Montana labor news., 1949-02-24
HICH[ICHTS IN STATE LEGISLATURE

Identical bills are now moving
along in both House and Senate 10
make the recommended change. Ii
they pass, it is conceded Walter p.
Coombs, appointed by Gov. Ford
after the death Of Chairman Burke
Clements, will lose his job as chair
man. Reports circulating are to the
effect that a well known Republican
will get Coombs' job.
The investigating committee paid
tribute to the efficient work Of
Burke Clements as Chairman OF tine
Board the past Fl years.
Committee Action Puzzles Legisla-
tors
The House committee investigaf-
ing the State Liquor Board caused
the arrest OF one w. c. Mitchell Tor
contempt on the grounds that he re-
fused to accept a subpoena to ap-
pear as a witness before the commit
tee OF which McKenna of Fergus is
chairman.
Mitchell, IN early day Montana
newspaper man, had circulated a
letter refuting charges made by Nc
kcnna against the Liquor Board
weeks in advance of the committees
official report.
Brought before the House, Nit
chell agreed to appear as a witness
and did so. The next morning he was
freed OF the contempt charge by the
House.
Asked regarding his question be-
fore the Committee, Mitchell said
all they asked him was: what else
do YOU know about the Liquor Board
busincss:' He said he was asked
no specific question nor was any
part OF his reply to McKenna dis
puted by McKenna or any other
member of the committee.
Many members of the House and
Senate are wondering why the COM
mittec insisted on Mitchell's appear
ancc for questioning if it had moth
ing specific to inquire about. Was
Mitchell's arrest merely to offset the
sting in his refutation of McKenna's
pre-report statements to the daily
press?
"The committee got a bear by the
tail and was going to let 60 the best
way it knew how" commented one
law : maker Thursday when the
House dismissed the charge agains,
Mitchell.
slo,417,00o Profit in Four Years
The Montana Legislature will
have two reports, possibly three, tc
consider this week. They pertain tc
the Senate and House committees
investigating the business of the
State Liquor Board.
The House report due Monday
may be divided, as not all of the
committee members agreed on it:
content. A minority report is pro.
bable. The majority report was pre-
pared at a cost of between $4,000
and $4,000. Definite costs will not
be made public until claims are filet
on the legislative fund.
, The Senate report prepared BY
{ lawyers. accountants On the commit
tee, will cost only about l0per cen
of what the House report will Sc
t the Taxpayers back. 1t is very pro
: bable the two reports will be con
S %sistent only on onc phase: the tota
y business transacted and the amour
c Of profit to the state.
In the past four years the Liqusl
1 Board has done a $60,0O0,000 bust
ness. Profit on its sales license de-
r partment and beer department have
t turned in a net profit to the state O
Sl4.0l6,322.7l which, added to The
: eight per cen excise tax collected
c has meant a net to the state of more
r than $lo,000,000.
\ Since 1888, when the Liquor mon
opoly act was passed, the Board ha.
had sales totaling Sl33,000,000 ant
: has turned in a profit of more thar
S4S, 100000.
h In all these transactions, including
4 losses on poor liquor purchased
G when the shortage was acute, the
n losses from various causes total ap'
t proximately S250,0O0, or about one
sixth of one per cent.
The merchant who can show mel
: profits Of more than 30 per cen,
= above all expenses and losses, and
: has made bad buys amounting to
. about one-sixth Of one per cent, has
4 a right to consider himself almost
: an efficiency expert.
c When both Senate and House
4 committee reports are made public,
/. then and only then will the public
t have an opportunity to form a fair
E opinion OF the purpose and benefits
OF the Investigations OF the states
most profitable business.