Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-02-28
CONSTITUTIONAL
) CONVENTION IS
HIT At HEARING
Percy F. Dodds Only
One to Support His
Bill Before Committee.
William Muth andO. F.
Goddard Opposed to
New Basic Law Plan.

Helena, Feb. 27.-With but
four days remaining, the Mon
tana legislature plunges into
the final lap. Prospects are for
night sessions in both houses.
The "third house., a mock ses-
sion in which employees and
newspapermen and others stage
a burlesque session and "pan"
the members, was to have been
held Sunday night, but at the
Mast moment was postponed to
Monday night.
Among important legislation remain
ing is the income tax. passed by the
house, Of which the fate in the senate
10 in doubt. Talk Of extra session is
heard no more and it is believed all
the vital legislation will be decided
one way or another during the regular
period.
The committees of the house and
senate on constitutional amendments
held hearing Sunday on the Dodds
bill, to submit to the people at the
next general election the proposition
Of holding a constitutional convention
for the purpose of drafting new con-
stitution.
Everybody Opposes It.
Representative P. f. Dodds Of Flat
head county, author Of the bill, was
the only person at the hearing who
supported the bill and urged the COM
mittee to report it out favorably.
Speakers who opposed the bill were
William Muth Of Helena, member OF
the original constitutional convention;
formerly Attorney General Dan M.
Kelly of Butte, and J. l.. DobeH OF
Butte, editor of the Butte Miner.
Representative Dodds said he was
not at the meeting to discuss the ques-
ton Of whether constitutional con-
yention or a new constitution is need
ed in Montana but that the only prOpo-
sition before the committee was the
question Of whether this legislature
should let the people Of the state decide
Athe question at the next general cleo
tion. Mr.. Dodds was asked, however,
nv Representative r. A. O'Hara, a
member of the joint committee, wheth-
or a new constitution was needed and
Mr.. Dodds replied that the proof Of its
need was in the fact that the commit
tee had before it 16 proposed amend
ments only three of which could be
submitted.
Not important, Claim.
Mr., Kelly said that on investigation
he doubted very much whether the
average person would care to vote
for even two of the 16 measures pro-
posed. He said he did not believe
Mr.. Dodds would want them attached
to the states constitution and that
this condition was an indication that
the present constitution is satisfac-
tory to the people Of the state.
The method of selecting delegates to
the constitutional convention is wrong,
in the opinion of Mr.. Dobell and Mr..
Muth. The method is to select the
delegates in the same manner that rep
resentatives in the legislature are Sc
lected. Mr.. Dobell and Mr.. Muth
urged that an amendment to the con-
stitution should be adopted, providing
q nonpartisan method Of selecting the
delegates, before any convention to re-
wise the CONSTITUTION IL CuOuSuL VI.
A telegram was read from 0. F. God
dard, of Billings. Mr.. Goddard was q
member of the Montana constitutional
convention and was invited to appear
before the committee and express his
views. He was unable to attend but in
his telegram had the following to say:
Goddard Against It.
mo necessity for constitutional
Convention. Legislature has too much
power now. II it had more it would
. keep the state bankrupt for hundred
years. Would suggest an amendment
restricting the convening of the legisla-
ture to every four years."
I Following the hearing on the bill to
submit the question of a constitutional
convention to the people the committee
took up and heard arguments on q pro-
posed amendment to the constitution to
create a state tax commission. The
amendment as proposed was intro
duced BY Representative O. A. Berge-
son. Of Chouteau county and is sim
ilar to the amendment voted down at
the last general election. Mr.. Berge-
son spoke in favor Of his bill aud G, II.
Martien, coenty assessor of Lewis and
Clark county opposed the bill.