Montana labor news., 1939-01-12
NEWS OF THE LAW
MAKERS IN HELENA

around the state have not published
the inside story of the contest about
the speaker of the House. Actually,
the liberal block in the House of
Representatives selected Spigel for
their candidate and they also select
ed DeDobbeleer as speaker pro tenn,
while Archie Mcleod of Cascade
county was selected as floor leader.
After all of the smoke had cleared
away, they found that DeDobeleer
was elected speaker and Archie
Mcleod, floor leader Apparently
too much heat was placed on Repre-
sentative Spiegel. Another thing,
and perhaps quite natural, the
machine built up by the present
Ayers administration felt that they
had to control at least one of the
branches of the state congress so
that nothing could happen to the
power acquired under House Bill 65
which was passed at the session of
1887. It was reported that a num-
Der Of highway patrolmen and quite
a number of the liquor enforcement
squad canvassed around the state
getting pledges from the newly
elected legislators to put Manning
in as speaker, yet when these mem
bers came to Helena at the opening
of the session, they felt still they
couldn't muster enough to control
the situation, but by continuing their
efforts they were able to beat
Spiegel for speaker on a test vote of
% to "a. 1t would seem to indicate
that the liberals can depend upon
at least % votes for progressive
Legislation.
At this moment all of the Re-
publicans practically are an un-
known quantity but several of them
undoubtedly will support labor and
farm measures. From present in
dications there appears to be about
40 liberals in the House out of both
parties-forty answering liberals.
Some Of the liberal members in the
House also seem to think that a
passage of bill to nullify or repeal
House Bill 65 will be one of the
most important pieces of legislation
to be considered. 1t does not seem
possible at this time to pass such a
measure and even if it were passed,
it is very likely that the Governor
will veto it and then it will be quite
impossible to secure the necessary
number of signatures to pass it over
his veto.
An interesting thing that came up
in Helena Saturday and Sunday out
side of the legislature was a meeting
of the various liberal groups in the
courthouse. The meeting was large
ly attended by delegates of farm and
labor organizations. The most
prominent delegation being from the
Railroad Brotherhoods who it is
rumored, in Helena, got instructions
from their international chairman,
Whitney, to attend the conference.
This group considered and recon-
mended quite a number of important
bills for passage. Among these were
a state wage and hour bill, a bill
calling for a separate department of
labor and a state labor relations act.
The farmer group did not present
any proposed legislation at the con-
ference, but it is expected they will
have some in shape in the immediate
future.
One of the pieces of strategy being
employed in Helena is that the labor
lobbyists must get together on legis-
lation which is sponsored by labor
and come before various committees
in united groups and argue for the
bills. The railway lobbyists are also
expected to support labor legislation
which they have agreed to do.
1t is fully expected that the Co.
operative Publishing Company, with
its plant, located just outside of the
capitol building, will start its news
paper quite soon, at least before the
Legislative session is very much
older.
All in all it would appear that
labor is going to get quite bit of
good legislation out of the present
session.