Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-01-12

came here earlier than usual. One
who lost sight Of the purpose Of
legislative assemblies might have
imagined that the aim Of this one
} was dominated by this or that tndiy-
$ idual or group. What concerns the
! lawmakers now Is the work they are
! 70 do The legislature Is, on one hand,
the official forum Of the people Of
the cOmmOnwealth-On the other
hand, the agency through which the
popular win Is expressed. In theory
] at least. At the outset Il is worth
remembering that where there are
differences Of opfui0n--and there
nearly always are differences Of 0pin-
ion--there must for the common good
be compromise. There must be tn
some degree a spirit Of give and take,
for If this attitude does not prevail
q legislature Is little more than mob
rule with few refinements.
Now the question which many per-
sons viii ask is What Is the legislature
going TO dor" Some persons viii ex-
pect too much OF it; others win give
it credit for too little. Being q human
agency, a lawmaking assembly is sub
1ect to error, and because Of human
limitations, 1t has limitations. One
hears the prediction that more bills
than usual viii be introduced at this
session. This is customarily said at the
beginning of any session. And the COM
plant is heard that because too many
bills are introduced, too many laws are
enacted. If this is true, then it Is true
that, in the main, the folks back home
are demanding these Amendments of
or additions to the statutory machinery
of the state.
There is no reason why the deluge Of
bills should be larger this year. Nor
should there be fear that dire things
win result at the present session. The
alarmist aspect is always evident when
the lawmakers gather There win be
the normal amount Of strife, the usual
amount of misunderstanding and bick-
ering. But that is nothing to get ex-
cited about.
OF about equal interest in the public
mind is the proposal for q state high
way patrol In the regular session Of
1888 bill for this purpose was killed
in the house. In fairness it should be
said that some members who voted
against the measure that year are for
it now-204 deaths in 1884 from auto
mobile accidents are an argument not
easy to evade.
There is much sentiment In the as
sembly for a highway patrol There
are, Of course, differences Of opinion on
how large the patrol should be, how
much it shall cost to maintain and un-
der what agency Of the state govern
ment it shall function. These are diff
ferences that can be readily adjusted
if there is a mind to do so. The patrol
win not be a state police. It win have
no power to enforce any but the high
way and motor vehicle laws and regu-
lations Of the state. This, at least, is |
the plan that win be offered.
8 @
Numbered among the former mem
bers Of the house who joined the mill
ing legislators and job hunters In hotel
Hobbies prior to the start Of the ses-
sion were Eldon Freed Of Petroleum and
A. T. Porter of Stevensville, who be-
came chief clerk Of the state supreme
court. Both insisted they simply could
MT resist the lure.
o 8
Appearing before the senate shortly
after 1t organized was Former State
Senator Ed E. Booth, early day resident
Of Butte, later OF Custer county, who
as a member Of the fourth legislative
assembly was chairman of the commit
tee which drafted the Montana code.
The same session paved the way for
construction Of the state capitol. He
was introduced by Senator E. j. Par
kin of Bozeman.
The senate working staff as approved
included: Mike D. Reynolds of Billings, ]
first assistant sergeant at arms; P. 7. /
Thibeaudeaux, Blaine county, second
assistant sergeant at arms; secretary to
the secretary, Edna Human, Helena;
Ben Lamb, journal clerk, Sweet Grass;
Helen Byrd, bill clerk, Daniels; Helen |
Butte, assistant bin clerk.
9 o
Former Speaker and Representative /
Dennis Dellwo OF Lake and Ray @. ,
Campbell Of Great Falls, unsuccessful
candidates for the house clerkship. met
and shook hands as their defeat was
announced. Campbell lost out by the
margin Of two votes.
8 @ I
The old warhorse OF the Montana
legislature, Representative B. @. ~Bm- /
falo" White, took occasion during the I
democratic caucus to take to task those /
Of his party who sought his
defeat during the recent campaign in {
q discussion Of Gratitude Ia Politics" !
o @ !
Before Withdrawing as one Of the I
leading contenders for the house speak I
ership. Representative Herbert Haight i
Of Fergus advised the democratic eau '
Gus he believed the outcome twas set {
tled-without even the formality Of a I
VOTE" S
REPRESENTATION Merle O. Greene