Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-02-26
Legislative Hi-Lights

hN iust sAhkCs VI Tile kWcHty-
second biennial session Of the Mon
tana legislature are under way
and both the senate and the house are
hucking into the work in an effort to
complete the task Of adding new laws
and revising the old within the sixty
day limit which is up the end of this
week.
The session has been virtually de-
void Of wranglina and the prediction
made by state political leaders
at the opening that it would be Sc
rene and quiet assembly have been
borne out in both houses.
One of the most interesting meas
nres that has been presented in the
legislature this year is senate bill 43,
which, if enacted into law, will give
counties and the municipalities
therein the opportunity to merge their
governments into one municipal cor
poration.
Defeat Of the woman's jury bill is
naturally bitterly disappointing to the
women Wh worked so hard in an eff
fort to produce its enactment. In
spite Of all this effort in the legislature
and campaign before the session
convened, the measure never even rot
fair start, for it was killed in the
house by the adoption Of an adverse
committee report.
The proposal to bond gasoline deal
ers SO as to make certain the pay
ment of their license fees and gaso-
line tax was approved. Representative
Nose Of FlathAa sponsor Of the bill, |
said the state has lost $4,000 in I'M
paid taxes because Of the failure Of
dealers businesses.
DR.. Minnick's bill to provide that
crop lien NAV be given to se1ure
credit for $500 worth Of food and
necessities finally was approved. The
Philips county Representatives bat
tied hard for the measure which. he
said, will assure the farmer at least
$500 for personal Il eds out Of his
seasons labor.
After debate lasting about two
hours, the house killed the proposal
to place tax on hydroelectric power.
The vote WAS SO to 20.
Bills designed to establish an oil re-
finery at the state prison met death
very shortly after being submitted.
A resolution pledging members OF
the house to stick faithfully to the
job should the legislature find it nee
essady to prolong it's Goth day has
been adopted. 1t was signed by a
considerable group OF members. II
this session does not have to stop the
clock on the Goth day and keep on
for day or two longer, 1t will be the
first time in several sessions that the
assembly has been able to finish in
time.
The divorce bill brought consid-
cradle protest from church circles
but it had strong support from other
sources. Underlying the arguments
for the measure was the thought that
such law would attract wealthy
persons to Montana, and coming here.
they would spend lavishly.
Three proposals for constitutional
amendments, all that may be sub
mitted at one election, provide an in
,ome tax, consolidate the railroad COM
mission and board Of equalization, and
permit the appointment of members
u the legislature when vacancies oc-
'ur after the general election.
Among appropriations is one for /
|1b6,000 for deficiencies arising from
he failure Of appropriations made two
1esrs ago to cover expenses OF the
leaf and blind school, orphan. home,
Industrial school, vocational school, |
Prison, hospital and sanitarium. An i
'thed calls for $4,000 IS additional
Of the present assembly.
I was explained there were 100 more I
ills to bs printed than were expected.
Tho original appropriation for e.
lenses was $4,000, and this would
ring the total to $192,bOO, which il
$500 more than the amount required
NO ysars ago.