The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1945-01-25
SoIons Would
Discontinue
War Time
Continued on page A.

Continued on page ~
house bills and 80 senate meas
ures, total of g.
In all, there were 485 bills in
troduced during the 18th assembly
two years ago. That figure repre-
sented a reduction from the $50
bills presented in 194l when vet
eran legislators said the load was
the lowest in Is years.
Legislative leaders this year have
said that they expect an even
smaller amount Of legislation would
be presented, pointing to the seri-
business of wartime which has elm
mated many of the more trivial pro-
posals from even being introduced.
Although still nearly two weeks
away, prospects for at least one
Sunday session-to be devoted prin-
cipally to the introduction of bills
was possible this session. If called,
it would be held on Sunday, Feb.
4, which is the 35th legislative day
and the house introduction dead
line.
Investigate Insane Hospital
The house prepared this week to
solve the reported overcrowded
conditions at the state hospital for
the insane at Warm Springs af-
ter more than 80 members made a
blanket investigation Of the in
stitution last Saturday.
Already, several bills were before
the house drawn for the purpose
of alternating conditions at Warm
Springs One group Of bills. spon-
sored by Rep. Jack. c. Toole, D.,
and others, prosposes that the some
$50 senile-agedl patients at the state
hospital be transferred to the pres
ent state normal college at Dillon,
disseminating the educational unit
there and sending the handful of
Dillon students to one of the other
five units of the Greater univer-
sity of Montana Toole said the re-
moval of the $50 seniles. would bring
the state hospitals capacity down
TO its maximum level and would
make more practical use Of the
plant at Dillon, now housing less
than Is students
Another proposal, authorized by
Rep. Tom Stout, D., Fergus. would
call for the construction of an en-
tirely new state hospital at some
other site and convert the present
plant into a home for the senie-
aged 1t was expected that still
more correctional measures would
come before the assembly for legis-
lative action.
Back on Standard Time
Perhaps the most important bill
to have successfully passed through
both houses thus far was that spon-
sored by Rep. Eric Anderson. R.,
Phillips, which would places Mon
tana back on standard time while
most of the rest of the nation op-
crates on war time.
Despite a furry Of last-mlnute
appeals from war time proponents,
the Senate adopted the controver-
sial measure by substantial 1915
vote, after the house had passed it
1888 Only the signatures Of Gov.
Sam c. Ford remains to make stand
ard time effective in Montana. mid
night, March 81.
Ford said he was receiving a
flood of kilograms and letters sup
porting both sides Of the issue. He
said he would thoroughly study the
effects of setting clocks back one
hour in Montana would render be-
fore signing or vetoing the measure.
Only North Dakota and Arizona
now operate on standard time.
Test Bill Ready
Almost ready for supreme court
study this week was a test bill
whipped through both house and
senate to determine whether Mon
tana can use its $5,O00,O00 general
fund balance for postwar construc-
ton. The bill would authorize the
state board Of examiners to en-
ploy an architect to prepare plans
for an office building addition to
the capitol building and would call
for an appropriation of $4,000 for
architectural fees.
Atty. Gen. R. v. Bottomly has
ruled that state laws prohibit APP
propriating any money from the
general fund surplus without the
consent Of the taxpayers or I'M
less tax is levied to replace the
appropriations 1t remained for the
supreme court to decide how the
legislature can get at this huge
fund for anticipated postwar con-
struction Of many proposed build
ings and projects in the state