro-
gressivd extremely valuable and
imperative demanded legislation out
lined In the governors message, a
state paper that the entire people
of the state fully endorsed, and
which was pronounced by many
competent judges to be the best mes.
sage ever delivered to a Legislature
= by Montana chief executive.
] However, we must confess that
S some of the policies pursued by the
e legislature have surprised and be-
S wildered us to some extent, and tina
S the underground rumors and wills
f perings to be heard, and such at
y tacks upon the legislature as thos
n made in the Great Falls Call hav,
} given US food for thought and oc
i casioned us some doubt.
n Take the action on the two bills
# H. B. rs, the so-called dry enforce
S ment measure, and the bill for
e state sheriff, as an example. TIL
|; first bill is passed and the secon
l. killed. Why? We can't follow tn
lie reasoning of the lawmakers. TIL
e first measure gives the extreme POI
a lice power to the attorney genera
9. The other would have lodged sue
4 power in the hands of the governor
it The state sheriff bill also SCENE
IS the better of the two by far.
is 1t properly lodged in the chief e2
,e ecutive's hand power through TIL
Is state game warden, acting as eS
d. officio state sheriff, to corodinat
solidify and move into action as
= solid police body all the sheriffs {
Montana for the enforcement of an
and all laws, which includes tn
~ suppression of bootleggers as we
Sc as the preservation of law and O.
ne der. The underlying principal %
re government was sound and long e
e. tablished, since it provided for IL
I'd use of established police powe
ID which it would have merely mac
On more effective, and it did not r
ne quire the use of any special fund.
at On the other hand H. B. rs Civ,
nd the attorney general an extraord
e. nary set of policemen, and seer,
an police at that, and it has a vel
r. weak and objectional feature in tn
he it harks back to the old fee for i
ut formers system, which proved '
al cious and oppressive in many der
no onstrations of it in the past.
i'll Another measure attacks up
which bring up question is t
Of 100000 certificates of state de
fl measure. Proponents Of the bill q
W. clare it is an emergency measu
ie- to secure cash to pay off some
w the 100000 debt created by t
he democrats, and we have thong
ix- that a good plan. To relieve +