The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1949-08-05

cute all who are operating outside the law.
spite of efforts to becloud and befuddle tt
issue, this legislative mandate is being ca
ried out with increasing momentum by tt
Attorney Generals office. Despite the ia
that cooperation on the part of some coun
attorneys has not been too good, | believe tt
people of Montana may reasonably eXpe
to see considerable abatement and prosec
ton activity within the next few months
many parts of the state. There is also tf
very good possibility some recalcltrant coul
ty attorneys may find themselves subject
custer actions unless they alter their attltuo
of noncompliance with the enforceme1
orders put out by the Attorney Generals O
flee.
AS means of enlightening to some dt
gree, the following sections from Chapte
1872, Laws of 1916, pertaining to slot ma
chimes, will prove valuable:
Section 2 provides: 'The provisions of the
so-called Hickey Law, Section 11.159, Revised
Codes of Montana of 1885 as amended by Chapter
153, Session Laws of Montana of 1887, prohibit
ing the running, keeping or operating of slot
machines, are hereby declared to be in full force
and effect"
Section in part provides: 'The State Board
of Equalization is hereby authorized, empowered
and DIRECTED to collect the license fees pro-
vided for slot machines =. -
Section s. license fee of 5000 per annum
shall be paid to the State Board of Equalization
for slot machine licenses in cities of over 10000
population, according to the 1910 United States
census in all cities and towns with a population
of over 5000 and less than 10000 the annual
license fee shall be 500 for each machine; in
cities and towns with less than 5000 population
the annual license fee shall be $50 per machine;
all machines not within incorporated city
town shall pay $50 per annum for each machine.
FOR EACH SEPARATE SLOT in any machine
an additional license fee equivalent to the fee
herenbefore provided for SHALL BE PAID.
Section 10 provides in part as follows: ANY
operator of a slot machine who fails to comply
with the provisions of law Chapter 142-Laws of
1945-shall be guilty of a msdemeanor and shall
be punishable by fine of not less than 500 or
more than $500; or by Imprisonment in the
county jail for 80 days or not more than six
MONTHS or by both fine and Imprisonment. The
slot machines licenses shall be cancelled"
Concerning the taxation provision as SET
up by the legislature, | wish to call your par
ticular attention to that portion of Section 5
which states: For each separate slot in any
machine an additional license fee equivalent
to the fee hereinbefore provided for, shall be
paid" While, at the moment | do not have
as to the exact number of 3-slot
''bandits' that are operating in the state,
have been advised that the number is not
few. Likewise, [ understand that these g.
slot ones are only being assessed 5000 per
annum in cities of 10000 and over when, if
the licensing law were strictly adhered to-
the annual license would be $500 Proper
tionally lower amounts would apply to city
brackets under 10000. This loss of revenue
in itself, upon more thorough investigation
might prove to amount to a considerable sum
and is certainly worthy of the attention of
he Board of Equalization.
Weekly Roundup
According to the local daily 327 State
Street, Helena, is currently up for sale. A
check through auto license division indicates
hat this same address was recently given
when securing license for a new Chevy
pickup for Northwest Novelty Co. Can it be
hat at least a portion of the "checkered
yest' gentry are considering leaving town?
Would it not be wise for the grand jury
o check up on the recent carnival that hit
Helena, and, if it be found that carnival per-
nitted children to play games of chance, sub
,oena the local sponsors of the carnival in
Or pxnl nation 2