The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-03-13
Record For
Economy Made
By Legislators
Refuse to Pass Any
New Tax Measures;
Trim Expenses
COST OF SESSION
WAS ABOUT 100000

HELENA, March 10.-Montana's
1941 legislative assembly adjourned
sine die last Thursday with real
efforts to cut tax burdens In this
day OF constantly increasing gov
ernmental costs as its principal
achievements.
Sine die adjournment came at the
stroke of midnight on the last Of the
allotted 80 days OF the legislative
meeting.
When Lieutenant Governor Ern-
est T. Eaton and Speaker E. j.
Stromnes raped their gavels for
the last time, the senate and house
had balanced the state budgets, pro-
vided means for governmental re-
organization, refused to add new
taxes, provided the machinery to
cut governmental costs and provided
money for increased old age PEN
sions.
The legislature provided for cut
ting tax burdens in three ways.
First political subdivisions after
June so will be restricted to three
mill, instead Of five-mill, levies for
special emergency relief funds for
sponsorship of WPA projects. Sec
ond, the rate of interest on regis
tered county warrants was cut from
six per cent to four per cent, and
third, mileage allowances for state
and county officers, except sher-
ifs, was trimmed from seven to
five cents.
Savings to the state and counties
under the reduced mileage plan
will total about $250,000 year, leg
islators said.
While no estimate was made on
the saving of reduced warrant In
terest, and the cut in WPA fund
taxes. members OF the assembly said
they expected it to be substantial.
In addition, the legislature solid
" refused TO levy any new increased
taxes.
The only increased tax burden
placed on Montana residents was
added by the voters themselves at
the November election when they
approved increases of from three to
three and one-half mills in the levy
for the greater university OF Mon
tana.
Failure to levy new taxes was not
lack of opportunity. Presented TO
the assembly were proposals for Q
gross income tax which would have
placed one-half of one per cent
levy on the income of every person
and business firm in the state, a
two per cent sales tax, and In
creases in every form of license
levy.
As far as new forms of revenue
were concerned, the issue was closed
when the senate killed the last OF
all gambling proposals, and added
to that action a kill of the proposed
3O-day divorce law, requiring only
3O-days' residence before filing Of
an action for divorce.
These, along with the proposed
tax measures, died upon consider
alton.
Montana, as often before, once
more became a pioneer OF socla
legislation when a bill was passed te
paw permanently disabled victims o.
silicosis pensions OF $50 month.
Liquor law changes proposed
would have taken the state out O.
the retail business on which it now
holds monopoly, and given this e
private stores. The state Woule
have retained a wholesale monopoly
This measure was also killed.
Governmental reorganization wa
given much attention during the ses
sion, eliminating in passage OF
measure authorizing a tWo-yea'
study of a seven-member COVER
nor's committee to give advice Oh
"streamlining state government.
This committee will recommend
changes to the legislature in 1943
The legislature appropriated S1O,Oo
to pay costs of the survey.
Another reorganization step wa
the reapportionment of the hous
OF representatives from 102 to 8
members. During the present ses
sion third step was completes
when senate-house commission
surveyed the governmental organ
ization hurriedly and recommends
more than a score of changes. Thes
changes likely will be deferred I'm
til the governors advisory commit
tee completes its work.
Also along the line of reorgan
ization was a bill providing tina
all miscellaneous state revenue b
put into the general fund, Will
other changes passed included pre-
visions for a five instead of three
man highway commission selecte
from commissioner districts, and
constitutional amendment to prt
vide for a seven-man board Of edit
cation.
Also approved was constitution
al amendment providing for foul
year terms for county auditors, mi
: nicipal officers, justices of the peae
and constables.
A Montana preparedness counc
to cooperate with the national d,
Tense commission was approved |
well as provisions for highws