Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-03-14
legislative Notes


on adverse committee reports, and
on roll call on two of the acts the
senate sustained itself by a substan-
tial margin.
The bills were H. B. 391, defining
= public utility and placing natural
gas pipe lines under the control Of
the commission in determining just
and reasonable rates, and H. B. 381,
placing the burden Of proof on the
utility companies in questions con-
corning the fairness of rates.
By joint agreement of the house
and senate committees named to Sc
lect the constitutional amendments,
the three deemed mostly likely Of
passage were approved for action by
the house and senate.
One was H. r. Ia, permitting the
legislature to fix the hours of labor;
H. B. 2, exempting real estate up to
$1,000 from taxation, and S. B. 81,
providing that counties shall vote be-
fore consolidation is undertaken.
On action by the judiciary commit
tee the senate killed H. B. sos, re-
curing that all state bookbinding
and printing be done in Montana.
In committee of the whole the en-
ate killed H. B. 1872 providing for the
making and sale of butter according
to cream grades, while H. B. 323, re-
lating to waivers, was advanced for
passage.
The senate is willing that the states
liquor control act be modified to per-
nit the sale of cocktails and highballs
direct from the mixer, but the on
sumers must be seated at tables in
hotel cafes, cafeterias or restaurants
and not while leaning on a bar.
Disposing of the liquor problems,
the senate on third reading approved
without an opposing vote the Stevens
old-age assistance plan modelled after
legislation which may be Endorsed by
the national administration wherein
the parent government will aid the
states in carrying out the assistance
plan.
AS a result of the death blow it
death to the act to legalize and Ii
cense gambling, and its more recent
action in killing the liquor by the
drink proposal, both measures intend
ed to produce revenue.
A announcement came from Muir
ply of Deer Lodge, who supported
the majority in killing an increased
hydro-electric tax, and who severely
criticised the coalition within the sem
ate for defeating the two revenue
measures.
1t had been estimated by support
ers of the two rejected proposals that
the gambling act would net as much
as $1,200,0 900 a year and that the
liquor bill alone would bring from
10000 0 to $500, 900 more from the
license revenue alone.
The senate also approved H. B. 293
by which some orphans Of Montana
soldiers killed in France may receive
tuition up to $3.50. The measure was
sponsored by Kelly of Flathead, and
will apply Immediately to assisting
only two students.
For the second time this session
Governor Frank H. Cooney's veto Of
a legislative act has been sustained.
The house failed, by a narrow mar
gin, to override the governors veto
Of H. B. 191, which would have re-
quired notice and hearing before the
state land board might cancel leases
on it's school lands.
The first time the governors veto
was sustained was on S. B. /, which
would have prohibited members of the
legislature from holding state jobs.
Though the Montana legislature
has taken no cognizance of a secession
plan discussed in Wyoming and South
Dakota other than to read newspaper
dispatches on the move, the question
bobbed up Unexpectedly in the SEN
ate recently when Kelley of Powell,
brought the wrath of eastern Montana
solons upon him when in discussing
the gambling bill be jokingly remark
ed: Eastern Montana may be aban-
doned and you folks can just as well
come over here"
Bills signed by the governor in
clude: H. B. Is, appropriating $500
for Catherine Grassland Smith, wild
ow of a former governor; H. B. 81,
relating to deposit of funds by state
treasurer; H. B. IA, relating to irri-
CATION districts; H. B. 80, permitting
the state treasurer to invest surplus
cash in registered warrants; H. B.
1913, inheritance tax refund to R. D.
Forbes; H. r. 1875, Creating the volun-
teer firemen's compensation fund;
H. B. Isl, exempting homesteads
from execution; H. B. 262, regulating
and licensing the sale of commercial
fertilizer; H. B. 267, relating to the
granting of new trials; H. B. 329,
relating to support of wife and child
after divorce; H. B. 344, relating to
lewd acts with a child; H. B. APT, re-
lating to compensation of county
clerks for furnishing poll books; H. B.
Sc, the gin marriage act; S. B. II,
permitting separate payment of wa
ter assessments; S. B. rs, validating