The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-03-06

way and with the virtual certainty
that both houses would have tc
hold back action on a few bills to
finish out the statutory 60-day term
and collect pay for the whole sc
days.
During the past week, however
each house had its moments of sharp
debate-the senate when it consid-
cred the 30-day divorce bill and
the uniform drivers license bill, and
the house when it ended. for an
other two years, any attempt to reg
ulate gambling.
The senate killed both the 30-day
divorce bill and the drivers license
measure. both of which had been
approved by the house The upper
house decided, in effect. that Mon
tana had no business legislating to
make settlement of martial troubles
in other states easier and did not
want the stigma of being another
Reno The drivers license bill
was voted down because, apparent
ly. the senate believed taking IA
patrolmen from the highways to
conduct license examinations would
weaken the patrols effectiveness.
Attempts to revive the measure, af-
ter it was killed in committee of the
whole, failed. Some senators said
privately they wanted to wait an
other two years to see if the states
automobile death rate continued to
go down before they agreed that a
uniform-apd tringent-drivers IL
cense law was needed
The house, in committee of the
whole, voted down a proposal by
Rep. G. w. O'Connor, R., Carbon,
to name three-man committee to
investigate whether gambling was
operating openly and in defiance of
law. O'Connor agreed that the ex-
istence of such commiSte., whether
it actually did any investigating or
not, would have lettering effect
on the states professional gamblers.
He said he believed they would keep
their places closed If they knew a
legislative committee might swoop
down upon them at any time.
But when the oratory ended. the
houes voted, 62-28, to sustain the re.
port of its appropriations commit
tee that the resolution not pass.
Chairman James N. Dougharty. D..
Powell, of the appropriations com
mlttee, said interim committees such |
as proposed by O'Connor never do
but spend state money"
The Carbon county representa-
tive's proposal followed by only a t
day an order from Atty. Gen. John
w. Bonner to all of the states Sc +
county attorneys to enforce anti
gambling laws. Bonner said his oath
Of office-and those of the county
attorneys-required them to enforce
all laws, and that since the legis-
lature did not see fit to legalize and
regulate gambling, the old anti
laws must be observed.
Another highlight of the week
was report by house investigat-
ing committee that conditions at the
state insane asylum at Warm |
Springs were 'deplorabie. The
committee said food served at the
institution was of the poorest quail
ity, and was based on an expendi-
ture of only nine cents per day per
patient The group recommended
an immediate, ear-marked deficien-
cy appropriation to furnish better
food for inmates, and an increased I
food allowance for the biennium of
l94l-1943. 1t also recommended that
the superintendent of the asylum be I
an experienced, trained man and in
Elmated that such superintendent /
would have to be brought in from
outside the state.
War veterans and members of /
The Pioneers organization, who long
nave wanted a memorial htaffdfFg
IN the state capitol grounds final
y won their victory when Gov.
sam c. Ford signed measure APP
proved by both houses and calling
or erection of such a building. The
it was emphasized, will be
'aid for from sale of bonds to be
'etlred from the capitol land grant
und, without additional taxation.
During the week, Gov. Ford ex-
'rcised his veto powers but once.
when he refused approval Of bill
o permit counties to rent or lease
Dad building equipment to farmers
Who wanted to level their lands. The
governor said in his veto message
hat such program might lead
Counties to buy more equipment
han they actually needed, and also
would compete with private indus
ry.