Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-02-01
LEGISLATIVE NOTES

" UlHtt "a lAA On I'LL AllWdf anu IElf-
phone and telegraph companies oper.
ating wholly or in part In Montana.
The Tawney measures provide thai
every railway, telephone and telegraph
company shall pay an annual tax In an
amount equal TO three percentum of
the gross receipts of the business done
within the state for the year next pre-
ceding the first day of April of each
year. The bills make II the duty of
the state board Of equalization to de
termlne the entire gross receipts of
companies affected under the meas
nres on August L, of each year.
Among the bills recommended for
passage are Fl. b. No. 81. relating to
an amendment to the constitution pro-
gldlng for the acceptance OF gifts and
donations house bill No. IS, regulating
the number Of hours Of a hotel day
senate bill No. Z. governing the prac-
tice Of podiatry in Montana; house
bin No. II, amending the law relating
to the deposition OF moneys by city
~treasurers; house bill No. 81, relating
to contracts for the maintenance of
lights house bill No. 80. concerning the
powers Of cities to pass ordinances
prohibiting gambling, and house bin
No. So, relating to cities borrowing
moneys.
A lively discussion for and against
the proposed full crew" law was
heard at a public hearing the past
week. Opposition to the measure was
taken by the railways on the grounds
that enacting Of the law, applicable
to freight trains, would increase oper-
ating expenses of Montana railways
more than half a million dollars and
that this increase would have to be
niet by the shippers ard public gem
orally.
The senate has passed S. p. No. II.
by Healy, amending the revised codes,
relating to distribution Of the county
high school tax, 1t provides that at
tendance at any high school, to whose
support moneys are levied and collect
ed for maintenance and are apportlon-
ed In accordance with this act. shall
be free to all eligible pupils residing
In the county In which such accredited
high school Is located.
Among the avalanche of bills intro
duces the past week was n measure
to give cities the power to prosecute
violations of prohibition laws In police
court and another to separate the state
school for the deaf. dumb and blind
from the school for the feeble minded
and to locate the former school at
some large center of population in the
state.
Representative Troy of Hlll county
has introduced In the house a bill
which proposes changes In the methods
OF assessing penalties upon unpaid tax
es and making the date Of tax delln-
December 81, instead of No
vember 80, as at present. The bill
also repeats the existing law requiring
the publication OF delinquent tax lists.
Representatives Boorman Of Cascade,
Kenyon of Blaine, and Loble of Lewis
and Clark, compose a house committee
named by Speaker C%rumbaker to in
vestigate the activities of the state
enforcement officers. as provided for
In the Loble resolution which was
In the house.
A proposal to abolish the offices of
the state accountant and state parole
commission was contained in a report
Of a senate special committee com
posed of Paul, Dowlin, and Clark, who
were assigned the task of investigating
offices and executive depart
The "truth In fabrics" bill, intro
iuced in the state legislature by Rep
resentative Maury of Silver Bow and
Rodgers of Beaverhead, Is meeting
considerable opposition, its prin-
cipcl opponent being the the Montana
Development association.
Data on state banks, asked for by
he house, was furnished by L. Q. Skel- I,
ton. state superintendent OF banks. /,
300 incorporated banks in F.,
Montana at this time. There were % ,
banks which failed In 1922, the 4,
'eport shows. F,
During the past week the bin intro !,
by Representative Maury Of Sill F,
fer Bow, which provides for cities ,
control of their police depart
nents. created a good deal of lively +,
discussion. Il.
Representative Denny's bill, house ,
iii No. 40. which provided for the !,
Ibollshment of the Chancellor Of the +.
University of Montana, went down to .
lefeat in the house by a vote of 80 :
O 40. :
BY a vote of 50 to 8 the senate adopt (.
d the report of the committee on irri-
asking, for ar investigation OF
he affairs of the Toole county irriga-
lon project. =
To Miss Jessie Roscow of Silver Bow =
the distinction of introducing the =
m to provide the consolidation of the !,
ounty of Silver Bow and the city Of :
Suite. :
Senator Paul of Powell county is !,
uthor OF a measure which provides :,
decided change In the existing sys- !,
OF purchasing supplies for the :