Montana labor news., 1949-01-20
State Legislators Open
Third Week of Session

lob discrimination based on race
and religion Trip went on, lead to
discomfort. thwarted lives, failure 70
fully utilize the abilities OF individuals,
lowered efficiency OF the states econo-
my. and group conflicts.
Even ii the federal Congress adopts
A national FEPC law this year, we
still will need a state FEPC act 10
cover lntrastatc activities"
As advocated by Trip. Montana's
ouc-house legislature would consist Of
between 30 and 60 members elected
from districts roughly equal in popu-
lation
4 umicamcral legislature. Trip said,
would facilitate the apnortionment of
legislative machinery, discourage buck
passing between the two legislative
chambers. and result in the electorate
giving more attention to qualification
ii state legislators
Occasionally. Trip said. "one branch
oi al legislature will pass bills in an
irresponsible manner to please certain
members or interest group with the
iull knowledge that the legislative pro-
@posal, will be killed in the other cham
Ter.
1T IS undcmocratic that the will Of
the Montana house OF representatives
elected on the basis Of population
could be thwarted by the state senate.
where each OF the sparsely-populated
lcounties has as much influence as Sill
yer Bow county.
"Thc basic argument for a t%wo-house
Legislature in the federal government
THAT we need to provide for legisla-
1--we representation by the states and
lon the basis Of population-has no
validity for Montana Trip con-
ltluded.
Sen David James (D-Liberty) and
IIcroy Anderson OD-Pondera) are
working on a uniform property assess
Iment Law James said the measure will
"rcquirc the state board OF equaliza-
: |tion 10 set up a Uniform property assess
ment yardstick and require county COM
lmissioncrs and assessors to apply thai
{ yards,ick in thdo counties"
what we want to do is get away
from the existing situation, where
) property on one side OF a county lint
'd Is often assessed at twice the rate o
that on the other side OF the line,
IS James said.
ist Rep. Paul Harlow (D-Sanders) sal
Gu the house education committee, Q
II which he is chairman, will introduc
&c the last two Of the four school bill
n this week. One would provide for dis
T. tribution Of state aid on a per-pupl
basis. This aid has been estimated a
q Sl2.000.O00 next year, compared wit
or about 100000 this year. The othe
US measure would simplify procedures b
a which districts could combine int
re larger educational units il the voter
desire.
~ Harlow also said he expects to be
gin public hearings on the four schoo
nj bills late next week. The two intro
al duccd earlier include a constitutions
OIL amendment making the state responsible
- Tor at least 80 per cent OF the cost {
a / foundation education program guar
nd an,ecd to every child in Montana. an
o. a bill under which the state would r.
mbursc districts the cost OF carryin
n public school students to and fro
rs classrooms.
Harlow also said he will introdu'
next week a state income tax bill whie
ic- would raise all the money needed
got the state to pay for the reorganiz'
Oh pull lie schools"
to Work on the income tax'bill has n
cs- been completed But it IS understo'
that il would double present tax rat