The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-10-27
HOME RULE FOR
MONTANA COUNTIES

Thas 10 the question involved in the
constitutional amendment which will
be submitted to the voters Of the state
November Z, according tc Frank A.
Hasslbralter- OF Dillon. chairman Of
the central committee on the amend-
ment, which authorised tho legislature
to provide . plan OF government Tor
cities and ccNnties under special or
general laws.
''Many counties in this state are be-
ginning to realise that they ere think
Ing units. not merely geographical di.
visions. They are awakening to "a
appreciation Of their identity and their
ability to oranlse and manage many
concerns which have been conspicuous.
" mishandled. either by state antheri-
ties or by the smaller local units.' Mr..
Haselbraker declares.
Custom made governmental gar
ments. replacing the straiEhtlaced an
ttQaated type Of county admfniatra-
tion. heritage from the days OF king
Alfred the Great and brought over by
the Virginia colonists in 1884 can be
ordered under the provisions. Of the
amendment. he explained.
"Counties that are satisfied with
their present government as 1t stands,
win not be compelled to change just
because the existing forms Ct govern
ment have been outgrown by Others"
he added. "At present. no county IL
able to consider its own special local
problems and needs. 1t must accept
the form laid dcwn by the state law.
though It may be too loose in come
places and too tight in others. No two
counties have exactly the same ply
sical characteristics. the same social
and industrial conditions, so the ready
made county system has proven both
expensive and unsatisfactory The
amendment will permit any county to
have its own size and shape taken into
consideration will allow it's cloak Of
authority to he made to measure" he
said.
Montana will not have much trail
Masing to do in readjusting it's type
OF county government" Mr.. Haxelhrak-
er stated. "More than eleven years ago
he said California. A pioneer in mu-
nicipal home rule. wishing to bring
government all down the line to con-
form with the standards OF simplicity
and efficiency. opened the way. Since
then. he declared. counties all over the
country have been taking the neces-
sary steps tc adopt the California plan
with various notifications.
The California amendment. he en-
planned. gives the people Of the ccun-
ty freedom to determine the form and
detail of the county organization. SUBJ
5ect to the proviso that each of the
necessary county officers such as sher-
III. district attorney must be maintain-
ed to execute the state law within the
county. The Montana amendment will
give each county still greater lceway
in working out it's own salvation and
securing better. more efficient type
Of administ ration with less cost. he
added.
Two distinct purposes are to be
served by the amendment. Mr. Hazel
braker declared. First. it will permit
counties to change the form Of their
county government: second, 1t will al
low city-county consolidation. The
first provision. he said. affects every
county in the state which wishes to
cut down expenses and operate with
better returs for the taxpayer. "The
conscl idation proviso is of interest to
counties with large urban popula-
tion and in which dual city and coun-
tv administration Is proving doubly ex-
pensive without furnishing proportcn-
ate returns In good government. Few
counties will desire consolidation. but
all counties are interested In securing
mere economical and efficient govern
ment under competent administration"
As typical Of the scope Of interest
being shown in the amendment he
cited the endorsements given 1t by the
Montana Municipal league convention
in Anaconda. the Republica State cen-
vention. the Democratic State coven-
tion. the Montana Rotary clubs. the
state Taxpayers. association conven-
tion In Great Falls, the State Taxray-
ers' league, Governor Joseph II. Dixon.
forer governor 8. v. Stewart. Congress-
man Carl Riddick, II. X. Wheeler. and
scores Of other leading figures In Mon
tana's public affairs.