The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-04-27
Montana Statutes of
1923 Affecting Az
ricultural Interests

before construction bonds may be OIL
fered for sale. The 1921 law had lett
the matter optional with the commas
siOners of the districts.
An amendment was passed (Senate
bill 113) requiring a written OPINION
by the state engineer on the water
supply and engineering features OF a
proposed district before its creation.
An act was passed (Senat Dill 1Z3)
requiring county treasurerS to collect
irrigation and drainage district as
sessments at the same time as county
taxes.
A number of amendments and sup
Elemental sections were passed IN
Guiding acts relating to the organlza-
ton Of districts, removing the former
restriction limiting the district to one
general source of water supply, de-
tails relating to bonds, assessments,
determination of irrigable area, Civ
ing the district court continuing Jur-
isdictiOn over districts for the pur-
pose of correcting DEGREES IN case OF
error, providing a time limitation
against actions attacking the validity
of the establishment of a district, val
idating the creation and bond proceed
ings of existing districts having de
factO existence of at least one year
and limiting the debt mourning or
purchase power of the commissioners
to $4,000 without written consent or
petition of a majority in number and
acreage of the holders Of title to lands
in the district.
Important to Dairymen
State Dairy Laws ReOrganized.
(Senate Bill 1927. Strict require
ments governing discrimination be-
tween individuals and localities in the
prices paid for butterfat, and making
the fact of price difference not based
upon quality or transportation costs
in itself is proof of unlawful discrim-
nation are embodied in the new dairy
laws enacted by the Eighteenth as
sembly. In the past the Montana law
has required proof that prices were
| adjusted with intent to destroy COM
petition before it could be held that
unlawful discrimination was practiced.
Other important phases of the dairy
law are: Definition of strict sanitary
conditions that must be met by cream
cries and cream buying stations oper-
ating in Montana, required to prevent
| harmful deterioration in quality OF
possession of the producer, and proof
of competence to make a Babcock test
before license to engage in this work
is granted.
This law specifically defines the
fields with respect to dairying of the
livestock sanitary board and the de-
partment of agriculture, the former
having all responsibilities and duties
connected with livestock sanitation
and the production and handling Of
whole milk, and the latter being giveT
! jurisdiction over the economic side O.
the cream and butter production ant
processing, including the sanitar!
condition of creameries, cream sta
tions, and ice cream factories. TIL
law fixes a schedule of license fees T.
be paid by them. Licenses of dairie
will be issued by the livestock sanitar
board.
Prohibits Sale Filled Milk: (Hous
!. Bill 1861. Montana joined the list @
, states prohibiting the sale or posses
} sion for sale, of "filled milk" or sin
} ilariy adulterated dairy product, b
/ legislative action this winter. Thi
! food from which the natural butterfs
: has been extracted, and in which ha
I been introduced vegetable oils or fat
or other substance in place of the M
| tural butterfat. This is supplements
{ by national legislation forbidding il
: ter-state commerce in filled milk {
l similar product, passed by congress
] early in March, known during passae
as the Weight bill,
: Insects and Weeds
Changes in Weed Laws. (Hous
5 Bill 229). Several changes of minC
5 Importance, were made in the wee
: law, providing for the appointment
S a weed commissioner by city or cou
4 ty for a period limited to June Il
n October l. The period of notice to
land owner to destroy weed is shor
|. ened from six to four days, and ii
e period given him in which to compl
D is likewise shortened from six to fol
= days. The amended law provides fl
S notice by registered mail as well as
e person. Expenses of the weed con
S missioner are met out of the gener
Y fund of city or county instead of I'll
4 road fund as in the past. to be rein
: bursed by collection in the form {
j taxes If payment has not been mac
n on October Is. One of the most in
portant changes empowers the wee
4 commissioner to destroy any GROWN
: crop or part of it that is so mike
0 with weeds as to be a menace.
: County Insect Pest Law (Senate bi
Y 63).-The law providing for count
n action in fighting insect pests tn;
/ menace crops was greatly widened /
d raising the taxation limit permitte
S IN any. one year for this purpose fro
one-half mill to one mill, and by pr
e viding for payment of warrants out {
e the county general fund which is r.
n imbursed by a special levy in 3
e amount sufficient to meet expenditure
: but not to exceed one mill. This la
S provides for the employment of me
: to conduct the insect poisoning can
d paigns, and for the purchase of pc
i sons and supplies. Any board
i county commissioners can take actiC
: under this law, but the general dire
e ton of the poisoning campaigns
9 by the state entomologist.
4 State Hail Insurance
Experience Suggests Chang
: blouse Bill 127).-Important chang,
n made in the plan of state hail insu