Montana labor news., 1945-09-06
why SENATE BILL NO. In,
AMENDING W0RKMEN'S
COMPENSATION, WAS PASSED

sation. The Committee retired to a
committeeman, returned in 8 minutes
and reported recommending "The Bill
be concurred in" On the report of the
committee being received, Senator Sim
mons, majority leader, made a motion
to the effect that it is believed that
the bill is correctly printed and en-
crossed and it now go to the Commit
tee OF the whole. Motion carried. The
bill was neither printed or e~ngrossed
when the motion was made and car
ried. When the senators adopted this
motion they deliberately violated the
oath of office they took when they were
sworn into office by Chief Justice How
ard Johnson Of the Supreme Court Of
Montana.
Bill Not Printed
Article V. Section p of the Consti-
tuition requires that every bill before it
is enacted into law must be printed as
well as engrossed and be placed on
every members desk in order that they
may know upon what they are voting.
The bill was acted upon by the Com
mittee OF the Whole, who recommended
that Senate Bill No. ia do pass. Then
the bill was passed on third reading by
roll call vote. 1t took just thirty min
utes from the time the bill was intro
duced until it passed the Senate.
IN the meantime. the House was wait
ing for the Senate to pass the bill and
fifteen minutes after the Senate passed
Bill No. ia, or at l0:45 o'clock p. NJ,
the House was called to order by the
President Pro Tenn Hazelbaker.
Republican Floor Leader, Repre-
sentative Bricker Of Great Falls.
moved that the rules be suspended to
allow for consideration Of Senate Bill
No. ia. The motion carried. The Bill
was then read the first time and sent
to the House Committee on Workmen's
Compensation, The Committee retired
and in ten minutes returned and report
ed That the Committee recommends
Senate Bill No. ia be %concurred IN
The report OF the Committee was adopt
ed by the House. The Bill was then
considered by the Committee of the
Whole and recommended for passage.
Representative Foot of Flathead County
spoke at length, explaining the merits
Of Senate Bill No. ia, giving the i'm
preston that the Bill would be a good
thing for injured workers.
The Bill was placed on third reading
on motion Of Representative Bricker
and on roll call vote was passed. Only
one representative, Oscar Helding Of
Missosula, voted against the Bill. The
House then adjourned at II 80 o'clock
P. NJ, making the total time Of one
hour and thirty minutes from the time
the bill was introduced until it was
enacted.
Amendments in Bill No. IA
The Workmen's Compensation Act
has been in effect for over thirty years
or since 1915 and provides that part OF
the compensation to be paid include
medical and hospital services and such
treatment as approved by the Ac-
Board. Also in cases where the
accident is fatal, or injured party dies
from the results Of the accident, reason
able funeral expenses are to be paid.
At present and for the past two years,
a maximum Of $3.50, is allowed.
Senate Bill No. ia amends the law
to read that the medical and hospital
services given the injured workers are
not part of the compensation to which
are entitled but an additional
benefit separate and apart from COM
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