Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-05
Legislative Hi-Lights

Legislative HI-LIghtS
Debate on the oleomargerine bill
brought out statement from Dough-
erty Of Ravalli that the money spent
on oleomargarine went out of the
state, while receipts from butter sales
remained within The state. Retail
dealers in oleomargarine would be re-
CURED to pay license fee of 800
quarter instead Of the present $75
under the new proposal which origi-
mated in the Senate.
Actuated by newspaper statements
that the 1880 session will cost $4,000
more than any other session and that
large part of the cost is due to
the employment Of additional and un-
necessary employers, Stewart of Lew
is and Clark, former governor, Sunday
offered resolution. which was adopted
by the house, instructinR its employ
ment committee to provide details Of
legislative expense. Stewart said the
paper referred to the assembly as a
legislature deluxe, because of its en-
ployment of 1874 persons to accom-
modate the 1856 members.
Representative Moss OF Flathead
county, whose house bill 448 for the
submission of constitutional amend
ment authorizing the legislature to
create senatorial and representative
districts was killed, believes that not
until such system of legislative rep
resentation is put into effect can any,
thing much be accomplished in
Strengthening out governmental mat
tiers. Moss sees objection to a mem
bership as large as the present, point
ing to the opportunities Of greater eff
ficiency in smaller bodies
Bond fund ALLEGATIONS which the leg
islature passed on follow. College.
$4,000; university, S112.530; Mines,
s55.480; Dillon normal, s24.180; Bill
lings, 1922 800, Havre school. s232.-
500; prison, s4350S2; hospital. $500,
900; sanatanium, s233.al8; deaf. blind
and feeble-minded school, S73,470; in
dustrial school, S67,105: soldiers home,
$4,000; vocational school. sS,325; or
phans' home SS0,910 They are the
same as the amounts recommended
in the original and supplementary re-
ports Of the special ALLEGATION COM
mittee.
Under the terms of the new Gig
aret tax bill, wholesalers will@pay an
annual license fee of S25 year, de-
pending on the amount Of their gross
business, cigaret buyers will be taxed
" cent for each package Of SO pa
pers, cigarets will be taxed So per
thousand and substitutes taxed 20
percent of the wholesale price. The
proceeds will be turned into the fund
for payment Of interest and retire
ment Of the state institutions bonds.
A bill to exempt fraternity houses
from taxation met defeat in the
house primarily on the contention
that regardless Of the merits Of this
cas- such a law would set a prece-
dent that might bring undesirable
results. There was considerable lob
bying for this bill. Alumni Of the
educational institutions Of the state (
pressed their case with all the per-
suasion at their command, but there
was the feeling in the house that the
proposed action would not be wise.
Possibility that Montana might |
compete with Nevada for divorce bust
ness was eliminated when the state
senate, rather summarily, refused to
concur in measure sent over with /
house approval. The bill would have
made the residence requirement 80
days for filing an action. and decree
could be secured in 90 days. One
years residence now is required before
suit -aay be brought. MI
d. c. Salyerds of Lewistown, who
has been chosen secretary of the Mon
tana Automobile association, has TAX
en- prominent part in the highway
Legislation as member of the house
of representatives Some Of the best
speeches on. the subject have been
made by Mr.. Salyerds and his express
sion on road questions has considerable
influence.
When the legislature rejected bill
providing for closed primary, it was
again demonstrated that the primary
system cannot be easily upset in
Montana Regardless of the merits Of
the matter, it is more certain than
ever that the primary as now con-
,tituted has many stanch supporters
IN Montana. One Of the most effective
arguments against the measure WAS
hat it required direct action by the
initiative--to obtain the
primary, and for that reason If the
primary is to be abandoned or modi-
led, it should be done by the people
themselves.