The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-02-23
With Montana
Legislature


a bill approved in the house The
upper part of the bus would be blue,
the lower, red, and a white stripe
would separate the two colors.
The house has approved memorial
to congress asking that the Missouri
river be made navigable to Fort Ben
ton and that ship-locks be constructed
at the Fort Peck dam to allow river
vessels to sail on the reservoir
1t required little debate for the house
to kill H B. 1898, which would have
prohibited the state prison from making
auto license plates.
The proposal to create manager for
the greater university of Montana went
down to defeat in the senate by vote
of So to H.
Two sales tax bills were definitely
disapproved by the house indicating
that Montana citizens will not have to
dig up pennies when making purchases
for the next two years at least
A bill to increase the state fish and
game commission from its present three
members to seven. one from each of
seven districts set aside by the meas
ure, was approved by the house with
out debate
If the house has its way. slot ma
chimes will cost the proprietors of es-
adjustments in which they are located
500 tax each per year.
The house went on record in favor
of a chain store tax measure. Fl. 3.
$50, after it trimmed the yearly tax
to $500 The bill provides the following
schedule of taxes on stores. one store,
S.; two stores, $50 each; three stores,
$500 each: four stores, sl5O EACH five
stores or more, 5000 each.
A bill modelled after the louisiana
chain store tax which would assess
chain stores on the total number in
the system. whether in or out of Mon
tana, if the concern does business in
the state, was killed in the house.
The house approved a bill, II B. 1923,
which will provide for 13-member
highway commission. one member from
each of the Il highway financial dis
tricts and one at large TO be appointed
by the governor.
The house passed H. B. II. which
would put a speed limit on the state S
highways It provides that the highway
patrol may fix speed limits. but that
any speed in excess Of SO miles per
hour shall be prima facie evidence of
reckless driving
To Representative Ray f. Lowe of
Dawson county goes the credit of hav-
ing taken action which resulted in the
killing OF a house bill which would
have allowed the use of salmon eggs
for fish bait, repeating law which
has been on the state statute books
for years.
The senate killed by vote of q to
24 bill which would have allowed
the use of peyote beans in Indian re-
iigious ceremonies. A similar bill has
been killed by the house.
The house has approved a bill which
will establish state textbook commits
sion of five members, instead of seven,
and require that the state superintend-
emf Of public instruction be chairman.
The house approved H B. pol, which
would set up new state milk control
board, consisting of five members. with
full power to regulate the milk industry
in Montana for the benefit of the pro-
ducers.
Representative Sherman of Helena,
author Of the quick divorce" bill for
Montana and other supporters of the
measure claim that it will stimulate all
business in the state and particularly
be boon to hotel and travel indus
tries.
Support given proposed legislation
for standard driver license in Montana
clearly indicates that state lawmakers
are for it, and supporters of such bill
before the assembly are confident of
its final passage and approval by the
governor
The house rejected proposal which
would have placed all collections from
III state tax and license sources. in the
state general fund.
The house committee on constitu-
tional amendments recommended Fl. B.
282 by Leuthold of Saltwater which
would provide board of control to
have full power over all financial mat
tiers of the state.
Recommended for passage in the
committee of the whole was S. B. 72,
which would prohibit aircraft oper-
ators from handling their planes in such
a manner as to brighten livestock Ac-
cording to Senator Robinson of Phillips,
author of the measure, private pilots
have often seriously affected the mar
ket value Of beef animals. He said
frightened herds often were stampeded
to such an extent the animals zlost
weight
With the senate's approval of Mon
tana's 3O-day divorce legislation fol-
lowing its adoption by the house it is
certain, according to its supporters, that
it will be supported by Governor Ayers
and become law Of the state. The
senate's vote in favor of the bill was
IS to Is and the house So to "a.
h- -.