The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-01-09
LEGISLATIVE
Continued from page one)
intention of introducing a general
SALES TAX measure.

The oil industry has announced 1T
will request approval of four major
revisions in leasing regulations gov
erning state lands. (See editorial,
page ~.
Rumor has it that very soon
stiff tax bill aimed at weakening
the financial structure of farmer
co-operatives will be introduced.
Substantial tax increases on heavy
trucks to help meet the highway IL
nancing problem are being talked.
Much talk is heard of moderate"
improvements in workmen's COM
pensation benefits to head off the
long-needed complete over-hauling
of Montana's 1915 Workmen's
Compensation Act. Labor circles
are already planning another COM
pensation initiative for 1854 un-
less this session does approve sub
stantial improvements and addi-
tions to the present law.
Increasing pay of legislators is
again being talked. Odds are, at the
that neither higher pay
schedule or a moderate expense ac-
count for legislators will make much
Roadway. There is some talk of put
ing the matter of increased legisla-
,ors' pay before the people via ref
erendum at 1854 election. Present
Day is $40 per day an amount
hat falls far short of meeting the
expenses of lawmakers when
n the Capitol City, to say nothing
# the expenses of keeping families
ating back home.
A strong effort on the part of
some newspaper publishers will
be made to weaken state statutes
governing libelous statements by
Present statutes have
few teeth for protection against
over-zealous editorial writers. This
bill will bear the close attention of
all people who believe that respon-
sibility of the press is an indispen-
sible correlary of freedom of the
press.
Freshman Rep. Hancock of yell
,wstone has announced he will seek
assage of an anti-capital punish
lent bill. May he be successful.
ORGANIZATION
The more than 40 recommends
ons made by the joint interim COM
ittee on state government reor-
anization will undoubtedly find
leir way into bill form. This commit
.e, headed by Sen. Glenn Larson,
anders, spent much of the past two
easr studying every facet of state
,vernment preparatory to its 90
lge report.
Many of the recommendation
put forth are long-overdue and
hould be given favorable consid-
.ration. Especially meritorius is
he proposal that an interim legisla-
i've council be set up to consider
legislative needs of the state be-
ween sessions. The council, as en-
-isaged by the reorganization COM
nittee, would be without investiga-
DRY powers and therefore could
lot be twisted into a "witchhunt"
ommittee.
Another worthy proposal is the
commentator that state institu-
IN agricultural activities be so CO.
dinated that the several institutions
ny be more nearly self-sufficient in
pplying their food needs. This
'uld provide the means for more
tensive rehabilitation at the peni-
ltiary and other institutions as well
result in huge savings to the tax
yers in operating the several Gus
lial institutions.
Providing tn a adequate safe
ards can be incorporated to pre-
Mt another Hitler" bill becoming
reality, the recommendation on
tie governmental personnel, quail
ations, salaries, employee response
ity, ETC., is another long-overdue
assure.
One proposal that appears without
rit would make public record of
mes of all people receiving public
istance. Few are the old folks, the
I'd and the crippled receiving such
lstance as the state can provide