Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-01-12
LEGISLATIVE
HIGH SPOTS

In the interest of economy, Cover
nor Erickson is in favor of reducing
the membership of both the senate
and house.
With approval of its author, Pile
gram of Cascade, the house adopted
rules committee report giving the
appropriations committee until the
fortieth day to introduce its meas
ures.
1t looks like the state legislature
has decided to comply with Governor
Erickson's recommendation to limit
the number of bills this session to
three to each member. A proposal
has already appeared in the house to
put the rule into effect.
Economy seems to be the outstand-
ing feature of the session thus far.
The senate has an economy commit
tee and the first five bills to appear
in that august body were aimed at
economy. The house also has Strong
committee to scrutinize expenses.
Roosevelt county again has "a lady
member of the legislature. The lady
from Roosevelt for three sessions has
been Mrs. Lucy Curran of Poplar but
Mrs. Dolly. Cusker occupies that posi-
ton this session and is the only wom-
an member of the assembly.
Governor Erickson in his message
to the senate and house advised the
enactment of legislation to permit
the consolidation of counties, pointing
out that many of the conditions which
justified the creation of counties have
disappeared and that present condi-
tions dictate larger administrative
areas with reduced operating costs.
Substantial reduction for nearly
| every state department are provided
in the annual budget prepared by the
| board of examiners and submitted to
members Of the senate and house.
Practically every department of the
state government will feel the reduc-
| ton which amounts to about 100000
compared to appropriations for the
first year of the last biennial.
Senator Burr of Petroleum is spon-
sor Of measure he described as a
moratorium on tax sales 1t will
pFovidie=tlllat real property en- which
taxes are delinquent may be redeem
ed on payment of the taxes without
penalty, if the property has not
passed into the hands of purchaser
other than the county.
Senator Pauline Of Flathead again
heads finance and claims; Eaton Of
Yellowstone, education. Senator Lar
son Of Teton is chairman of the new
committee on state and county econ
omies. Campbell of Missoula, judici-
airy; Thien of Golden Valley, coun-
ties and towns; Himsl of Fallon, banks
and banking; Kemmis of Richland,
agriculture; Ruffcorn of Valley, tax
alton.
Farmers outnumber the represent
atives Of any other occupation or pro-
fession more than two to one IN the
membership of the Montana house Of
representatives. Twenty-six Of the
members give farming as their occu-
patton. The tillers also have the dis
tinction of having one Of their group
Dennis A. Dellwo Of Lake, in the
speakers chair. The speaker pro tenn,
Herbert H. Haight of Fergus, also is
a farmer.
The taxation and consolidation COM
mission, created by the last session.
in a report to senate and house mem
bers describes thesstate's indebtedness
as the most serious problem confront
ing the Legislature. Suggesting Gig
4 arctic tax, personal income tax and
license on corporate business, the
commission warns against using these
new revenue sources as a basis foi
additional appropriations instead Of
providing funds to pay existing In
debtedness.
A privilege heretofore granted te
only state officers or former high
ranking offices was accorded Roger
H. Murray of Butte by the senate
when he addressed that body as q
representative Of an unemployed
group Of 1O4 persons, including sever
women, who marched from the bust
!. ness section to the state capitol tx
rpresent demands for relief. Murray
:. attacked the state administration, OBJ
iected to distribution of relief thru
private agencies instead Of electec
! county officials, described distress
ing condition among farmers and la
boring men, presented prepared lis
of IL demands" and program o
, salary cutting and taxation of salar
. les and wealth by means of which h,
/ said these proposals could be met.
At the opening of the 1883 Mon
tana legislature all members Of tn
senate answered the roll call. In tn
house there was only one absentee
> J. T. Amin of Saltwater county VIII
e was recently injured in fire. In tn
] senate, Lieutenant Governor Fran
e ry rax 80 M;eTo,,la +ooL l+ba 80