The Sidney herald., 1955-03-24

a program we may very well nave
found ourselves in the embarras-
sing situation of having enacted
into law legislation which would
have produced less, rather than
more service.
Four bills were introduced
which provide the mechanics e
quired under the Constitutional
Amendment changing our parole
system in Montana. Under these
bills a pardon and parole board
is appointed by the governor with
the consent Of the Senate. This
board will determine what prison
inmates are eligible for parole and
once paroled the inmates will be
placed on probation under the su-
pervision Of a director and five
probation officers. This legislation
modernizes our prison and parole
system and is long past due.
A Uniform Highway Traffic Act
was passed which codifies our
traffic regulation sinto one code
which is similar to that used in
approximately 80 other states.
There is nothing harsh about the
law which, in a large part, mere
ly requires the doing of those
things which any good driver does
now. There are provision for light
ing of trucks and vehicles, mini
mum braking requirements, etc.
In each of the sessions I have
served there have been introduced
land reclassification bills, this SEES
sion largely because of the in
formation which came out of the
tax Investigating committee which
operated during the session the
land reclassification bill was pass
ed into law. Under this law the
agricultural lands will be CLASH
fled for tax purposes according to
the use to which it is put.
An anti-race discrimination bill
was passed which in effect sets
forth the policy of the State of
Montana in relation to other than
whites. 1t provides that no person
operating an establishments for
the enjoyment and convenience
of the public shall discriminate
against anyone solely on ground
of color.
You have all undoubtedly heard
J of the School Foundation Program
which in effect provides a method
of apportioning state aid funds
to elementary and high schools
on a basis of average number Of
students attending. Some people
believe that the sole function of
the program is to provide these
state aid funds. Such is not the
case. In addition to that the leg
islation establishes a scale or
standard for the financing of
school operations. The local dis
tricts may, through their boards
of trustees, place a permissible
levy upon property without the
vote of the people. Under the 1858
Foundation program permissive
levies were limited to 800 of
300 for elementary schools and
high schools with less than 100
and $3.50 of $50 for large high
schools or to Is mills for elemen-
tary schools and 10 mills for high
schools, whichever figure was
lower. Educators urged the re-
moval of these two restrictions
thus allowing an unrestricted per-
missive levy. The legislators would
not go for this but they did elimi-
nate the 93% figure and left the
levy limitations at 800 and 25%
or the millage whichever is low
err. The educators asked for a
1919 increase in the Foundation
Program. The House granted a 10
increase and the Senate cut that
down to 52% which became law.
Personally, l favored the 1919 in
crease with a 2-year mandatory
limitation and the retention of the
restrictions IN permissive levy.
believe that with a new tax struc-
ture for the state in the offing
that our schools will be adequate
ly financed.
You cannot mention school tax
alton and appropriations without
thinking and talking about the
conflict arising out Of our 1858
lease law. AS you will recall. prior
to 1858 lease law provided that
state land could be leased at pub
lie auction for a primary term
determined by the Land Board
and a total term of 20 years. At
the end of the 20 year period the
land would be put up for re-bid.
By and large the history of oil
development shows that a good
deal Of the discovery work is done
by independent wildcatters. I'm
der our old law this situation
could arise: Supposing a small in
dependent bid $50 per acre for a
state section; that he had other
acreages with drilling commit
ments; that in the 10th or last
year of his primary term under
the state lease he drilled and hit
a good well - one which would
produce 80 to so years. After pro-
ducing it 10 years that land goes
back up for re-bid. The major oil
companies with the initial bonus
still in their pockes; n 10 drilling
investment; an unlimited amount
of capital, then go in and bid
against the small independent. He
hasn't a chance. Under such an
operation, how many independ-