The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-02-04
LEGISLATIVE
GOSSIP

II SUSSU
Representative Joseph Brooks of
Park county will introduce bill au-
thorizing the submission of consti-
tutiOnal amendment to the voters
which would provide for sessions of
the legislature every four years in
stead of every two.
Representative Dudley Jones of
Phillips county would do away with
the office Of chancellor of the Mon
tana university, and would pass the
duties Of the chancellor on to the
state superintendent of public in
struction. It is expected that the bill
will receive some support in the
house, but its passage in the senate.
IL it should get through the house is
considered as improbable. A SINH
lar bill was introduced by MIR. Jones
two years ago.
If the bill introduced by Senator
Jun0d should become a law the high
way commission will pass out. and in
its stead the office of highway COM
missioner would be created. This Of
ficial would be appointed by the gov
ernOr, be supreme in his department
and receive a salary Of $500 a
year and expenses.
The bill requires that the commits
siOner shall submit to the governor
on or before the first day of each
month reports of work constructed.
under construction or proposed to be
constructed, and of progress made
during the preceding month. toge-
Their with recommendations.
He shall compile statistics relative
to public highways throughout the
state and may be consulted at all
times by county officers having the
care of highways and bridges
County commissioners. road super
visors and all other officers who
may have supervision of public high
ways and bridges shall on written
request of the state highway COM
missioner furnish him with all avail
able information.
The commissioner shall have the
power and it becomes his duty to
formulate rules for the government
of the commission and he is author
lied to make all rules necessary to
comply with the provisions Of the
federal aid act approved July, 1916,
and to obtain for Montana the full
benefit of the said act.
Organize for Maintenance
The commission shall employ and
fix the compensation of such field
and office help as may be deemed
necessary, shall let all contracts for
work upon state highways. the same
to be by competitive bidding in cases
where the estimates exceed $1,000.
The commission shall have author
ity to organize and operate divi-
sion of maintenance and patrol. and,
by cooperation with the boards OF
commissioners of the several coun-
ties, to maintain state highways con-
structed by the state and such addi-
ti0nal mileage as the commission
may deem necessary.
The commission shall have full
control over all advertising, guide.
warning and other signs now upon
or to be erected upon any state high
ways and shall have authority to
cause to be removed any signs con-
flicting with the provisions Of the act.
For Rights of Way
It will be lawful for the boards Of
county commissioners to transfer to
the state of Montana rights of way
over and along county roads for
state road purposes and it is made
the duty Of the county commission
ers to make such transfers upon re-
ceipt of notice from the state high
way commission.
To carry out the provisions of the
act there is created q state highway
fund into which shall be turned all
moneys in the hands of any state Of
ficer credited to such fund and the
secretary of state shall make month
~ report to the state treasurer and
the highway commission of any and
all moneys collected by him for mo.
tor vehicle licenses The measure
repeats the act of the fifteenth legis.
iative assembly creating the present
highway commission and which con
sists of II commissioners represent
ing that number of districts into
which the state is divided.
Examined by Governor
According to Senator Junod, the
bill has been examined by Governor
Dixon and has been made to conform
i'll some of it's provisions. especially
that relating to sign posts, to one
which the commercial club secretar
les had proposed to introduce.
sit was drawn so that any change
in the law relative to moneys for the
highway fund can be made effective
without changing this act said Sen
ator Junod. "and gives to the high
way commission power to assent t.
any provision made by the United
States relative to participation of thu
general government in road con
struction, but does not make it man
datory. It also provides for full co
operation between the state highwa.
commission and boards of count.
commissioners. Under its provision
it is left to the governor whether h
shall! name an engineer as commits