Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-03-09


Of the legislature were given
ernor Joseph M. Dixon Tuesda
delivering his message asserte'
the 3 per cent oil tax and the t
by swapping Of votes constitu
to make oil pipe lines common
clause excluding lines crossing
ication from the railroad conn
born "blue sky" law a ''joke."
When he got through handing Out
jolts, the joint assembly rose up OF
its hind legs and by unanimous vote
excluded all lobbyists from the floor Of
both houses of the legislature during
the special session.
The vote came upon the adoption OF
the rules Of the seventeenth assembly
These were adopted in whole. except
for rule 53. This was amended to bar
every person from the floor except
members. their families and accredited
representatives Of the press.
Pipe Line Bill Null.
Twice the governor digressed from,
his prepared message to refer to mat
tcIS " HIGH u1u COiue IO uiiu iOl1UN LIZ
the completion of the message. Once
was in referring to the ball making oil
pipe lines common carriers in which
is null and void for the reason that
the authority of the state railroad COM
mission such lines as may cross fed
eral lands, holding that it can hardly
c~sh a m n
to be constructed so ss to escape cross.
ing some piece of federal land.
He also read communication from
the board of railroad commissioners,
relative to the Dearborn blue sky
measure passed by the regular session
which held that bill to be joke on
the grounds that it placed the admins
tration of the law in the hands Of the
public utilities commission whereas no
commission by that name exists. The
communication in part reads:
Branded as ChIcanery.
Section l creates an investment CON-
mission and makes the public utilities
commission of he state of Montana ex-
officio such investment commission.
There is no public utilities commission
of the state of Montana. The act it
self plainly recognizes in section 3, the
public service commission of Montana
which controls public utilities. by its
proper name and it would seem conse
quently that the designation of nom
existent public utilities commission IS
a more or less purposeful piece of chi
ranery or one If legislative horse play
The communication calls attention to
.aults or errors in the measure and sug-
,ests that comparison Of the act with
avs Of other states will demonstrate
he lamentable weaknesses of the bill
md will exhibit how badly it has been
,utchered. True, the people Of Mon
ana need blue sky law. but this
Measure doesn't offer proper protee.
ion and Il is about time that joke |
avs be stricken out in this state"
Reference to the oil tax bin and the
Ak commission was made by the gov
rnor in the following language:
Makes Bribery Charge.
"On authority of several reputable
usiness men Of Billings. who were
resent and heard the statement made.
now assert:
THAT on last Saturday moon in the
"a room of the Northern hotel in that
ty, the chief of the Oil lobby who I un-
erstand is closely connected with one
{ the larger interests and who has
,ent much time here in Helena during
le regular session in active lobbying
,ainst the bill to levy a license tax
, oil production for the benefit of the
,mmon school fund of the state. said
substance to them:
i" In order to defeat the proposed
lree per cent rate on oil arranged a
ade with the opponents of the tax
bill in the senate and traded |
ve> votes against the tax commission !
II In exchange for five votes for a :
le per cent oil tax"
"This action on the part of this man ,
true. constitutes the crime Of bribery. :
lder the criminal code of this state.
,ction S199 provides: Every person .
ho corruptly solicits. directly or indi- !
city. the official action of any MEM
r of the legislative assembly or of !
" public officer Of the state. or any !
aaicipal division thereof. is guilty Of /
e occupation and practice of solicita-
IN Of bribery, and is punishable in the /
ate prison for not less than one nor
ore than 10 years" +
"I respectfully refer the matter to s
q attention of the county attorney of =
wis and Clark county. and to the at (
rney general Of the state for such ac- n
N as they shall find proper" b
The governor called attention to the ]
ritical condition of the state treas ]
=" and pointed to $2.154,59O over lie
aft on the general fund on February 4
this to be increased 100000 BY lb,
ficiency claims passed at the regular v
,sion. r
He refutes published statements that
, revenue laws already passed by a
seventeenth assembly viii produce
457, 600 in 1927 and s.. $4,000 in
y. and declared these revenue laws
l bring in about $3.50, 600 in 1921 {,
$4,000 in 1922. He asked al d
eritance tax corresponding to the II
ted Wisconsin plan.
Governor Uixun declared the special I.
,sioA .'sAouh not finally 1djourn ],