The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-05-29
The Cdpitol
Week In Review
BY Edward j. Heilman
United Press Staff Cor
respondent

respondent
Helena, Mont. May % -(UP.
The reorganization of Mon
tana'S unwieldy state govern
ment moved a step forward dur
ing the week when D. L. Rob
inson, Chicago expert on STATE
governments, conferred at the
capitol with Gov. Sam c: Ford.
Robinson, who has assisted Ii
Streamlining several state gov
ernments, started a preliminary
survey of the various state de-
partmentS and divisions. He sale
he found many instances of ov-
erlapping duties and duplica-
tions of functions. He submit
ted to the governor a report
which was to be studied by the
state reorganization council.
Governor Ford said, following
his conference with Robinson,
that the states financial Struc-
ture would receive first con-
sideration, and that efforts
would be made Immediately to
reduce government costs.
Meantime, the state fish and
game commission ran through
a long list of work. 1t allocated
$35, 900 in state funds for Wild
life conservation projects un-
der the Pittman-RobertSon act,
the first project to be a state
wide survey of the states game
population; laid preliminary
plans for establishment of game
farms in Valley county and in
the Great Falls-Havre district;
close the Madison river to fish
ing 2A miles below Meadow
Lake dam, and opened the De-
Won reservoir at Fort Peck. 1t al
so voted to employ two more
predatory animal hunters, stu
died a proposal to close the Fort
Peck range to hunting, and vo-
ted to invite the Western ASSo-
citation of Fish and Game Com
missionerS to hold its 1912 meet
ing in Montana.
DR.. j. S. Mcfarland, state
game warden, announced that
confiscated and state = trapped
beaver skins would be sold
through the Seattle Fur ex-
change, instead of at public
auction here, as customary. The
warden said he believed the
state would receive better pri-
ces for its furs at the Seattle
market than at an auction. He
estimated the furs were worth
about $4,000.
The national defense pro-
gram made itself felt in the
states affairs for the first time
when Purchasing Agent J. E.
Henry learned he could not buy
SO additional tons of steel for
1912 license plates. This led to
speculation whether the state
might have to use paper or
plastic tags in 1913.
Henry secured only one bid
on so tons of steel, and that
bid was tentative. The Carnegie.
Illinois Steel Co. said it nigh
be able to deliver the steel IL
August. All other steel compan.
les said they were so damned
with defense orders they coulo
not even bid.
Henry also ran into trouble
when he tried to buy IS rifles
for the highway patrol. He
managed to get but 60 because
arms companies were preoccu-
pied with defense orders they
were not turning out guns fol
private use.
Also on the defense front
was an announcement by High
way Engineer Howard Holme!
that all future road conStruc.
ton on the strategic network II
the state would have to conform
to arm standards. He said thu
army would designate the stra'
tegic network later. Army stan
dardS call for wider roads thar
the state has built hitherto.
Another defense development
was Auditor John J. Holmes
warning to the federal bureau
of Investigation that insurance
company maps might furnish
valuable information to sabot'
teurs. He said the maps con
tanned full details of buildings
power plants, and other indus
trial plants.
Holmes also announced h
would hold a hearing shortly II
determine whether to revok'
the state licenses of the Pear
Assurance Co., Ltd, of London
and its subsidiaries. The com