Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-03-21
LEGISLATIVE SESSION
ESTABLISHES RECORD
Twenty-first Assembly Is Extended
Five Days Beyond Limit-Makes
Longest Meeting.

lCieu ny ulStOIlAilS DIS Oile Oh Tic lHoot
notable gatherings of lawmakers
ever assembled in the state.
Funds for the operation of the
state government and Montana insti-
buttons, which are apportioned by the
| legislature, brought about deadlock
which ended only after the lower
| branch yielded to the senate.
When the sixtieth legislative day
arrived which completed the session,
according to law, there were ID ap-
preparation bills remaining ON which
| house and senate had failed to agree.
| One by one these measures were dis
posed of through conference commit
| tees.
At the start, when the batch had
dwindled to IL, Speaker Bricker ap-
pointed a committee of nine house
leaders, IS compromise board to
view these bills in their entirety,
reach joint conclusion, report them
separately for legislative concur
renee and in some way effect break
of the deadlock.
The senate declined to approve the
plan. A separate conference commit
tee on each bill was demanded. The
bills were gradually disposed of by
the house in the majority of cases
giving way to senate amendments for
the sake of harmony, until but two
remained.
Then came the testing time. Con-
ferences and caucuses in the house
had perfected a plan whereby joint
| conference committee from house
and senate could be named to take
these two bills, one carrying the ap
preparation for the railway and public
service commission and the other the
funds for the board of equalization
and other departments, review them,
make concessions and break the dead
ate.
Senator Donovan, Democratic rep
resentative from Toole county, moved
that the house be instructed that the
StIidlt QGCtii1tu W ISICQC i1OAA ally
amendments and that it further de-
clined to appoint other conference
committees. The senate thus passed
the load back to the house. Recon-
mendations of 102 representatives
from Sc counties of Montana were
strapped. What was the answer to
be? Action of the senate left two
alternatives for the house. Its mem
amendments, decline to concur, or
postpone action indefinitely which
would have automatically killed the
bills and left the departments with
out funds on which to operate for
two years.
Refusal to concur meant the calling
Of special session and the expendi-
ture of minimum of $4,000 of the
taxpayers money-and then the sit
uation may not have been improved
during the special session. A total
figure of $4,000 per year for the gas
oline division was all that stood be-
| LWCEl IiOuSC 6tiu oCflhkC aS lNSllItlts
Its hand forced by the senate, the
house accepted all senate amend
ments to the railroad commission and
board Of equalization appropriations
and ended the deadlock. The senate
changes will transfer administration
of gasoline license inspection from
the railroad commission to the board
of equalization.
The assembly appropriated for the
next biennium a total Of $6,533, 900
or $4,000 in excess of total appro-
priations of the session of two years
ago. A total Of 81 appropriation
bills were acted upon. Recommends
tions for appropriations as made by
the state board of examiners before
the legislature went into session were
s8,238,653.
In addition to money appropriated
| by the legislature the state must
meet, out of its revenues, interest on
general fund warrants of $125,000 a
year, or $250,000 for the biennium
l dllu pioNiuC P1cCyuuU LUZ Lie CApSHSSo
of the 1881 legislature.
AS the matter stands at this time
Montana's expenditures in the bien-
mum will be 100000 in excess of es-
timated revenues for the period.
The legislature passed total of
201 bills, exclusive of joint resolu-
tons and memorials. Up to closing
Of time the assembly Governor Erick-
son had signed 1925 measures. He
must approve or disapprove the re-
mainder before Friday at midnight.
Constructive legislation has been
passed which promises to make Mon
tana a better state in which to live
Laws have been amended and writ
ten on the statute books which will
greatly benefit the Treasure state.
In the opinion of L. V. Ketter, act
ing attorney general, the bureau OF
gasoline inspection, center Of the dis
turbance that carried the session into
the seventh extra day, may operate II
the railroad commission can manage
to get along on approximately $2,7OC
a year received from fees. The meas
ure which created the division pro
vided for use of receipts. However
the present salary Of it's director
Glenn 7. Davis, is $4,000 year: The