The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1947-02-21

the legal right of either party tt
marry. Frankly, for all the openings
this bill presents for a Lot of good
natured fun poking-and we plead
guilty-there's isn't so far as we car
find out, a single thing wrong with it
Earlier in the week the bill appeared
certain to be killed, however, subse
quent action in the Senate has beer
more favorable and it may yet get to
the House.
! Rubber-tired RustIers Can
Breathe Easier
A few weeks back when Clark of
Musselshell introduced HB61 this
paper sagely advised that the measure
should be acceptable to every one ex-
cept cattle, pig and chicken thieves.
Now, it is not our intention of in
ferring that the overwhelming major
| ity of the House is inclined to do a
bit of might farming" on it's own hook
or that said majority is in league with
the smaller fry thieves of the state,
but that body did, on Tuesday, give
HB 81 a pretty sound trouncing. HB 81
would have provided the necessary
| Legislation for more complete identi-
| fication of dressed meat being placed
in locker boxes.
Loan Shark Bill
A number of readers have asked our
opinion of SB 81 by Sen. Haight of
Fergus, ct al, which passed the SEN
ate 1919 Wednesday, This bill would
establish maximum small loan rates
and place the small loan companies
under the superintendent of banks.
Since introduction of that bill some
weeks back we have purposely re-
Trained from either endorsing or on
posing simply because we were not
certain whether it would help to cor
rect the existing evils of this blood
money racket, or whether, in actuality.
it would tend to license a MONOPOLY
of the very evil which the bills intent
was to correct
After considerable Investigation
during which time we tried to get as
many unbiased opinions and facts as
possible, our decision is that this bill
is step in the right direction and
should it become law, with proper ap-
plication, it can lay the groundwork
for holding in check the worst feat
ures of the loan shark game.
Senate Says "No" To Western Life
Opposition to SB 81, led by Sen.
Tom Burke, Yellowstone, Wednesday
resulted in the killing of this measure.
This proposal, like a similar one in
troduced in the 1941 session Glib 1917
had Joker" in it whereby the West
ern Life Insurance Co., Helena, would
have been saved several thousands of
dollars in taxes.
Livestock Market Licenses
Despite an unfavorable committee
report, lib 246, by Toole of TooIe
county, ct al, Tuesday received a fav-
orable nod in House committee of the
whole, due to the tenacity of its auth
or on the House floor This bill would
permit prospective livestock market |
operators to carry their case through
the courts should the livestock COM
luISSlOH refuse IuG1n Incense. Ken, |
Toole's principle argument was that
should his bill fail, prospective oper-
ators would be denied the constitu-
tional right of every American-re-
dress through the courts, and that the
livestock commission would be given
almost dictatorial powers in issuing
licenses.
Liability of Peace Officers
Some time back opposition to SB65
by Mundy of Hill, was voiced by this
paper This opposition still stands
hat the bill has every appearance of
being aimed at the city of Butte and
is peace officers, and no other city in
he state. Under terms of this bill
which is now on general orders in the
House, peace officers-sheriffs police, !;
mayors, etc-would be personally liza
lie for damages resulting from riots.
Besides appearing to be special in
crest" measure there is a grave cues
ion as to it's constitutionality and
urther, as to what effect it would
lave on the ability of peace officers
o secure bonds from bonding comp
mics. 1t is to be hoped, that ShOu1d if