Plentywood herald., 1935-02-14
Legislative Notes

days.
This. at least, is the belief Of house
and senate leaders who regard the
present status of the session as en-
tirely satisfactory.
During the last week many propos-
ais of more than passing interest,
some of which will be Identified as
of major import when the session
becomes history, were made ready for
consideration in the house or were
disposed OF.
A glimpse backward shows the fol-
lowing highlights of that period IN
the house where until the latter part
of the session is reached, primary IN
terest will be focused:
Received a proposal for an added
cent gasoline tax to go to county
road funds and to city funds IN the
larger communities.
Received a proposal for the elec-
ton Of eight Of the II members OF
the state board of education who now
are appointed by the governor.
Received a proposal for greatly in
creasing the powers and duties and
jurisdiction of the state game COM
mission such as authorizing 1t to
create game districts in the state.
Received a proposal to remove con-
troll of the liquor board from the
presently constituted board headed
by the governor, and to place it in
the hands of the state board OF
equalization which would be in
structed to buy its liquor on the open
market by competitive bidding.
Though Montana remains without
a chancellor at the executive head OF
its university system Of six units,
friends of retaining that office neatly
placed the skids under proposal
whereby it would be abolished.
Voting 81 to II, the senate indef-
initely postponed S. B. 81 by Kelsey
of Powder River, which would have
stricken from the statutes all provi-
sion for the chancellorsnip.
S. B. 8 by Senator Frank Fl. Cliff
ford of Havre, by which the state
would have interviewed with regard
to the length of trains. Under its pro-
visions freight trains would be held
to a limitation of IS cars, while pas
senger trains could include no more
than 16.
Before disposing of the Clifford
bill the senate heard its longest de-
bate of the session as between those
who regarded the measure as an TN
warranted burden on the railroads,
and those who favored it, as a neces-
sary means of safety and to lessen un-.
employment.
Senator Clifford, former railroad
man and sponsor of other railroad
pror osals, declared it just and equita-
bic for the safety of the travelling
public and the railroad worker, and
as a definite means of relieving un-
employment in the ranks of the rail-
road workers.
Senator Holt of Miles City, vigor-
Gus opponent of the plan, declared it
was question of national magni-
tude and should be so legislated upon
by congress.
Women citizens of Montana would
be made eligible for service on juries
ir the states courts should a bill in
troduced by nearly 80 senators, find
successful passage through the leg
islature and executive branch.
The bill defines juries and the quail
ificatiore of jurors makes women ell
igible for jury services and provides
for certain exemptions from jury
service.
The Montana administration of re-
lief needs broader powers to carry on
efficiently the program Of emergency
aid in Montana, particularly in the
states drought affected areas, the re-
lief and social welfare committees of
the twenty-fourth legislative assembly
have concluded after a public hearing
ordered by the senate several days
ago.
With but negligible opposition, a
proposal for abolition Of the Montana
state fair is on it's way to passage in
the state senate. Though consider
ably mauled around in committee and
finally revamped to the extent it ap-
peared before the upper body as ar
entirely new measure. Sub. H. B. 16
whereby the state would transfer its
state fair property to Lewis and
CLARK county and the state fish ant
game commission gained the approval
of the legislative branch.
The senate voted, 35 to IS, agains
adoption of house resolution by Fow.
Ter for joint inquiry into the opera.
tion of the liquor control system, anC
decided to carry on it's own indie.
pendent investigation over the pro-
tests of those who termed it "un
usual"
Two more measures have been sent
on to Governor Cooney after Speak,
er Pilgeram and President Eaton af
fixed their signatures tv H. B. lat
relating to the time for opening anG
closing the polls, and l.. B. 16, pro-
vidiing that no deficiency judgments
may be made after foreclosures.
J The senate received from Governor
Cooney two additional appointment!
to the state board of education fol