Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-01-23
bESPEAK LAWS
NOT To HINDER
EFFORTS MADE
Glen kahl Of Winnett
President of Associa-
.tion at Lewistown.
G. ]. Wiedeman Heads
Legislative Commit
tee; 400 Attend Meet.
Special to The Tribune.

Lewistown, Jan. 22.-More
than 400 persons, virtually all
Of whom are interested in the
oil industry in some way, at
tended Montana's first conven-
tion Of oil men here Saturday
night when the Montana Oil
Development association was
organized with Lewistown as
it's headquarters.
Principal among the legislative rec
concentrations were the creation Of a
state department to supervise the oil
industry with a competent geologist at
the head of it, that any tax levied on
oil production should be on net produce
ton and that all present state laws
relating to the oil industry be repealed
and re-enacted as one consistent law.
Complete power was given the e1ecu-
tive committee to direct the future ac-
tivitics Of the organization and all au-
thority was given the executive com
mittec to work with the present state
legislature in securing laws beneficial
to the industry.
Winne is Vice President.
Glen Kahl of Winnett, was elected
president; e. K. Winnie of Billings,
vice president; E. f. Cobb of Lewis
town, secretary and treasurer. The
, members of the executive committee
are Robert Molt, Billings; G. J. Weide
man, Lewistown; Hugh Wells, Miles
City; Judge Charles Dousman, Baker;
George Fowler, Butte; 4. A. Morris,
Roundup, and julius Peters, Great
Falls
The legislative committee members
are: G. J. Weideman, Lewlstown; Hugh
Wells. Miles City; C. B. Roberts,
Lewistown; Frank Conley, Deer
Lodge; David Hilger, Lewistown; r. NJ.
Wall, Roundup; Gordon Campbell,
Lewistown; and G.. J. Dousman, Baker.
The executive and legislative COM
mittees will meet at 10 O'Clock a. m,
Sunday, to take definite action on all
matters discussed during the conven-
ton.
Weideman Welcomes Delegates.
About 300 men identified in various
ways with the oil industry in Montana
were present at the opening session at
the Judith club. George J. Wiedeman,
president Of the chamber Of commerce,
acted as temporary chairman and ad-
dresses of welcome were made by
Judge Z. X. Cheadle and Mayor
Charles J. Marshall.
The response was made by Judge Z.
w. Freeman of the Elk Basin Consoli-
dated.
Judge Freeman laid stress upon the
fact that on all state land royalties
from 1914 to 33 1-3 per cent was re-
served by the federal government in di-
rect proportion to the gross produc-
ton. Out Of this royalty paid to the
federal government, 81 v per cent came
back directly to the state treasury, and
521% per cent went to the reclamation
service, most Of which came to Nom
while 10 per cent went into the general
administrator fund of the federal land
department.
The committee on permanent organ
ization named Judge Roy Z. Ayers for
permanent chairman and Judge A. J.
Leonard to act us secretary and treas
urer. Extremely interesting addresses
followed by former State Senator C.
b. Roberts; Gordon Campbell, the orig
inal dscoverer Of oil in the Devils
Easin who, by request, gave the his
torv Of his four years activities in
that dome q stated his belief that
eventually it would become one of the
largest producing oil fields in the United
: States; and Mr.. Finley, Of the West
Virginia Oil & Gas Co.
Laws Recommended
The committee on legislation in it's
report, reco.um ended the adoption Of
a system similar TO that iii Wyoming
-under which the state grants five year
leases renewable by the same lessee
'Tupon proper showing as to expen-
.ditIre, etc; the enactment of a law
creating state department to super
wise the oil industry; with a comoe-
tent geologist at the head Of it to clas-
sify all state lands before leasing and
to supervise all drilling operations. It
was recommended that any tax levied
on oil production should be on net pro-
dnction; that standardized lease be
prescribed b statute; for definite de-
termination ~ law that all pipe lines
are common carriers; that the present
eractments relating to oil be repealed !
and redrafted end re-enacted as part
of one Gct, |