The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-24
ReUiew Activities OF Montana
Legislature During Past Week

any such a bill and they assert that 1t
will involve additional expense to
them if the state is redistricted in
the AM proposed.
Strange's measure providing for a.
tax of 1 per cent on the gross pro-
ceeds of the metal mines may come
out of committee this week. When it
does come it viii be met by serious
opposition unless it has undergone nu-
merous amendments.
The Caplis resolution asking for an
investigation of the coal industry in
Montana has been buried in committee
for several days, but will be report
ed out this week. The floor of the
House may be the scene of many YER
bal battles over this subject.
So far the administration has intro
duced two of it's measures and it is
expected that the third will appear
this week. This in all probability
will be the income tax bill. The bill
itself is now drafted and ready for
presentation. In the other two cases
Mrs. Facey of Phillips and Strange
Of Ravalli were the mediums through
which the executive introduced his
pet measures. The inheritance tax
bill has been the cause of many warm
committee meetings and whether it
will be returned to the House this
week or not is not known.
The fate of the state budget bill
will be determined this week. The
bill itself provides for a new method
of budgeting in the state.
Despite party affiliations, members
Of both houses are bent on introduc-
ing constructive economical legisla-
ton. To this end they all are striv-
ing, and optimists have noticed the
difference between the number of bills
introduced to date in comparison with
the number introduced at this time
two years ago.
Pat A. Kelly, of Silver Bow, is the
sponsor of a bill that would provide
for the protection Of the lives. and
insurance Of the lives of passengers
in motor buses and other forms of
motor vehicular conveyances that are
operated on the public highway for
profit.
Under the provisions of his bill the
railroad commissioners are author
lied to supervise and regulate every
transportation company in the state
that operates for this purpose. This
commission would draft rules for the
-n4AV~- 1.-~-o-zn ~~I n~-4FNW& ~
passengers, and may if it ees fit
draft rules for a uniform regulate
applicable to such modes of trans
%portation. Such transportation com
panies would be required TO file ar
annual report with the commissioner
as to conditions of their business. The
rules drafted by the commission
| however, would not be such that they
would supereoede those OF any city
Or town.
The commission would also collec'
an annual license fee from a compan!
, for each vehicle driven by them. This
fee would not exceed $40 per car.
The license fee would be turnet
over to the state treasurer and be uset
to defray the costs of administering
this act. The money taken in throSgl
this channel of revenue would b
turned into the general fund.
The creation of the state forest de
partment and the appointment of
state forester to have charge of tn
department, with certain restriction
for the purpose of preserving, main
tanning and cultivating the fores
property owned by the state of Nor
tana, are provided for in a bill in
PRODUCED this week by Representative
B. n. Bernard, of Flathead county.
, The state shall be divided into thre
forestry districts and ample provisio
shall be~made by the state forester
protect the states timber from fir
I so far as possible.
: No expenditure of money over SIC
{ may be made by the state forester fl
I the construction of trails, cabins
other things for the maintenance
, the department without first havir
the approval of the board Of land con
= missioners. The forester is requir,
= to plant up denuded state forest are,
and watersheds whenever funds a
r appropriated therefor. No timb
shall. be sold by the state without ha
ing first been appraised by the 70
ester.
An appropriation of $1,000 is ask
y to enable the state industrial accide