The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-02-09
With Montana S
Legislature

vehicles.
The house approved by vote of Sd
to 80 quick divorce bill introduced
by Representative Sherman Smith of
Lewis and Clark The bill cuts from
a year to so days the residence period
before suit for divorce can be started.
Senate bill No SO, introduced by
Senator Simmons of Carbon county,
would give old age pensioners $50 per
month
Under the provisions of II. B. the
legislature viii make direct appropria-
tons from the general fund for oper-
alton Of all functions Of the state Under
the old system revenue measures such
as the liquor act and others carried
provisions designating that a certain
percentage of the income should go
into certain funds such as public well
fare, common school equalization. Gov.
Roy E. Ayers made the recommended
ton for passage of the new act one of
the provisions of his message to the
legislature.
A bill for creation of the general
business management of the greater
university provides that the official
would be named by the governor for
six-year period at a salary of not
more than $4,000 a year.
The senate killed by vote of 4tfo
IA S. B. 81, by Senator Mulholland of
Silver Bow wage-hour bill identical
with one killed in the house of repre-
sentatives, when it rejected favorable
report of a minority committee on
labor and capital.
The senate, after furry Of debate,
killed a measure which would have
reduced the maximum rate Of interest
on debts in this state from 10 to 5
per cent
The house killed the Rogers pass
bill, which would prevent construction
of any new highways across the con-
tinental divide until all other highways
in the state are built to new standards.
Committee "kill' reports were adopted
on 5. B. G6, relating to rewards by
county commissioners for the appre-
hension of criminals, and Fl. B. 20
prohibiting the killing of deer within
the limits of city.
Immediately after the house voted to
kill tie wage-hour bill known as H. B.
No. Is, the labor committee reported
out substitute bill for the original
but without recommending its passage.
The committee, however, asked that
the substitute bill be printed.
The house has before il proposed
legislation which would put teeth into
Montana unfair trade practice act by
giving more power to the state trade
commission, and by imposing license
on food stores and putting them under
the supervision of commission which
would have to enforce regulations Of
the trade commission.
A bill which will remove many of
the teeth in the present state corrupt
practices act which governs elections
in the state and its subdivisions, was
proposed to the house by Horrigan of
Granite, Woods of Phillips and Stevens
of Cascade. The amount of money
which candidate may spend in his
campaign, both before the primary and
before the general election is increased
materially in the proposed bill
Senators Tierney of Lake and Pauline
OF Flathead are sponsors of a bill which
prohibits the employment Of any mar
ried person by the state or a suhdi-
vision of the state if that person has a
husband or wife engaged in gainful
occupation.
Representative G. NJ. Moss Of White
fish, one Of the few newspaper men in
the legislature, has submitted bill to
enact the standard drivers license law
which is in effect in Il states of the
nation. The bill is known as H. B.
No 1913.
The senate has before it two gambling
measurcs-one by Senator Hammond
OF Wibaux to license slot machines
and other mechanical gambling devices.
and another by Plank of Liberty to
repeal the 1887 Hickey" law. Money
collected from the slot machine licens-
ing law would be used by the counties
where 1t originated, the returns being
sent to the county poor funds. The
hickey bill has permitted the licens-
ing of card games and the use Of trade
checks as business stimulators.
About half dozen changes in the
state unemployment compensation law
are proposed in bill introduced in
senate BY that body's eusglusittee
on relief and social welfare. For one,
the new bill would exempt businesses
with less than $500 annual pay roll
from paying taxes to the setup.
The three women members Of the
house, Mrs. M X. Beadle, Butte: Mrs.
K. I. Martin, Lewistown, and Mrs.
Marion Melin, Livingston, are authors
of bill to permit jury service for
women. The bill has been before the
legislature almost ever since the woman
suffrage amendment was adopted.
The deadline for the introduction of
bills in the house was reached last
Sunday midnight while in the senate
the time extended to the 8th, the 35th
legislative day. In the house the time
was shortened five days compared with
other sessions.