The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-02-15
REVIEW OF WORK
OF LEGISLATURE
EXPENSE CUTTING AND NEW
TAX METHODS HOLD STAGE
CENTER AT HELENA

(By Herald1S Special Correspondent
Helena, Feb. 1.-THE calendar
discloses that AZ days have been tick
ed off since that good day when the
gavet fell for the first sitting of the
18th assembly. The products of their
labor has been very small, which
does not mean that the situation
would be better if the yield had been
greater. 1t is the universal opinion
that the legislature that is best for
the people is the one that passes the
fewest laws. That is very character
istic of the present law body, but
everything points to night sessions
for the past ten days in both houses
Six bills have found their way to the
governors office aside from appro-
priation measures. The podiatry bill
extending time for payment of last
years taxes, the members of the
board of equalization, the establish
ment of a game preserve in por-
ton of Lincoln county, providing for
the participation of policy holders
in the election of directors of corpo-
rations relative to life insurance
companies upon the stock plan, and
also a memorial asking congress to
1egislate regarding the giving of pat
ents to farm units in federal recla-
nation projects. The list looks small
but the remainder of the session will
make quite a difference in the total.
To Cut States Expenses
If the plan of the special commit
tee of which Senator Paul is chair
man and their recommendations are
accepted, the state will save for the
biennium $1O5,000 and before it
finishes its work the amount will to-
tai 100000, following the filing of
the committee to investigate execu-
tive offices and boards. This special
committee is making suggestions for
the reductions that are to effect prac-
tically all of the state offices and
great saving is to be effected in the
superintendent of public instruc-
tion's department and in the office
of the secretary of state. 1t was
recommended by the committee that
no saving could be made in the at
torney generals office or the state
historical library, but that they IN
tended to cut down the overhead of
all offices insofar as it will not I'M
pair the efficiency of those offices.
Senate Steering Committee
Senators Hazelbaker, Harmon and
Nuffly compose what is known as the
steering committee, but, in keeping
with the times, is now called the
committee on Economy Legisla-
tion." Hereafter all bills introduced
and relating to elimination and con-
solidation of certain state offices,
boards and commissions will be re-
ferred to this committee for consld-
Grafton. Some action is also looked
for the coming week in both houses
for motion to have no bills intro
duced after the 50th day except ap-
preparation measures, and this will
enable both branches to plunge into
the work before them.
Mine Tax Bill
The administration forces support
ing the revenue raising bill placing
a one per cent gross tax upon metal
mines of the state, won decisive
victory in the house, when the
committee of the whole, sidetracked
an effort to postpone indefinitely any
action on the bill. "a roll call was
and the vote showed that
the Dixonites prevailed 65 to 22,
thus adopting the report of the COM
mittee on revenue and taxation. The
bill now will be printed and placed
on general orders and it is expected
that a long hard fight will be en-
countered before it is sent to the
senate for their consideration.
Inheritance Tax
Surviving number of amend
ments. most of which came from the
desk of Representative Maury OF
Silverbow, Montana's proposed IN
heritance tax has successfully with
stood all amendments and attacks
and was recommended for passage
in the committee of the whole last
Thursday morning. The bill now
goes to third reading before it is
transferred to the senate for its con-
currence. So firm were the admin
istration forces for the passage OF I
this measure, that even an amend
ment sent up in good faith, and an
amendment to cure typograpmcal
errors were voted down. Mrs. L.
M. Facev. the only woman repubh-
can in the house and a strong DIXON
introduced the measure.
Tt is freely predicted that the amend
ments to the proposed measure Will