Montana labor news., 1935-04-18
Story Of The Senate
By Senator Harry Meyer

"
The Senate was seated according to
the arrangement of the Seating COM
mittee. composed Of three members oil
which one member had made the ar
rangements democrats on one SIDE
Republicans on the other and the FRO
eressives among both.
The former President Pro TEN took
the chair. The Senate was called to
order and the motions made nominat-
ing the President Pro TEN, Sergeant
At Arms. Assistant Sergeant at Arms
Committee on Committees and Com
mittee on Employment, the first nom
nation being made by Senator Sparl-
ing for the Progressives and the same
nominations being made by the repres-
entatives OF the Democrats and kepu-
blicans. The election then took place
upon roll call and the majority OF
votes ~favoring the Progressive nom
inee, they were ordered elected to the
respective positions.
The Senate was then formed. Prior
to this time, as was evidenced by their
appearance at the hotel, which is the
general meeting place for all lobbyists,
and in the halls and corridors OF the
Capitol, and particularly the House
and Senate. the lobbyists representing
corporations, both large and small, la
Dor. the chain stores, insurance COM
panies, business interests, taxpayers
the farmer, farmers associations, the
politicians and the elective offices n
their assistants in the Capitol. From
all of these more was to be heard
later on in the consideration OF bills
that were introduced and proposed.
The first day a recess was declared
until the following day to give the
employment committee an opportunity
TO engage those employees whose ser
vices were Immediately necessary to
carry on the preliminary work. In this
connection it is we'll to note that here
tofore the party having the majority
would select the employees n the
minority party would have very little
opportunity to name an employee. Inc
Progressives felt that this arrangement
was unfair and permitted each Senator
TO name one and to give every per
son an opportunity to remember then
constituents or the one at home. This
continued for a period OF four weeks
until all the positions were TILED. Inc
selections, however, were not Away
made in accordance with the wishes
of the Senators nor the employment
committee but the recommendation
sometimes come from outside source
who are DESTROYS of having control o
the KEY positions. This was evidences
as the session progressed.
Upon the second day, before tn
real business began, the Senate wa
invited to Join with the House in list
ening 10 a message from the Governoi
This is a legal requirement and tn
message was short and to the pom
while it omitted entirely any referenc
TO labor or revenue raising measure
The Governor made several recon
mendations, which included nepotisn
water conservation and relief.
Before commencing the story OF tn
session proper it is well for the reaC
er to keep in mind that the member
of both the House and the Senate wei
subjected to the interest Of the pee
pie from their community, the argt
ments presented upon both sides OF
bill. the reason for the enactment
the law, the influence that is brougI
to bear upon the members for al
against the passage Of the measur
the necessity of having a popular il
terest, the needs Of each communit
the effect OF the bill upon the Peep
OF each community and, lastly, tn
no n member or set OF member
without having a majority, are al
at times to overcome prejudice and !
fluence for the purpose OF enactii
or defeating a measure.