Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-01-15
LEGISLATURE TAKES Up
ROAD QUESTION FIRST
Highway Measure Head the List
In House-GovernOr Urges
Economy Program

the opening of the State Legislature
at Helena and the first bill to appear
In the house is a measure seeking
debenture issue of s6,0OO,O00 for state
highway construction.
The plan, if adopted, will provide
Tor payment of the warrants with
future gasoline tax revenue. Money
from the sale of the debentures will
be used to match federal aid road
funds, thereby Fastening the COM
pletion of highways over this, the
third largest state in the union, and
affording relief to the unemployed.
Gov. ]. f. Erickson laid his sug-
gestions before joint session of both
houses in an address which lasted
more than an hour and carried key
note of economy. The chief executive
advised the assembly to incur as few
new expenses as possible, to appropri-
ate for state affairs with keen eye
toward sound combination of effic-
iency and economy, and to aid farmers
where possible.
Counseling that everything pos
sible should be done to tighten the
burden" of agriculture, the governor
proposed that the classification law
be amended to make stored grain
taxable at Z per cent, instead OF
33 1-3.
Attention was directed to the
constitutional provision requiring the
legislature to reapportion its seats
on the basis of the new census, and
the suggestion made that this is an
opportunity to make a substantial
saving in taxpayers money by redu-
cling the membership of the house,
The governor discussed the states
several charitable and penal institu-
tions, asking that the members study
the biennial reports and arrange for
official inspections and expressing
the belief that q liberal amount of
the bond issue recently voted should
be set aside for needed construction
at these institutions.
He advised the assembly that the
national guard never in its history
has been in stronger condition and
recommended "that you deal as lib
orally with that organization as the
financial condition of the state will
permit
Fort7-fve bills introduced in the
house of w. B. Leavitt, republican,
/ leate.. and d. A. Delwo democratic
chief embody recommendations of the
state crime commission as to proce-
dure in criminal eases and were in
troduced at the commissions request.
No other such sweeping effort to
revise the system of criminal prose-
cution is memorable in the Montana
legislature. One radical. change pro-
posed is that in felony cases, except
where the penalty is death, five
sixths of the jury may reach ver-
dict instead Of the entire jury as
now required Another departure from
the state practice, but which con-
forms to federal procedure, would per-
NIT the Judge to comment on the ev-
idence.
|. w. Smith, superintendent Of
schools in Great Falls, is sponsoring
a bill to change the state textbook
| law so that first class school districts
may select their own books, remov-
ing these districts from the jurisdic-
tion of the state textbook commits
sion. He points out that the law ex-
empts high schools. One, by Willard
n Missoula, would provide for pay
/ ment of interest on state warrants
and gradual trimming of the states
j debt of more than S3,000,000.
| Cranston of Fergus has one, providing
for the disincorporation Of city or
/ town and the proceedings relative
thereto. Stewart Of Lewis and Clark
one relating to mortgages, deeds Of
trust or assignments for the benefit Of
creditors.
Representative Willard of Missoula
county has another bill which has
! considerable appeal and is accepted
by many as step that should not be
] delayed. The bill asks that IL mill OF
| the regular state levy be set aside to
/ pay the interest on and retire the
! IL mill, it is estimated, will raise
$185,000 year, of which 100000
would be used to pay the interest and
$4,000 to be applied on the debt.
E. U. Logan of Yellowstone heads
the important appropriations commit
tee of the house. Green Of Dawson
is vice chairman. Other members are
Brown Of Gallatin, Erickson of Gold
en- Valley, Rigg of Hill, Waite of Pow
/ der River, Pauly of Powell, Byquist
Of Valley, Quamme Of Pondera, Swope
Of Broadwater, Bechtel of Park, Tins-
ley of Madison, Arnold of Rosebud,
Coffee of Missoula, Brown of Cascade,
Shannon Of Sanders and Doran Of Sill
yer Bow.
j G. M. Moss Of Flathead again heads
the highways committee. Salyerds Of
Fergus is vice chairman. Other mem-
bers are Green Of Dawson, Darlington
Of Gallatin, Lillis Of Yellowstone,
Willard Of Missoula, Nclstead Of Car
ter, Rigg Of Hill Pauly OF Powell
Pappin Of Cascade, Hanson of Val