The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-06-09
J. Christie Is
President OF
Lions Club
New Officers Chosen For
Ensuing Year - Reports
On Road Matters.
LARGE SUM LOST
TO HIGHWAY FUND

The Libby Lions elected new of
ficers for the ensuing year at their
meeting Monday night at the Model
Cafe. James E. Christie was elected
president, E. ]. Driear vice presi-
dent, Paul K. Church secretary, w.
f. Kienitz and Harold w. Miller,
trustees for two years, George Wood,
Lion tanner, and r. w. Swarens tail
tWister
r. r. Yeldman gave the latest
news regarding highway matters.
He told why it was necessary for the
state to issue three million dollars
worth OF highway debentures, which
proposal will be voted on this fall
First the necessary number of sig
natures must be secured to petit
ton and Mr.. Veldman said this work
must be pushed with all speed. Up
on motion by Lion Veldman, the
club went on record as strongly IA
voring the highway program and
the issuing of the debentures.
Says Rebates Too Large
MIR. Veldman also urged change
in the present gas tax law in regard
to rebates He said there was lot
of dishonesty resulting in this con-
nection, and that some farmers and
gasoline dealers are conniving to
beat the state out of money. He
said the state pays back in rebates
about $850,000 year, which is out
of all reason. He suggested that
the law ought to be changed so that
the paying of the gasoline rebates
would be taken from the state board
of equalization and placed in the
hands Of the state highway depart
ment. He argued that the highway
department is in position to check
up ON the sale of gasoline to those
claiming rebates. That checking
could be done by the highway pa
trolmen. Much of the skullduggery
could be stopped by that means, he
said. Rebates now amount to about
ID per cent of the gas tax money, he
said. This should be cut tor from 2
to 3 per cent. Thus there would be
a saving of about 100000 annually
to the highways of the state, Weld
man said
Changing of the law to prevent
unWarranted rebates will have to be
done by the legislature, said Weld
man. He urged the Lions to take the
matter up with those who will rep
resent the county at the next session
OF the legislature.
An auditing committee was named
consisting of Lions Christie, Krall
and Sturm.
Charley Allen asked the club to
sponsor soft ball team, to be-one
of several being organized The mat
ter was referred to the athletic
committee Allen has been named
by the WPA to have general super
vision of recreational activities here.
Lion Driear reported that a pipe
and screen were needed for the stove
at the fountain grounds on Elk
Hill. 1t was also suggested that
rustic rock stove be built at the
Kootenai Falls camp site. These two
matters were turned over to the
camp site committee.
Dangerous Camp Fires Left
!. Lion X. A. Klehm, forest super.
visor, reported that while passing
the camp grounds one evening at
the falls recently he noticed that
someone had built large fire that
was shooting up flames several feet,
and that the fire had been left. He
said such practice was highly dan
gerous, that a wind might catch the
embers and start a bad forest fire,
and as result of the carelessness,
the wonderful beauty of the canyon
would be gone-destroyed by fire.
He asked that a sign be placed urg-
ing campers to be sure to drown out
their fires before leaving. He was
instructeds To have such sign
posted.
A unanimous vote of thanks was
extended to Lions Brindley and
Richard for cleaning up the fountain
grounds at Elk Hill.
James Christie was elected a dele
gate to the district convention to be
held at Great Falls this month.