The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-10-15
TWO MEASURES KILLED

The supreme court of Montana has
killed two measures that, it was ex-
pected, would go before the voters at
the November election. One measure
to be put to sleep by the high court
was in regard to state liquor control
and the one that would have brought
back the old saloon if adopted; the
other one proposed new taxes against
chain stores. The supreme court ruled
that neither could appear on the No
vember ballots because of irregulari-
ties in filing the necessary petit
tons, etc.
However, there will be four meas
ures for the voters to pass judgment on
One is a constitutional amendment
prohibiting the consolidation of counties
except by vote of the people Of the
counties to be affected.
If one does not want to see counties
consolidated by act of the legislature,
one should vote in favor of this meas
ure There is a movement in the state
to have the legislature put out of ex-
istence certain counties, consolidating
them with larger ones While that
should be done in some instances, there
is strong objection to permitting the
legislature to make wholesale con-
solidation of counties without the aft
fected counties having anything to say
about it. That is exactly what has been
attempted and what will be attempted
again unless action is taken to stop it.
Referendum measure No 36 would
require physical examination Of all
parties before marriage. A similar
measure has been known as the gin
marriage" law.
Referendum measure No. 81 would
provide for state insurance of all pub
lie buildings There is strong OPP
position to the present set-up where
by all state, county and school build
ings are forced to carry insurance I'M
der state control That law is being
fought bitterly by the county commits
sioners association and by certain as
sociations of school of.c1ials Those who
object to it claim it forces types of in
surance not needed in all cases and
that it is highly expensive, much more
so than under the old law whereby
insurance is carried in private COM
panies.
Those who favor state insurance
claim it will eventually build up fund
whereby the state will be able to carry
its own insurance at no cost to the tax
payers.
The fourth measure to 90 before the
= he, BALLAD trt+ 1,xry
Those who have studied this measure
say it is too drastic in that it makes
mandatory a day Of eight hours for
everyone under every conceivable con-
dition. As an example:
This newspaper employees two print
ers at full time of eight hours daily.
There is not enough work for third
man. Quite frequently it becomes
necessary for us to work the men a
few hours more than the eight hours
per day For that overtime we paw
the regular scale Of time and half 1t
is said that under this proposed law
we could not do that. With no extra
printers in the city, one can readily see
what dilemma an employer would
have to face. 1t is also said that own
ers of small businesses, doctors, law
yers, teachers, etc could not labor
more than the stipulated eight hours
daily. Some also claim the measure
opens the way for passage of six
hour law. In that respect, it is wise
to move with caution We are firmly
convinced that when the depression is
finally and completely routed, there
will be work for everyone at more
than six hours daily and most men will
desire to work more than six hours
and make the accompanying better
wages. The eight-hour law is doubt
full measure. When In doubt vote
''No."