The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-01-07

affairs of the institutions and the
practice of rigid economy at all
times" which, he declares, has "en-
abled us to pay the running expenses
of the government and save from
/ the revenues nearly S1,00O,OOO which
has been applied to the payment OF
the deficit which accumulated during
the lean years." The warrant indebt-
edness, he says, has been reduced
from $3,931 900 to less than $3,OOO,-
900 since July 1, 1925.
Little Legislation Needed
Approaching the fact that "sOme
laws need amending to meet the
/ changing conditions of young and
! growing commonwealth, the govern
or expresses the view that "there is
need for very little new legislation"
reminding the members that "every-
where we hear the complaint that
there are already too many laws on
our statute books"
With reference to appropriations,
! the governor suggests that, since the
/ supreme court has held that the -four
teaching units of the University of
Montana alone are entitled to the
proceeds of the mill and a half edu,
cational levy, their appropriations
should be limited to the proceeds
from that source. Declaring that "it
is obvious that the two and a half
mill levy provided by the constitu-
ton is insufficient to meet the de-
mands of both the state government
and the university" he advises eth
er the amendment of the classified
ton law so that the levy for general
state purposes may be made upon the
full and true value of all property,
or that the present mill and half
educational levy be resubmitted to
the voters for re-enactment for an
other 10-year period.
New Gas Bills
Two measures tending to prove of
benefit to the farming industry were
among the first for which notice was
given at Tuesdays session of the
house of representatives, one pro-
viding relief from general taxation
and one from taxation upon gasoline
utilized in farming operations.
Arthur Ryder of Roosevelt county
gave notice of a bill to amend Sec
ton 1899 of the laws of 1921, per-
tanning to the classification of pro-
perty for taxation. Mr.. Ryder states
the purpose of the proposed measure
to be that of placing improvements
upon farm lands in class 5, where
they will be assessed at 7 per cent
of their full value, thereby removing
them from class 3, under which they
are now assessed upon the basis Of
80 per cent of their true value.
This measure will also provide fol
the placing of farm products, while
held upon the farm, in the class un
der which they will be assessed, at
per cent. He states that under tn,
/, present system, farm products, espe
cially grain, when held in a grain
elevator, is assessed at 7 per cent
whereas that which may be held il
the farmers granary is assessed a
: 80 per cent.
! S. c. Arnold Of Saltwater count,
> gave notice of intention to introduc
; a bill providing for refunds or ex
+ emptlOnS from the payment of the
! per cent per gallon sales tax on gas
oline when applied to gasoline pro
. cured for use in farm tractors, sta
tiOnary engines, motor boats, moto
driven railroad cars and when use
for Illuminating purposes. His pun
, pose is to exempt from the tax al
. gasoline not consumed upon tn
y public roads of the state.
, Albert Besancon of Missoula cour
. ty give notice Of his intention to in
= troduce three measures, one amend
" ing the absent voter law so as to il
: clude within its privilege voters VIII
Il are prevented from reaching the
4 polls because of sickness or other sol
= OF interpretations, and one prohibi
6 ing the carrying of fire insurance
excess of the value of the insure
property and providing penalties fl
over-insurance.