Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-01-11
LEGISLATIVE NOTES

word message delivered to a joint SEES
sion Of the house and senate: IncreaS
ed motor vehicle license tax. Produc-
ton tax of six cents a barrel on OIL
Sales tax of two cents a gallon on gas
ollne. Inheritance tax modelled after
Wisconsin law. Metal mines license
tax Of II e a ton on gross ore pro
duction. State income tax law with
same income exemptions as federal
income tax law. Three per ent license
tax on gross proceeds of hydro-Aectr1c
power companies. Redlstricting OF tu-
dicial districts of state to eliminate
several judges. Adjustment OF office
Of state accountant and transfer OF du-
ties of that office 90 bank examiner.
Making bank examinations and indus
trial accident board and livestock COM
mission self-supporting from their fees
for service. Transfer Of duties and
powers OF public service commission to
new tax commission TO prevent du-
plication of duties and expense
Transfer of duties of irrigation com
mission to state engineers office. To
obtain better system of warehouse re-
cefpts and to make ali grain elevators
public warehouses. Lowering ratio or
taxable value to assessed value of all
land and improvements from 30 per
cent to % per ent To permit resale
of farms now covered by delinquent
loans from permanent school funds to
former owner on a 20year amorti-
cation basis. To liquidate $~10,0OO,OOO
delinquent taxes on or before Jan, i,
1924. on payment Of original tax, plus
advertising costs OF sale and 7 per cent
interest from date of delinquency. In
eraaaass SALARY fer the state forester.
Return OF Ss39 800, winch vas ai-
properly diverted TO permanent
school fund. Purchase OF 00Q-acre
irrigated farm with pasture land In
proportion for state penitenhlary at
Deer Lodge. Increase In charge 70
counties for keeping patients at tuber~
culosis s"anitarium from 81 TO $40 n
week. Pooling taxes on railroads IN
state for distribution among counties
on basis of population Instead of by
railroad mileage, as at present. Estab-
lishment OF a tannery and harness fac
tory at state p~enitentiary. Inclusion Of
"occurational diseases" in provisions
of workmen's compensation act En-
actment of a bank deposit guarantee
law.
The tax commission bill, creating the
board of equalization provided for by
the constitutional amendment voted In
November, was introduced In the house
by Representative Charles r.. Swift Of
Treasure county. The bin provides
for three members Of the state board
of equalization, to receive $4,000 4
year, and to be appointed by the govern
or within 10 days of the passage OF the
bill and before the adjournment of the
legislative session.
The tax commission bill was drawn
by Judge Nils p. Haugen, the Wis
eensin tax expert who has-heen with
5he state board of equalization Of Mon
tsna at different times during the past
two years. The bill provides that one
of the members first appointed need
not be a citizen Of the state-this, II
is understood, being in order that the
governor nay have the right to APP
point Judge Haugen as a temporary
member of the board.
A communication has reached the
assembly from the Modern Woodmen
lodge In Terry In reference to theR Rich
mond bin, which the communication
declared was unfair and unjust, as 1t
denied the right of self-determlnation.
The Terry fraternal organization also
was opposed, the communication stat
ed, to legislation that would segregate
funds Of a fraternal society or classify
it's members. The communication was
ordered filed.
Printers OF the state will be specially
interested In the notice given by Bray,
Of Sweet Grass, that he would intro
duce a bill establishing a schedule for
county printing. The measure Is not
completed, but the author says the
main provision will be that permitting
county commissioners TO accept bids in
whole or part and thus secure more
advantageous contracts. d
At the opening session OF the senate 4
the republicans had little opposition In
electing the organization agreed upon :
a caucus the evening before. The I
vote stood 40 to IA and named Senator .
w. e. Harmon, Gallatin county, pres !
ident pro tempore, and Senator r. p. ]
Heren, Custer county. floor leader. e
Frank Cone. Ravalli county, was made
secretary.
Speaker Crumbaker appointed 10 tbe
on rules, OF which he is an ?
ex-officio member, Representatives :
Buell., Swift, Gullidse and Schannkow, Q
and upon the committee on employees. !,
Representatives Boorrnan, McAfee, l
Hansen, Stoner and Brsndjord. y
Calvin C~runbsker. Choteau county,
made speaker of the house over Ed
Scharinkow, Powell county, by =
1 vote of SO to A. is widely known in 4