The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-01-23

MIR. Legislator
YOUR GHILDREk'S EYES ARE UPON YOU!
This past members the oil lobby moved into
them they brought and sundry proposals
revsons school oil land leasing laws Each and
proered revision would enacted to the huge bene
fit of the oil industry Conversely the public schools and al
taxpayersbig and e-excep the oil industry, would come
out at the short end of the horn.
When considering legislation proposing revision of
oil laws only major question should be
serious consideration.
present Montana school lease laws fair both the
schools and the oil industry?
The facts are that present lease laws are fair to the point
bending backwards oil industry Put along side
leasing policy the Northern Pacific in Mon
+on or tho Tnion in California or the Province of AL
berta examples, Montana indeed most kindly inclined to-
ward this industry which has favored federal and state tax
positions enjoyed by few other industries in America or
those interested additional facts to back the above
tion kindly refer PEOPLES VOICE. issues August o. Nov
p, 28 Dec. 5, II, 49, 26, 1852, and JAN 9, 1859
Now let consider othe revsons proposed this past
week
House Bill AZ (By Fulton, O'Connor and Bricker).
BILL although reported the air proposing the
lifting of the 20year limitation school leases and other mi
revisions" present laws much than that.
permitted study of all the ramifcations
of HB 48, but several things do stand out
l. First off, lib 48, if enacted into law would Immediately
deprive the School Income and Interest Current operations
fund of $800000 in delay drilling rentals 100000
acres of school lands presently under lease.
According State Supt Mary Condon's office it
$3.50 year provide education for each Montana boy
girl This 100000 amounts the annual of educat
ing 3o77 children grade and high school population
equal to that of the City of Helena!
The schools have upwards of two million of potential
oil bearing lands yet be leased. Simple arithmetic will in
dictate the potential loss to the schools land your pocket
books if IB 48 should become law.
You HB 48 doesn't mention delay drilling rentals"
Of the amendment doesn't. You'll find by checking
against Rev Codes of Montana 1947 that the people who
drafted HB 48 have deeted that Section 8102 which
the State Land Board cancel leases
lay drilling rentals after the first years the
HB 48 carefully 1t says:
AH hereunder shall
of ten (1O) If oil not being
ton of the the but the
engaged in drilling for oil
continue in drilling
prosecuted :. :"
Under present law production must be achieved
of the Oyear primary period AS noted above
started drilling by end of two then land board
Gel his lease accept delay drilling rental in lieu
laon.
House Bill 48 lessee the right hold on to lease
for 10 by paying only the nominal Is
cents per acre This means that for comparatively little in
vestment the lessee hold a. state
commodity for ten rather than developing
B. House Bill 48 would the 20-year limitation on
leases without proposing single safeguard protect the
schools interests the oil the lease Ths
amounts to grant to lessee with control
and board, for all practical purposes, removed. II
A. House Bill 48 would assist to establish working inter
TJndo