The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-01-14
Legislative Doings

history.
The great democratic majority rolled
up at the last general election is giving
the bourbons in both the senate and
house a commanding position from the
partisan standpoint.
The powerful committee on commit
tees in the senate is headed by L. M
A Wass of Fergus, with H. c. Croft OF
Ravalli and George Montgomery OF
Beaverhead as the other members.
S. c. Arnold of Saltwater is sponsor
of senate bill which would prevent
members of the state legislature from |
holding other state jobs. Two years
ago a similar bill was passed by both
| houses but was vetoed by Governor
| Cooney.
The speaker of the house is a Liberty
county farmer, H. D. Rolph, democrat
who won the important position over
Albert Kruse, republican of Garfield
The appropriation expense bill was
rushed through the assembly and calls
for 5000 mileage and per diem for
assembly members; $4,000 for officers
and attaches and $4,000 for incidental
legislative expenses.
Green OF Dawson, dean of the house,
has probably served more time on the
appropriations committee than has any
other member. He is republican.
| 1t seems to be generally believed
among members Of both houses that
from the recommendation made by
Governor Ayers in his message to the
body that the session is going to be a
very busy one Speaker Rolph Is OUT
standing in making such forecast
Early measures submitted to the as
sembly include bill designed to re-
classify property for taxation purposes
and to permit real property to be re-
deemed from tax sale by paying the
original tax before Dec. !, 1888.
James Masterson of Custer county Is
the sponsor of a bill to exempt from
taxation residential property with less
than $500 value.
Important house Officers outside of
the speaker are George Monahan OF
Park, speaker pro tenn; Sam Spiegel,
: Silver Bow, floor leader; the Rev. J. N.
MacLean of Helena, chaplain; William
Cain of Miles City, sergeant-at-arms;
John J. Jewell Of Helena, chief clerk,
and Miss Hilda Rcheson, journal clerk
Lieutenant Governor Hugh Adair is
presiding over the senate with the usual
!, dignity which the office has always
/, commanded. The president pro tenn Is
!. Leonard Plank OF Liberty county. Harry
: Meyer Of Silver Bow is the floor leader,
!, George Burr of Petroleum is secretary,
. Thomas Fleming Of Grass Range is SER
geant-at- arms and the Rev. William
: Puppy of Helena is chaplain. All are
: democrats
!, The house passed resolutions to make
. the majority party floor leader ar ex-
Il officio member Of all standing commit
= tees of the house and to add social
!" security committee.
d The liquor permit bill, no
2 ticed by Senator Harry Harlem o.
q Blaine, is similar to the measure be
e introduced last session, when ne was
r. member of the lower house. 1t !:
e aimed to reduce the price of individual
u permits from the present 81 to so cent
D and would cut the 30-day permits from
6 ST to Is cents, eliminating the singh
9 purchase permits altogether. Last SEES
sion his similar measure was passed b.
the house but failed to get by tn
e senate.
y Some noticeable interest was NANTES
y among legislators in Governor Ayers
" appointment of Edward e. Kresbach, c
Al Wolf Point, as member of the Mon
:; tana railroad and public service com
II mission. He will succeed Jerry
N O'Connell, of Butte, who is now mem
2 Der of congress from the first Montan
* district.
y The sugar beet investigation" bill
- notice of which was given in the hous
~ is directed, its sponsor, Representativ
20 Bailey r. Stortz of Rosebud count,
q said, at the practice Of hiring Mexica
w. labor for work in the beet fields.
!, Montana's two women representa-
9 tives have adjoining seats in the hous
: and in many ways their careers whle
= have led them to political success al
- parallel They are Mrs. W. w. Hami
- ton of Phillips county and Mrs. Nab
!" : Cruickshank Of Gallatin county. Boz
- have been interested in democrat
!, party politics for many years.
- With each member of the house lin
r. tied to introduction OF five bills,
sh would apparently seem that not mo
than $40 bills could be introduced
cd the session. In 1893 when the hou
nv previously restricted the number
be bills each member could introduce t
total considered during the session W
w about 345.
'ur Representatives ]. F. Holecek, Fergl
he and A. B. Levisee, Lake, gave notice
do. bill, similar to one killed in the O
on. sembly two years ago, which woy
ION make the state board of equalizati
the body in control of the state liqu
on monopoly. At present. the state boa
his of examiners is the liquor control boa
rst while the board of equalization ADM
rel listers the state beer act
ian | OpIv IN racac of unforeseen ant