The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-02-08
ECONOMY FAVORED
IN PROPOSED LAWS
MINE STATES COAL-CUT DE-
PARTMENT EXPENSE-WO-
MEN FOR JURORS

sion at the close of the 34th day ha
found that it has introduced 200 bill
in the lower house while 105 have
found their way to the upper body
Aside from three bills signed by the
governor early in the session, deal
ing with appropriation measures rel
ative to per diem and expenses OF
members and attaches of the 18th
assembly, but five new bills by virtue
of the governors signature have
been enacted into laws. Most I'M
portant of all these is the bill Great
ing the state board of equalization,
the members of which the governor
has recently appointed. 1t is the
belief of many of the members that
very few laws, in comparison to those
passed by past legislative bodies, are
going to be passed at this session.
If the relatively few so far enacted
is an indication, then that prediction
will be fulfilled.
State To Mine Own Coal
The members of the lower house
went on record to determine the teas
ibilitv of the states operation of a
coal mine to supply state institutions
and to generally investigate the coal
business of the state by adoption OF
the resolution by Caplis of Silver
Bow and other members of the lower
q
house. 1t was declared that $4,000
tons of coal were used annually at
the various state institutions. An
appropriation of $500 was stipulat-
ed as the amount to be given for the
investigation of the proposed state
ownership.
Slash Proposed In State Depts.
The special committee detailed by
the senate to investigate state officers
and state executive departments have
recommended to the legislature and
submitted their report. If carried
out it will save the state in those de-
partments about $4,000 in the next
two years. Of this saving $4,000
would be brought about by reduc-
ton of the amount appropriated TO
the Montana national guard, and $lo-
600 would be saved through the |
transfer from the Office of the state
engineer to the state irrigation com
mission of the duties of the measure
ment of streams.
Women For Jury Service
That the women of the state are
vitally interested in a bill which pro-
vides for their eligibility for jury
service was brought much in evil
dence by an unusual attendance OF
the fair sex when that measure was
I'M for discussion last Tuesday at
ternoon. While all of the women IN
attendance were not in favor of the
bill. however, all were keenly inter-
ested in the status of the so called
woman's jury bill.
The bill was reported favorably out
of the judiciary, with certain amend
ments 50 that printed copies are now
on the desks of the members OF the
house for further action. AS the
bill now stands it will give to women,
who are otherwise qualified, the same
right and duty to serve on juries as
are at present given to men, with .
the provision of claiming exemption
from jury service, and particularly !,
to women living in remote places
from the county seats and where
such women are mothers of large
families.
Attempts To Abolish
Futile attempts have been made S
TO abolish the offices of highway COM v
mission and the chancellor of the S
state. The attempt to do away with
the chancellor met an untimely death Q
in the senate, while the bill aimed at S
the highway commission is still to be o
being a bill introduced v
bv Senator Peterson of Valley and
is now in the committee. Should the
bill be passed by the senate and then A
20 to the house it would sure fali OF
passage there, but should it meet v
with the approval of that body the n
governor would take great pleasure G
n vetoing any measure that would b
attempt to abolish these departments. e.
It it a well known fact that the nigh is
way commission and the chancellor p
are going to function as long as Jo- O.
,eph M. Dixon is governor of this W
itate. il
Steps In Real Economy
Six representatives, five republl- n
ans and one democrat, launched fl
movement in the lower house Satur- Il
lay morning to cut down the salar- 81