The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-02-01
SoIons in Helena
Study Appropriations
(Continued from Page y

of predatory animals, was petore
the house this week. Others up Tor
were major appropria-
tions dealing with the university
system, state boards and offices and
state custodial Institutions.
Another Plan Proposed
Still receiving serious eonsidera-
ton by both houses was a number
of bills dealing with correcting the
overcrowded condition at the state
mental hospital in Warm Springs.
Newest measure to make its ap-
pearance in the house was one in
troduced by Representatives Fred
Padbury, r., and ]. Scott Harrison,
R.. both lof Lewis and Clark, asking
for the appointment Of a joint
house and senate committee to make
a survey of the old, abandoned
Broadwater Hotel near Helena as a
possible site for the establishment
of a state home for the feeble
minded aged
Padbury and Harrison said that
the move probably would be the
most effective and economical solu-
ton to relieving the congested pop
ulation at Warm Springs, moving
the 350-odd senile patients at thai
institution to the BroadWater Hotel
and bringing the population at
Warm Springs down TO its capacity
limit.
At the same time, such a move
would eliminate the expensive
proposition Of building an entirely
new state hospital and would not
necessitate the abandonment of
the, state normal college at Dillon
for conversion into an old peoples
home as proposed in other measures
pending before the legislature. The
house Joint resolution would call
for a committee report on data, cost
estimates and other information rel
alive to such a change to the 30th
legislative assembly
Would Tax Slot Machines
A revenue measure reported ia
vorably by the house committee on
revenue and taxation would license
slot machines in clubs and other
organizations operating slot ma
chimes under the Hickey Law. Good
for a $4,000 jackpot year for
the state. the measure Is a substl-
tute bill for one originally intro
duced by Rep. Robert A. Patterson.
D.. Hill, and others, and differs
from. it in that it would tax each
machine $500 annually instead Of
500. Counties would be authorized
to impose an additional $500 Ii.
cense and cities and towns a tax o1
$50.
One Of the most significant meas
ures before the assembly was {
30-dav divorce act, which Woult
give Montana the lowest minimum
residence requirement in the natiol
for divorce seekers. The measur'
! is sponsored by Sen Sherman W
1 Smith. r., Lewis and Clark, wis
said it would benefit the welfart
/ Of Montana, particularly after tn,
! war, by bringing more people ant
j business into the state
To Make Divorces Easy
Smith, Helena lawyer, spon
sored a 30-day divorce law in TIN
/ 1897 and 1889 sessions when h,
was a member of the house In 1895
I the bill was adopted by both house
but was vetoed by Gov. Roy I
/ Ayers.
The lowest current minimum res
idence requirement for quick dl
vorce seekers is AZ days in Ne
vada, Idaho, Wyoming and Florida
Montana's present law places
i one-year residence minimum on d
vorce plaintiffs.
I Before the state supreme cour
this week was test bill passes
by both houses to determine Wheth
or Montana may use its So 100000
cash surplus to provide employ
ment for returning servicemen am
war workers. 1t would appropriat
I'D to $4,000 from the general fun
surplus for architectural plannin
for a state office building after tn
war. Atty. Gen r. v. Bottomly ha
held that the money could not b
used except by the approval OF tn
taxpayers.
Other important matters befor
the assembly express Montana
disapproval Of the proposed Mis-
souri, Valley Authority, report Q
"a study being made Of the stat
Liquor central system several rey
enue measures taxing cigarettes tW
cents per pack, and increasing .cui
rent merchandise and mining tau
es, and other prime legislative prt
posals.
NOTE-Sincc the above was Wri
ten Governor Ford has vetoed tn
bill turning Montana back to stanc
ard time on the grounds that
would cause too much confusion
The easy divorce bill was killed