Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-12
montana LEGISLATURE
CLOSES 22MO SESSION
Legislature Greatly Elated Because
or the Many Reductions Made
in Appropriations


IN Appropriations
The twenty-second session of the
Montana state legislature finished its
work last Friday, but adjournment
was withheld until Saturday so that
in the enrolling room could be COM
pleted, During the session there was
131 bills introduced in the house and
463 in the house. OF the 683 submitted
total of l91 met with approval by
the two branches and more than 100
OF them were in the hands of the gov
ernor for his final signature when the
assembly finished its work
A bill amending the workman's COM
pensation act was the last bit of legis-
lation voted on by the assembly. The
bill revising the high school code WAS
the outstanding changes in the code.
Despite much opposition in both
houses the 2 mill tax levy was adopt
ed which is the same as enacted by the
legislature two years ago.
Frank Hazelbaker Of Dillon, lieu
tenant governor, following the US
ual presentation of gifts as farewell
tokens, complimented the members OF
the senate on their cooperation and IN
dustry during the session. The AS
sembly, he said, introduced b83 bills,
of which about 200 have been en-
acted into law. The number of bills
introduced is the smallest since the
1917 session, except for 1921, when
AGA bills were introduced The largest
list in that period Was in 1921, when
TOT bills were offered. The largest
number of bills passed, S18, also is
credited to the assembly Of that year.
Members of the assembly, the gov
ernor asserted, have no need to apollo
Rize for their actions. They have
been, he said, "a representative group
OF Montana citizens and have prov
en-, beyond a pIeadventure, their
rightful claim to leadership and have,
by their actions, shown q loyalty to
the state and a determination to do
the best within their knowledge for
Montana as whole"
The house granted Chairman Nell
stead OF the revenue taxation commit
tee additional time in which to draft
report on the senate bill which
proposes Redistribution Of land for
taxation purposes. Under the terms Of
the bill, which. if enacted, will become
effective in 1893, all land, including
town and city lots, would be taxed on
20 per cent of its true value instead OF
30 per cent as the present law pro
vides. Opponents of the measure have
urged utmost caution in the consid-
GRAFTON Of its provisions. on the future
Of state finances. It has been esti-
mated that state revenues would be
reduced approximately s4.0o0.000 nm
nually, and that the decrease could not
be made up except by some other
type of taxation
Helena chancellor Of the
Great University of Montana can
breathe easier now that the senate
has killed the measure to reduce his
salary from $4,000 to $500 year.
Earlier in the session Che chancellor
waited while the senate considered
aholishing his office in favor Of bus
mess administration. But that mea-
sure fell through. The salary reduc-
ton scheme originated in and was
passed by the house.
Helena.-Despite assurance from
the game committee that persons who
sell fish and game licenses as agents
of the state department are willing
to do so without remuneration, the
senate, by vote of % to 80, failed
to repeal the statute providing an al
lowance of 10 cents license for this
purpose. 1t obligated the department
The legislature has approved bill
placing the sale OF burial certif-
Gates under the supervision of the
state investment commissioner, eff
fective In 90 days. Rights of appeal
from the commissioners decision IL
provided. The bill was the subject
OF considerable dispute In the as
sembly, and weeks were required to
bring it to the point of final passage.
for about $500 last year.
The obligation is to be retired by
receipts from the 5-cent gasoline tax,
which the bill extends to 1941.
The short residence divorce bill
which attracted considerable attention
was first killed in the house, revived
later and finally put to death in the
senate.
The governor signed the highway
referendum providing for a special
election May s, on the question Of
issuance by the state Of treasury
warrants at the rate of s1.500,000 a
year for four years, the proceeds to
be used in cooperation with the fed
eral government for improvement Of
Montana highways.
The senate expressed satisfaction
over it's pairing of appropriations
throughout the session and thereby
keeping expenditures as close to the