Hungry Horse news., 1949-01-28
Governor Wants Better No. z
By Mel Ruder

Governor JOnn w. Bonner
pointed out us. No. 2 on the
map in his office, and declared
he wanted this route to become
top-quality highway.
The governor commented that
ne had heard vacationers heading
east from Spokane were some
times told that a trip by way OF
Glacier national park was ill-ad-
vised in view of unsatisfactory
highway No. 2.
This must be corrected, he con-
tinued, and he was appointing a
northwestern Montana resident to
the highway commission. The gov
ernor did not announce who it
would be, but Helena has it that
well thought of Tom Elliott, for
merly of the Flathead Commercial,
now Buttreys, is his choice.
A. F. Winkler, Kalispell, a Re
publican, is currently chairman of
the highway commission.
Helena this week presented typ
ical mid-legislative session activ-
ity. Bills were coming into the
hopper toward their eventual 400
to 500 mark. There are 46 senate
and AZ house committees, and
meeting after meeting.
Representative Duncan of Jeff
erson county, chairman of the
houses "pocketbook" committee
warned members that so far ap-
preparations requests totaled So
100000, but there were few ideas
on how to raise the money. He an
ticipated Montana governmental
needs for the next two years would
be about $27,00O,OOO as compared
to $21,O00,000 for the present
fiscal two years.
There is talk in Helena of in
creasing the cigarette tax from two
to three cents a pack. which would
total about $1,80O,O0O a year. A
proposal for upping the state in
come tax is being considered This
tax brought in $3,O96, OO2.89 last
year, and is considered to be fire.
quently evaded.
Some form of a legalized slot
machine bill will be a product OF
this session. Wide open gambling
is not favored, nor is outlawing
Of machines. Helena looks at slot
machines in terms of revenue.
The 6 percent tax on state Ii
quor store sales for benefit of
the counties and towns appears
slated to pass. The governor appar-
emily is not opposed to it. This bill
brought only 81 negative votes in
the house. It means from $4,000
to $4,000 for town like Columbia
Falls.
Two school bills already in
troduced are slated for the basket
One has to do with transportation
funds; the other would increase
state support of local schools from
16 to so percent. A compromise
80 per cent is likely, and Senator
Moss wants to help remedy local
problems.
Expected to be introduced soon
is a bill whereby the 10000 acres
of state-owned land in Glacier
national park will become a real
part of the park. Congress has au-
thorized money for this purpose
and Montana schools will receive
1921, 800 with the state matching
it by transferring 1921, 500 from
the general fund There is no well
founded opposition to this mea-
sure.
Other bills of interest include
O'NeiPs where a school district
if they want can levy up to one
mill to provide transportation or
tutoring for crippled children
Four forest service measures
include as follows: increase the
slash disposal fee from 25 to rs
cents; provides a year in prison
for being careless camper (fire)
n state forests; increases the state
forester's salary from $4,000 to
5000, and provides for state
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