Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1921-01-05

tanafs state government and place at
it's head the biggest man we can find in
Montana for the work and thus make
the department the head center of all
agricultural activities looking to the en-
couragement and betterment of rural
conditions and country life in Montana
Tn this department, and under the di-
rection of it's head should be concen-
trated all the work now being done by:
The commissioner Of agriculture and
publicity, the livestock commissioners,
the livestock sanitary board, the dairy
commissioner, the state veterinarian
the board Of poultry husbandry. the re-
corder of marks and brands, the board
of horticulture. the state fair. the grain
grading commission, the stallion regis
tratien board.
The salary to be attached to the posi-
ton of the proposed secretary of agri-
culture should be fully commensurate
with the position.
Fish and Game Department.
BY natural endowment Montana
should be the sportsman's paradise of
the nation. The proper conservation
and propagation Of our wild life should
bring not only recreation, but also great
economic yearly returns to the people
Of the state. My own observation is
that we have lamentably failed in the
administration of this great natural
in vogue.
Under the present system, wild life.
in all forms, is rapidly diminishing and
many species are threatened with ex-
tinction.
/ urge upon you the Importance of
Immediately taking the fish and game
department completely out Of and be-
yond the control Of cheap, petty, party
politics, and put it on the higher plane
of great public benefit to our state.
Many Of the states have already moved
forward in that direction. There the
name of deputy game warden no longer
savors of political pull and payroll jobs
only.
Oregon has apparently solved the
problem of turning over the whole
question to small board of men who
are earnestly and intelligently solving
the question of propagating and conserv-
ing the wild life of that state with an
eye single to the public good
The entire matter of propagation,
protection. open and closed season, is
being worked out by them to the en-
tire satisfaction of the people of the
state
The legislature has been relieved Of
tue eternal cldIuUE IOE IESISldlipS dCliou
and the governor relieved of the arduouS
job of deciding between the numerous
applicants for deputy game warden jobs.
/ recommend the adoption by YOU of
a similar plan of full authority and con-
troll by a nonpartisan commission of
five, to be appointed by the governor
and subject to removal by him for inef-
ficiency but of which board he shall
not be member.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
We are all in agreement as to the
necessity for compensation for workmen
killed or manned in industry.
Great good has been accomplished
under the provisions of our law. / be-
Heve that it should be amended in some
particulars.
First. AS enacted it only includes
certain occupations arbitrarily designat-
ed as hazardous, agricultural occupa-
tons being specifically excluded.
While the majority of employers IN
farming and livestock business are
probably not DESTROYS of being included
with it's provisions, many of them are.
/ believe all those who desire to be COW
cred by the law should be permitted so
to do.
Second Under the present law medi-
cal and hospital service is provided for
only two weeks and the amount paid to
$50 In case of major accidents. this is
manifestly unfair to the injured work
man.
Fortunately. many of the larger EN-
ployers of labor in Montana like the
mining and lumber companies, have hos
pital contracts which guarantees I'M
to their employees.
I think IL would ha Jnuisa IN L a
the amount limited as is the case in some
states, but 7 do feel that more liberal
allowance should be made than under
the present system.
In this regard Montana stands at the
foot Of other states. / believe S100 for
medical and hospital service should be
allowed and that in major cases, a larger
sum.
Under the law only SO is allowed for
funeral benefits Thirty-nine other
states allow d greater amount Our
own records show that in 7S2 death
cases the funeral expenses approximat-
ed $500 The present allowance of SO
should be doubled
Third Under the law the waiting
period is fixed at IA days But no mat
ter how severe the injury, the unfortu-
nate victim never receives compensation
for these first two weeks.
Nearly all the states abolish the
waiting period, when the disability ex
tends for a considerable time.
As a matter of fairness, Montana
should do likewise.
Primary Law.
Fully believing in the principal of the
primary law and the short ballot, | be-
lieve the law should be amended. so as
to require each political group to con-
fine its activities to its own party Mons
nations
We have recently seen the whole
spirit of the primary law deliberately
violated by its most yociferously pro-
claimed champions, who, by their own
acts have done more to discredit the
law in the minds of many who were
kindly disposed towards it, than have it's
avowed opponents.
| would advise amendments to the
present law:
First. The primary ballots to be
printed on separate sheets and not at
tached together as under the present
system.
Second. The voter shall be handed
only that political party ballot which he
requests of the judges; and if challeng-
ed by anyone of the judges or the Off
cial challenger of such political party.
as to his political affiliations. he shall
then be required to make written oath
that he, in good faith, intends to act and