Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-02-21
LEGISLATIVE
NOTES

The senate gave its unanimous ap-
prevail to the governors reappoint-
ment of Arthur J. Lochrie of Deer
Lodge as state examiner and superin-
tendent Of banks.
Criticism similar to that made by
the house committee inquiring into
the refund of gasoline tax was made
in the report of the senate group as
signed to that work. Diligence in
searching out improper and fraudu-
lent claims was recommended. The
committee reported that it found un-
necessary delay in the handling of
| claims.
Creation of new state department
to be known as the department of
fairs, immigration and publicity, is
contemplated in plans being formu-
| lated by the house. The new depart
ment would take ovec some of tho
| functions of the department of agri-
culture.
After killing bill to license eating
houses and food manufacturers, the
house proceeded to table the measure
sponsored by LELAND and others, de-
| signed to provide second set of cleo
| ton officials to permit continuous
counting in the larger precincts.
The house passed the bill prescrib-
ing qualifications for county superin-
tendent Of schools by vote of SIS to
| a.. ~
The senate killed the measure for
creation Of state park system as
| sponsored by Kiwanis clubs.
Among the AZ measures proposed
| by house members last Thursday is
one to permit dance halls to operate
on Sundays, another aimed at "hit-
and-run" and drunken drivers and 8
measures relating to assessment and
taxation Of property OF insurance COM
panies.
The first bill sent to the house by
Representative Cecil Wilson of Lewis
and Clark county, relates to the reg
istration of insignia of fraternal So
cieties and others and forbidding the
wearing Of buttons and sigma by those
not eligible.
1t is stated that if bill before the
house to licepse punch board opera
tion becomes law, the states rev.
enue will be increased thereby approx
imately $4,000 annually.
From all parts of Montana mem
bers of the legislature are receiving
letters and kilograms indorsing the
bill now before the assembly for in
creasing the gasoline tax to s. cents
gallon, the purpose of which is to
speed up the state highway commits
sion's road building program. Legis-
lators, particularly members of the
committees on highways in both the
senate and house, are daily receiving
requests from their home counties that
they lend their aid to the passage Of
the measure.
The house has two measures under
consideration designed to carry into
effect recommendations Of the gov
errors bank tax commission. They
define money and credits and moneyed
capital, place the former in the 7 Per
cent class and the latter in the % per
cent class for taxing purposes, and
provide for taxing capital of building
and loan companies and mortgages.
Approval was given by the senate
to bill providing that owners of COM
bine harvesters may have the same
kind of lien against grain as owners
Of threshing machines.
Following q lively debate, the SEN
ate put to death II. B. No. AZ, the tax
measure designed to solve the prob
lem confronting the state financially.
Dowlin Of Rosebud declared the bill
would place an additional burden on
the livestock raiser and home owner"
LET u.s." he said, dig up some other
sources Of revenue for the state" Pau
line Of Flathead asserted that the
states financial condition is no worse
than it was 10 years ago.
Senator Robert Pauline of Flathead
county is sponsor of bill to abolish
through popular vote in 1880 the state
board Of equalization in favor Of the
former ex-officio board, consisting OF
the governor, attorney general, sec
rotary of state, state auditor and the
state treasurer. The equalization
board members are appointed by the
governor.
Senate approval has been given to
the house bill fixing prices for county
printing, and the measure is now in
the hands of the governor.
Governor Erickson announced that
he has signed house bill No. 43, rela-
tive to the control of Marihuana.
The house approved bill providing
that hair dressers and cosmetologists
operating beauty parlors in Montana
must hereafter pay license fee, sub
nit to health examinations, conduct
their business in sanitary manner
and live up to rules and requirements
provided by the state board of health.
Senator Eaton Of Yellowstone coun-
ty introduced proposal in the upper
house which provides that sessions OF
the Montana legislature be held every
four instead of every two years.
Senator Kelley of Powell county, is
out to put women on juries in Mon