The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-02-06
Objects To
Liquor Control
OF GAMBLING
Governor Threatens Veto
Because Gambling and
Liquor Won't Mix"
BILLS WOULD BOOST
OLD AGE PENSIONS
ny n1ward ]. Heilman

HELENA, Feb. 1O.--WH-Fever-
ish plans to raise revenue to pay
old age pensions highlighted the
week Of Montana's 9th legislative
session.
During the week, seven bills to
legalize gambling Of all kinds were
introduced or gwen notice in the
house, EACH providing that the bulk
of the revenue would be used for
old age pensions. Also introduced
or noticed were proposals to levy
a 2 per cent sales tax, and to allo-
cate the revenue to the same pur-
pose
During the final session of the
week, Rep. Charles Stevens, D.,
Cascade, introduced one bill to ap-
propriate $4,0OO,0OO a year to the
old age pension fund, and followed
it later in the day with a proposal
to levy 2 per cent privileges"
tax. His proposed measure was SIM
liar in all but name to one intro
duced earlier. Both proposed to
use revenue from the levy to pay
pensions.
Already pending in the house
were two pension bills calling for
$40 minimum pensions, and Sen. M.
J. Mulholland, D., Silver Bow, en-
tered the pension rush by introduc-
ing in the upper house bill to pay
minimum pensions of $40 month
to single aged persons, and $50 to
married couples. His bill would
make payment Of the pensions man
datory, regardless Of whether the
oldsters were being supported by
relatives.
The three gambling bills first in
troduced in the house would put
administration in the hands of the
state liquor control board, and
would set license fees ranging
from $1,000 per gambling house
and 500 per month per table, down
to nearly. nominal fees for places in
villages and small towns. The bills
would permit city councils and
boards of county commissioners to
fix city and county license fees.
Three other bills introduced day
later carried virtually the same pro-
visions, except that they would
place administration in the hands
of the state board of equalization.
It was understood unofficially that
the second set of bills was thrown
into the house after Gov. Sam c.
Ford quietly let it be known he
would veto any gambling bill which
provided for administration by the
liquor control board The COVER
nor's position, it was understood,
was that gambling and liquor won't
mix"
Also introduced in the house dur
ing the week was bill to permit
divorces on 80 days residence. Its
authors admitted frankly the mea-
sure was intended to put Montana
into the resort and divorce business
now enjoyed almost exclusively by
Nevada The bill was practically
identical with measure which. sue
cessfully passed the legislature in
1889 and was vetoed by Gov. Roy
E. Ayers.
Besides the pension, gambling,
sales tax and divorce bills, both
houses received dozens of less spec
tacular measures. Rep. Phil Good
win, Butte, introduced bill to for
bid employment of married women
by the state ii they had husbands
who could support them. The bill
was certain to raise the tempera
lures of business and professional
women's organizations.
Important to office holders gen.
orally was the biennial appropria-
ton bill, which cut the allotments
Of virtually every office and de-
partment in the statehouse. Also
noticed late in the week was the
biennial appropriations bill for
units Of the Greater University
Passed by both houses at weeks
end was a senate bill providing for
marking all state-owned automo-
biles distinctly with the name of
the department to which it was is
sued and State of Montana" Sen.
Charles H. Mahoney, r., Garfield,
author, said it was intended to pre-
vent use of state-oWned cars in the
private affairs of state officials or
employees.
Resolutions asking congress to
enact the Townsend old-age pension
plan into law, and to establish a
water conservation project on the
Little Missouri river also were ap-
proved by both houses.