Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-02-02
LEGISLATIVE
HIGH SPOTS

providing for highway patrol. One
placing the work under the registrar
Of motor vehicles, who is warden OF
: the state prison, and another IS q
plan under which the work would be
administered by the state highway
commission.
Committees have been appointed in
both senate and house to investigate
the possibilities for revenue from
liquor if its sale again is legalized. ~
The Montana senate called on the
interstate commerce commission to
reduce freight rates from the mid
continent oil fields to Montana points.
The house had previously telegraphed
members of the Montana delegation
to present the states need to the
commission.
Speaker Dellwo ruled that the only
requirement that appropriation bills
be approved by two-thirds majority
Of the house was contained in the
budget act and that, since the leg
islature may amend laws, it could, by
a specific clause in any new legisla-
ton, choose to disregard this provis-
ion of the budget act.
There has appeared in the senate
proposal for constitutional amend
ments frightening the terms of men,
bers Of the assembly and of some
county officials and providing for a
Legislative session each four years.
The bill will propose elections only
at four-year intervals, Legislative ses-
sions each four years and that the
sessions be conducted as in Califor-
nia-30 days for introduction of bills,
80 days recess for consideration and
consultation, resuming the session for
30 days for action ON the measures.
1t would extend the terms Of MEM
bers Of the assembly and of county
officers now elected for two-year
terms to four years to eliminate the
bi-election.
BY vote of SIS to 81, with four abb
sent, the house passed the bill to re-
fund the registered warrant debt with
. $4,500,00O issue Of bonds, bearing
interest at per cent and payable in
10 years.
80
Aiming at economy from another
angle, Senator Plumer of Treasure
gave the senate notice he will offer
two amendments to the state eonsti-
tuition. Both, he says, are designed to
aid the smaller counties in concen-
trating the administrative activities
of their governments. One would
make possible the elimination Of the
office of county assessor SO that
the county commissioners could APP
point agents to do this work when
necessary in specified districts. The
other void provide for election of
county commissioners in the districts
which they represent, They are now
elected at large.
Disability of determining the states
financial situation before the bond
bill is enacted was advanced by sew
eral members, including Mass of VAL
ley, who has chain store bill under
consideration.
ha 10 ss.1f fall
assessed valuation" instead of tax
able value drew more questions than
opposition after explanation by Bes-
ancon and Moss. They pointed to
other bonding laws containing the
same provision and to the fact that
the tax in those instances actually is
assessed against taxable value under
the classification law. Freed of Pet
roleum pointed out that the state, in
any event, is pledging its honor, not
its property, for payment Of the debt.
A house bill brought out last week.
provides apportionment of the house
on the basis Of the 1880 census, allow
LIZ LA~A AOdiibJ bliC AEpA GSElltdtAfG
and one add. .ional for each 10000
population. The present ratio is one
member for each 600 or fraction over
5000, based on the 1920 census. The
last legislature declined to change the
apportionment, though the governor
suggested to that legislature, as he
did to the present body, that re-
superintendent should be made.
Under bill proposed to the leg
islature by Senator Husband, Wheat
land, the. county sheriff will perform
the duties of probation officer when
the district judge fails to appoint
such an official.
Expense allowances of state Off
GERS and employees travelling would be
cut to So day under a bill offered
by Senator Clifford Of Hill. The pres
ent allowance is Sd day.
Hearings on the chain store IL
cense bill were on last week. The