The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-02-19
Legislative Doings

AlS4l AN kSAsSS
Of the state law. Two years ago the
legislature passed twin bills establish
ing minimum wage scales for tiremen
and policemen Of Montana cities, but
the state supreme. court held these per-
tanning to fremen were Unconstitutional.
"A bill requiring that the union label
be on all products purchased by the
state Of Montana, was proposed by
Joffray Of Jefferson. Montana : made
products also would be given prefer
ence, under provisions Of the measure,
with q S per cent d~ifferential in price
allowed.
Representative Brayman of Missoula
estimates that his bill for taxing Christ
mas trees will net the state about
$4,000 yearly. He claims that one rail-
road alone shipped more than Z million
trees out of the state before last Christi
{ mas. 81.
One Of the bills prepared by the
social security committee proposes .
state public welfare commission Of five
! members, to be appointed BY the gov
ernor and to employ an administrators
at q salary Of 5000 yearly. An assist
ant will be paid $500 yearly, Boards
of county commissioners will admins
ter the act locally, doing away with
paid welfare workers, for the most part.
Indications are that state liquor stores
will remain open many more hours
than at present when the legislature
gets around to have its say. Senator
Harlem of Blaine, author Of bill to
change the hours, says he will work
for a law to have stores open at %
o'clock in the morning and, close at IL
o'clock at night.
Senator H: A. Simmons of Carbon,
chairman Of the committee to investi-
gate activities of the State Highway
commission, hopes to have a report
ready in plenty ofstime to submit TO
the senate by the 45th legislative day,
which the resolution calls for.
A tax of 81 per ton or coal taken out
of strip mines is proposed in q bill
drafted by Mackie Of Fergus, Bloom of
Carbon and Mcleod Of Cascade.
Creation of the office of state comp
troller, who would have charge Of ex-
pending all the money handled by the
state Of Montana, as well as: collection
of its taxes, and Who would be an ex
officio member, of the state board Of
examiners and the state board of equal
ization, was proposed to the house by q
number Of members who introduced a
bill prepared by Padbury Of Lewis and
Clark.
A two per cent tax on the gross
receipts Of telephone Companies is pro-
vided in q measure prepared by Cons
ner of Teton,
Placing of all state employees, except
department heads and chief deputies,
under a state civil service is to be pro-
vided in a measure prepared by LAM
bert Of Hill. He says his measure will
apply to the majority Of people work.
ing for the state in all capacities.
A measure by Lasby Of Broadwater
would make the state board of equal,
ization the state liquor control board,
with power to license retail dealers in
liquor. The state would remain in the
wholesale business. Private dealers
licenses would cost from $500 to $1,50O
each, and towns in which the licensees
were located would be allowed to levy
an additional license fee of not to ex-
coed 80 per cent of the state fee.
Cost of the legislature during the
first three weeks Of the session totaled
$~57,878.24, according to an itemized
sheet prepared by the Montana Tax
payers association.
Three companion bills designed to
provide for the better functioning of
the federal housing administration laws
in Montana were introduced in the SEN
ate by the committee on banks and
banking. '@ -,
? The house education committee rec
commended that H. b. 81 be printed and
placed on general order for .considera-
ton. The measure provides that school
districts shall furnish textbooks free Of
charge to all pupils in the district,
whether they attend public or private
schools. "'.%~ - T.
Cash prizes for attendance would be
permitted at fairs, carnivals, bazaars
m similar attractions sponsored by
faii associations, lodges, trade unions,
religious bodies and similar organiza-
tons, under. provisions of H. b. SO.
approved by the house.
Railroad officials have pointed out to
members that lines of the state will
undergo a decided setback If II. b. No.
IL, which limits the length Of freight
and passenger trains, becomes a law.
The house Judiciary committee or
dered Sherman Smiths divorce bill,
which would allow non-residents TO
file suit for divorce after residing in
Montana 80 days, printed and placed
in general order.
Cold. storage eggs would have to be
labeled: as SUCH according to an amend
ment to be proposed to the state egg
grading law by Rep. Ernest Burns Of
Fathead.
Among the measures submitted to
the legislature last week include I bill
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