The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-03-11


of more than 600 bills introduced and
proved TO be the most costly session in
the history of the state. Appropriations
bills for its expenses totaled S205, 900
The twcnty-fourth assembly in 1885
cost s201 900, the next most expensive
legislative meeting
1t will also go down in history as
having brought back to Montana the
sale of retail liquor and the abolish
ment of the state highway commission.
The closing days of the assembly
were marked by a block of members
who sought to invalidate its actions
after the clock was stopped at the end
of the Goth day. Their effort met fail
ure when the state supreme court by a
vote of to 2. refused to interfere in
the deliberations and ordered dismissed
proceedings seeking an injunction on
the grounds The session had extended
beyond the constitutional limit
Many laws of far reaching import
ance were passed by the 1887 legisla-
ture with perhaps the retail liquor law,
which has already been signed by the
governor the most outstanding. The
act provides that retail liquor dealers
will be licensed in every county of the
state within the next 80 days unless in
the meantime petitions signed by IS
per cen. of the registered voters are
filed calling for an election. If the
county votes dry, no retail liquor may
be sold at other than the present state
stores If it votes wet the licenses will
be issued In either case no new cleo
ton may be held for two years.
Unde- its terms retail establishments
will pay to the state tax ranging from
$3.50 to $500 annually, depending on
the population of the community In
which they are located. In addition
counties or cities may levy an addi
tional tax up to SO per cent of the state
tax. Establishments selling beer must
pay an additional flat 5000 rate.
In addition the law calls for an ex-
else tax on liquor sold in state stores
amounting to SO cents gallon, esti-
mated to RAISE 100000 of additional
revenue.
A new three member liquor control
board will now administer the states
liquor and beer acts-work formerly
done by the state board of examiners
and the state board of equalization.
The subject of heated argument
through the session, state temper
ance commission was created, to carry
out a campaign against excessive use
of liquor by minors. The commission
will be made up Of heads of three.
present state department heads
| The major departmental consolida-
ton bill passed by the assembly brings
together the highway board, water coz
servation board and planning board
under one unit, the Montana commits
sion Of public works.
A state department of insurance apart
from the state auditors office was Gre
ated.
| The state milk control board was
given added power, while the highway
patrol board was equipped with new
set of highway laws that formerly were
only regulations
The assembly created state forestry
experiment station to be located at
Missoula under the supervision Of the
Montana state university school OF Tor
estry and reenacted for another two
year period laws providing for the state
| grazing, soil conservation and agricul-
tural conservation commissions
Desi5ced as check on state finances,
q new law provides fines or imprison-
ment or both for heads Of departments
boards and offices who spend more
state money during the biennium thar
the legislature appropriated for then
use.
l. The power of the governor IN remov-
ing from office officials in department.
whose heads are appointed by the chiei
executive was increased under terms o.
Fl. B. S. ~
Revenue raising measures passed BY
the assembly were estimated to brini
| In between t7sovuupo diiu T-s""osoeo ga
nually for the next two years, while
appropriations for all governmental op.
erations were listed at about $4,000, 0O'
for each year of the biennium.
The social security act is shaped T.
divert federal, state and county fund
totaling 100000 a year for the mex
two years toward general relief, old
age assistance, aid for dependent chill
dren. and various welfare activities.
Its twin law the unemployment com
pensatior. bill, creates commission 7
administer funds received from an EN-
blowers tax, for the benefit of unem
ployed workers.
The states political subdivisions :
counties cities, school districts an
other municipalities-are equipped
continue participation in the work
progress program of the federal gov
eminent, under terms of H. B. Al
signed by Governor Ayers
The law nov allows the subdivision
to comply with new WPA rules, ruiz
requiring work project sponsors to pr
,, cost Of materials, equipment and super
vision. The subdivisions are empoV
cred to meet this expense by levying
property tax Of S mills, only after e
ha,stion of other funds available +
the purpose, providing that 10 per &c
a