The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-05-22
The Capitol
Week In Review
BY Edward j. Heilman
United Press Staff Cor

United Press Staff Cor.
Helena, Mont, May 81 - UP)
- Every available dollar in
Montana's highway fund was
put to work today in one of the
largest construction lettings in
recent years.
Because federal highway allo-
cations to the state would have
expired July l unless matched
with state funds, every possible
dollar in the state fund was
thrown into the pot to secure
the federal money. The result
was the addition of Is projects,
totaling $857,915.38, to the
states current highway pro-
gram. Work on most of the pro-
jects was expected to get I'M
der way shortly. They ranged
n size from a STAG, 064.22 con-
tract for constructing a steel
and concrete bridge over the
Big Horn river near Hardin to
a 10000 job of repainting the
Buckhouse bridge over the Bit
ter Root river near Missoula.
Meantime, reorganization of
the state government along
lines fixed by the 1941 legisla-
ture, moved forward another
step with the arrival in Helena
of D. L. Robinson, Chicago. who
was named by Gov. Sam C. Ford
to investigate the government
setup.
Robinson said he would spend
a week or 10 days studying the
situation, but would not make
any recommendations immedi-
ately. "A veteran in reorganiza-
ton and simplification of state
governments, Robinson's job
was to find places where dupli-
cations could be eliminated and
expenses reduced.
At the same time, the posi-
bility that the state may profit
from its system of eliminating
middlemen and brokers in pur-
chases of liquor for the state
monolopy was announced by
Administrator Ray VAIL. He
said representatives of several
large wineries had offered to
buy half their sugar supplies
from Montana as a RECIPROCAL
gesture" for elimination of the
expense of brokers. Wahl did
not estimate how much the
sugar purchases would total.
Wahl reported, during the
week. that the states profits on
liquor between Jan. l and April
80 totaled $867,610.8O from sales,
licenses and excise taxes. LID
uor sales during the period am
ounted to $1,827,562.67.
The LIQUOR administrator
warned that a 81 per gallon
increase in federal taxes on
bonded liquor was expected July
l and that this would be reflect
ed in the retail prices at liquor
stores.
Barclay Craighead, chairman
of the state unemployment
compensation com m S n
named a seven-man advisory
commission. They were the Rev
John j. O'Connor, Helena
chairman; James v. Bennett
Scobey; Mrs. Eve Stutenberg
Missoula; Robert Corette, Butte:
John F. M. Travis, Havre; w.
A. Boyle, Billings, and Bruce
Steinmetz, Great Falls. They
were to serve without pay.
Members of the Veterans Me-
mortal board planned to meet
late this month to decide what
type of building would be erec-
ted, and where it would be To-
Gated Members of the state
supreme court left for various
parts of the state to address cit
izenship meetings First
project under the Pittman-Rob-
ertson wildlife act was approved
-transplanting of beaver.
These are the highway pro-
iects let during the week:
Surfacing, draining ST. miles
Wisdom Divide road, Union
Construction Co., Great Falls,
$84, 366.65.
Grading, draining 81 miles
Kalispell : Libby road, Peter
K 4 lew 1T ~ Sons, Omaha, Neb.,
Roadside improvements 40
miles Kalispell = Libby road,