The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-03-14
Legislative Notes


ate.
Three of group of measures all
vesting added authority in the hands
OF the state commission were killed
on adverse committee reports and
on roll call on two of the actss the
senate sustained itself by substan-
tial margin.
The bills were r. B. 391, defining
n public utility and placing natural
gas pipe lines under the control Of
the commission in determining just
and reasonable rates, and H. B. .38l.
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. B. Ia, permitting the
legislature to fix the hours of labor;
H. B. 2, exempting real estate up to
| $4,000 from taxation, and S. B. "a,
providing that counties shall vote be-
fore consolidation is undertaken.
On action hv 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 SEN
ate killed f. B. 232 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 con-
sumers must be seated at tables in
hotel cafes, cafeterias or restaurants
| and not while leaning on 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
I plan.
As result of the death blow it
death to the act to legalize and IL
cense gambling, and its more recent
actions 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-eectric tax, and who severely
criticised the coalition within the sen.
ate for defeating the two revenue
measures. 80
ff>had been estimated by support
ers ofthe two rejected proposals that
the gambling act would net as much
as s1,2OO,O00 year and that the
liquor bill alone would bring from
| 100000 to 100000 more from the
license revenue alone.
The senate also approved Fl. B. 29t
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, ant
will apply Immediately to assisting
only two students.
For the second time this session
Governor Frank Fl. Cooney's veto Of
legislative act has been sustained
The house failsA77-by-~-parrow mar
gin, to oy1fride the governc<,s YETI
of Fl. B/191, which would have 70
quired@hotice and hearing before tht
state land board might cancel leases
on its school lands.
The first time the governors YETI
was sustained was on S. b. /, which
would have prohibited members of thu
legislature from holding state jobs.
Though the Montana legislator,
has taken no cognizance OF secession
plan discussed in Wyoming and Soutl
Dakota other than to read newspapei
dispatches on the move, the question
bobbed up unexpectedly in the sen
ate recently when Kelley of Powell
brought the wrath of eastern Montani
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 wei
come over here
Bills signed by the governor In
clude: H. B. Is, appropriating $3.50
for Catherine Grassland Smith, wild
ow of former governor; Fl. B. 81
relating to deposit Of funds by stat
treasurer; H. B. "a, relating to irri
cation districts; III. B. 80, permitting
the state treasurer to invest surplu
cash in registered warrants; H. {
1913, inheritance tax refund TO r. {
Forbes; H. 2. 1876, Creating the volun
teer firemen's compensation fund
n. B. 151, exempting Homestead
from execution; H. D., 262, regulating
and licensing the sale of commercial
fertilizer; H. B. 267, relating to tn
granting. of new trials; II. B. 32s
relating to support Of wife and chill
after divorce; II. B. 344, relating t
lewd acts with child; Fl. B. 427, re