Montana labor news., 1935-05-23
Story Of The Senate
BY Senator Harry Meyer

While it was reported during the SEES
sion at the end of the session that ora
tory would not have any effect upon
the members Of the Senate, the results
obtained upon reports OF committees
and OF general orders upon debate
show this L be a mis-statement OF
lwhat actually occurred; not only ora
tory but logic and reason and facts
played a very important part IN the
passage and defeat of many measures
in both the House and Senate.
Some of the Senate Bills are inten-
~tionally ommitted herein because they
have no place in this article and were
not particularly OF public interest,
S. B.. Is which validated ?. w. A.
Bond Election was for the purpose OF
helping to assist the unemployment
condition wherever an election was call
ed for this purpose.
S. b. 70, the Highway Patrol Bill
was placed in the month OF February
with one committee and afterwards re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee for
examination as to its legality. This
was more or less a matter OF form.
After continued meetings of the Judi
ciary Committee this was finally brou-
ght out on the floor and a motion made
that it be indefinitely postponed, which
was, through the courtesy OF the Sen
ate, held up for another week. 1t was
then brought upon the floor and a num-
Der of labor amendments, together with
amendments beneficial to the people
were placed therein. 1t was, at the
end Of the session, referred to the
House and Conference Committee Re
port. These amendments were emov-
ed and, in the opinion Of the writer,
the labor amendment inserted in place
of these amendments, was OF small Ell
feet compared to the original amend
ments. 1t was reported afterwards that
this was a liability insurance company
bill, as well as one sponsored by the
Governor. Much lobbying was done
for the purpose Of having this bill pass
ed and after it was reported favor
ably by the Conference Committee and
after much debate the last day of the
session it was passed and signed by
the Governor.
S. B. u requiring rear pilot lights on
locomotives was passed without any
objection. This was more or less a
compromise bill on account OF the short
train bill.
The Metals Mine Tax Bills, S. B.
80 and S. B. 80, were killed on the
floor of the Senate. This vas the
first test OF the progressive movement
and showed that it had been broken.
S.. B. "a requiring a majority vote
to consolidate counties was passed
S. B. SO giving the Building & Loan
Associations an opportunity to make
loans the same as banks and other in
situations under the Federal Housing
Act. Passed.
S. B. 80 fixing the liability OF stock
holders in State Banks T. a matter Of
protection. Passed.
S. B. AZ which extended the time for
filing claims before the Industrial Ac-
cident Board from six months to one
year Il A labor bill. Passed.
s.. b. 40 which fixed the hours Of
labor of bus drivers. A labor bill.
Passed.
S. B. As which gave mothers pension
to a family where the father was i'm
p%risoned. Passed.
S. B. SIS granting further time on re-
demption of property IN tax sales pro-
perty.
S. B. So requiring the user Of DIESEL
Motors on highways to pay a gas tax
Passed.
S. B. o. permitting the County Com
m%issioners to vacate plats in townsites
that had been abandoned. Passed.
S. b. 70 which created a lien upon
personal property for all taxes. Pass
ed.
S. B. 70, which gave insane married
women dover right protection. Pass
ed.
S. B. 88 which gave the County Com
missioners the right to obtain Federal
Aid and employ residents of their
county under the Feleral Law in rural
improvement districts. Passed.
S. B. SO which removed the payment
of $1.0O for filing income tax except
by persons who pay the tax.
S. B. 90 which extended the mort
gage moratorium. Passed.
S. B. 90, an act to prevent the dis
elimination in the sale OF merchandise,
the changing of prices in different
localities. Passed. Vetoed by the
Governor.
S. B. 90 which provided for the con-
~solidation OF county offices, under the
terms Of the bill. Passed.
S. B.. l01, which created the water
conservation and flood control board
and extended the scope Of its opera
tons for the purpose of creating EN-
%ployment and obtaining the benefits of
the Federal appropriation. Passed.
S. B. l02, a labor measure, which
excluded convicts and members OF in
stitutions from making brick outside OF
the penitentiary. Passed.
S. B. 1903, which gave mothers OF
adopted children pensions. Passed.
S. B. 1903 which made it illegal to
have a provision in a contract for the
entry Of judgment by confession with
out the service Of papers upon the
opposite party. Passed.
S. B. l18, giving additional rights
to the rural Mutual Life Insurance.
Passed.
S. B. 129 which provided for the fill
ing Of chattel mortgages with the Sec
rotary Of State and constituted notice
to everyone after the filing and in the
different counties as a protection to
livestock owners Passed.
At this time a number OF usury, fin
1 arra orJ o4La~ .ffo-o1 .,tarac+ ht1lc tuora