The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-03-11

ACpOAd
Loss Of the state fair is the most
serious matter of legislation as af-
fecting Helena. The house had gone
through with a 100000 annual ap-
preparation, which the senate cut to
i$3,5OO, just enough to retain the care
taker and keep the weeds down. The
house rejected the amendment, but in
the final compromise had to accept it
rather than deadlock the legislature
indefinitely.
Several members of the legislature
remarked in discussing the state fair
action, that they had decided to heed
/ the constant economy clamor of the
Helena Independent, which newspaper
was placed free on the desk of each
member throughout the session. They
took the position that here was a
case where the economy program
could be applied.
Abandonment Of the state fair now,
virtually means that it is gone for
ever, Peat Of Missoula alluded to
this point when he said that the ex-
perience Of the Missoula fair of
which he was secretary, was that
after a few years of idleness, build
ings and equipment deteriorate 50
much that it costs thousands of dol
lars for repairs.
State Fair Economy"
Numerous members defended the
state fair when the conference report
on H. B. 448 was being voted on.
Eaton of Yellowstone was one OF
the most ardent champions Of the
fair. He felt that to abolish it woule
be a mistake rejecting on the pride
and loyalty of Montana. 1 {,
Holton of Garfield commented thai
the fair last year cost him II cent.
on real estate taxes and he was will
l ing to pay that.
Smith and Maggie of Lewis an
! Clark also defended the exposition
Others to protest against the aboli
{ ticn were Burns and Ruffcorn.
Over in the senate, Senator Churcl
Go of Lewis and Clark found that repre-
~sentatives Of some of the cOnspicu
D GUS interests in Montana were no
with him when it came to the stat
8 fair. Blu he got four to vote for il
There was a protest in the hOus
in hampering the University of Mon
tina and the agricultural educatio
i work, but the house accepted the con
ference repot, the rejection of whic
8 would have meant the failure of tn
= compromise.
Bankers Play Part
Nothing of the session has cause
more comment than banking legisla
item. Senate and house members hav
n charged that certain bankers "doubl
n crossed" the legislature and then til
d governor. 1t was intimated that Will
n the bank guarantee bill and the
II per cent interest measure were u
It these bankers pleaded that this les
% islation should be killed, pointing
lie bills proposed by the banking commi
tee o. the house, which these banl
ers indicated were satisfactory ar
beneficial. Then, when these mea
le ures were before Governor Erickso
L these same bankers are said to hay
,e prevailed upon the chief executive
ID their arguments to veto the bills. tt
next step limited was that they the
ID got the house, after it had sustaint
r the veto, to reconsider the action al
lie pass the bills over the veto. tt
ar measures died in the senate.
There is also said to have be.
some meddling in the measure for
Ell banking commission. Several ban
.e. ers, it is intimated, have their ey
ne on a place on the commission wi
of the idea of ultimate control of t
to banking situation in Montana.
be Senatorial Superiority
The senate did what it could
he impress upon the house that the Sc
p ate's intellectual, cultural, social, he
as editary and traditional SUPERIOR
A must be maintained. There was co
CHI siderable boasting in the upper bo
m about its lower cost Of operation. T
10. house looked up the figures and fou
s. that per item handled and for p
member cost the senate was mu
more expensive than the house.
After the gavels fell and the sessi
ut was over, the various officials 6
ice busy closing up the business. It "