The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-01-21
Reporter Tells
What S0|ons
Are Doing
u. P. Staff Correspondent
Writes of Activities i'm
Montana State Legislature
NUMBER OF BILLS FAR
FEWER THAN USUAL
BY David LoeIlwing

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. slowly
and deliberffly, despite appeals of
leaders to sget all bills in early
members of Montana's 28th legis-
lature were starting to shape the
course the session will take this
week.
Although the number of bills in
troduced in the early part of the
session was far lower than usual,
members insisted they were being
more carefully prepared.
The greatest volume of bills in
troduced were brought in by special
senate and house reorganization
committee, designed to carry out
Gov. Sam c. Ford's program for re-
forming the state government.
Few of the major issues promul-
gated by the governors program
had been let out of the bag, how
ever, by the time the Legislators
took their second long weekend
last week
For the most part, the bills in
troduced were non-controversial
measures calling for the elimination
of -functioning boards and the
repeal of imperative laws, There
were about 20 Of them altogether
some introduced by individuals and
other committees.
Most important was the bill, CO.
authored by Sens. Moss. r., Flat
head, and Mulholland, D., Silver
Bow. calling for repeal of the no
torious Hitler law" which empoW-
ers the governor of Montana to hire
and fire state employees at will
Gov. Ford, in his biennial mes
sage, urged repeal Of the law IN
favor of suitable laws providing for
the appointment of employees The
Moss Mulholland bill, If enacted,
would return the control Of appoint
ments to the board of examiners.
Under the governors proposed re-
organization program, however, this
procedure would be superseded by
comprehensive personnel admin
istration under the direction Of q
proposed department of finance.
Another possible source of con-
troversy in connection with the re-
organization plan creeped up in the
form of a bill to prevent the Gre
alton of additional junior colleges
in the state. The governors in
term reorganization committee hao
recommended it in order to pre-
vent further development of a dou-
BILE system of local and state higher
education in Montana"
Heads of the two committees
named to steer the program through
the legislature, were Rep. X. &
Dillavou, r., Yellowstone, and Sen
Zales N. Ecton, r., Gallatin.
One member of the senate com
mittee, Leonard Plank, D., Liberty
estimated in a radio address tina
the reorganization program, l
adopted, will result in saving t.
the state of 100000 annually. Thu
Investigations on which the plan i
based cost total of $4,000.
The senate, drifting even NOR
slowly than the house toward get
ting down to the business of tn
session, was startled early in tn
week by introduction of bill t
shift Cascade county from the sec
ond to the first congressional dis
trict.
Sen. Leon G. Olmstead, R., Swee
Grass, author of the measure, point
ed out that the second district nov
has approximately $4,000 more pee
ole than the first. The transfer
Cascade to the western sectio
would approximately uqudfIze ma
tiers, he said.
The proposal may precipitate
hot political fight, however, sine
Cascade county normally has
heavy democratic majority and II
transfer would have considerab
effect on the balance of power b.
tween the two districts.
Demands for federal action to a
Montana's war effort have alreac
been made by the legislature.
The senate adopted resolutie
urging that the states farm m
chinery quotas he brought into III
with those granted neighbour