The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-31


scheduled for both branches of the
law-making body and the session Of
the Eighteenth legislative assembly,
now half completed, it is expected
will witness during the remaining half
a departure from the harmony that
has so far prevailed it. Intensely
partisan are some of the members of
both branches and undoubtedly some
of the really important issues that
will appear this week will force the
members to line up on one side or the
other. With this in mind it is ru-
mored that the little group that at
tempted to organize a farm bloc at
the opening of the assembly may re-
new it's efforts. Such a bloc un-
doubtedly could control the house if
the proper leaders were forthcoming.
AS conditions are now, Scharnikow,
of Powell county, Democratic floor
leader, apparently is the one member
whose words carry greatest weight
on the floor of the house.
In the Senate no real test has yet
occurred, although with the appear
ance of the tax commission bill, which
probably will come from the COM
mittee on taxation during the latter
part of the week, hot debate will en-
sue. The battle, however, q not
be construed as a test between the
administration adherents on one side
and the independent Republicans and
minority members on the other. The
solons realize that they must pass a.
tax commission bill. They are under
q mandate from the people and any
attempt to amend the bill will be
made simply in an effort to give to.
the people the kind of q commission
they desire.
The inheritance measure, which has
been in the hands of the House COM
mittee on revenue and taxation, will
be reported out. 1t is understood
that numerous amendments have been
made and that home of the more
! drastic provisions of the law have
been altered, if not stricken out in
entirety. Consideration of the bill
! will not be had until the latter part
Of the week, as the measure must
first be printed. The printing of the
| Is, 000-word bill will consume at
least q day.
The return of the inheritance meas
ure probably will be followed by a re-
port on the mine tax measure by the
same committee. This measure, IN
troduced by Strange, of Ravalli, pro-
vides for a tax of one and one-half
per cent on the gross proceeds OF
metaliiferous ores, the tax to be paid
directly by the smelters handling the
! r e The smelters would then place
.ktc the credit of the shipper the
tax paid by them to the state eH tbs
!, shippers ore.
There is a possibility that the fifth
administration measure, providing fol
| an increased tax on the gross produc'
ton of crude oil, will be presented IL
| the House. The fourth measure, tht
income tax bill, which has been ex'
pected each day, will be introduced
this week. 1t is understood that, al
though numerous meetings have beer
held in the governors office, the chic.
executive and the members OF tn
House and Senate taxation commit
tees cannot agree on the provisions
At the last meeting, which was he'll
Saturday, it is reported that the com
: mittee members showed a good dea
of antipathy toward the bill and non
offered to present it. Now it is IN
! derstood that the governor intends t
, force his bill out, whether 1t meet
with the consent of the committee q
not.
: On this measure one Of the bltteres
fights of the session will be mad'
The terms of the measure are said I
be so drastic that some of Governo
: Dixon's staunchest followers have e.
. pressed their disapproval of 1t.
Exclusive of the five measures TIL
b have the administration stamp of a.
proval. interest will center around Il
reports of the special investigate
: committees of both houses. AS y
- the Senate committees are the on
a ones that have made any recommen
4 atoms, and all of them were by e
q committee investigating executive Q
q fees and departments.
z It,, recommendation that the OIL
Z of state parole officer and state 9
9 countant be abolished has been ]
q dorsed by the upper body. 1t is u
z derstood that the governor is rath
y adverse to the elimination of the II
mer office. The other committees
q the Senate no doubt will make sol
q reports this week.
None of the house committee /
q as vet given any intimation of int
& Sion to submit reports. The comm
9 tee investigating the state prohibit
forces is active gathering data
z William "Kid" C~ountryman, a +
y mer member of the prohibition 10
2 and one of the men mentioned IN
Loble resolution, has written the CO
mfttee a letter lauding it upon its
veatigating activities and ending W
z the cryptic sentence, more power
e you, boys"
" nr ~ b;l1r ~~oduc that AFT