The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1956-04-27
General Legislation

General Legislation
INCREASE INCOME TAX EXEMPTIONS
HUM 5-by Barnard and Wood-a memorial
to Congress asking that individual income tax
exemptions be increased from 5000 to $500
a year. Sponsors had in mind the fact that in
1854 the Administration pushed through a
tax revision program that cut corporation
taxes and taxes paid by stockholders on divi-
dends by several billions of dollars annually.
Hum passed both legislative houses, but was
vetoed by Governor Aronson.
aye" votes in both houses were for in
creasing individual exemptions.
EQUAL RIGHTS BILL
lib Spy Goan*-proposing that no dis
elimination because of race, creed or color
be permitted in places of public accommoda-
ton and amusement. Bill faced little opposi-
ton House floor and passed by overwhelm
ing majority. In Senate, vote was taken on
unsuccessful motion by Dokken (R-Gallatin)
to get bill out of Judiciary Committee where
enforcement provision was taken from bill.
AS passed by Senate, bill merely a statement
of policy.
"Aye' votes in both houses were for effec-
1--WE equal flSHIS ieSlSldLlOn DelUS pIdCeu Oh
! the statute books.
*Other sponsors: Felt, Gebhardt, Hancock.
SILICOSIS LIEN LAW
SB 63-by Anderson (Pondera)-the Sill
COSTS Lien Law. Purpose of this bill to
force the industry responsible for contraction
of Silicosis to reimburse the Public Welfare
Department for all payments made each year
to Silicotics. In seeking enactment of SB SO,
Anderson stated that it is based the same
premise as the law passed in 1853 whereby
the Public Welfare Department may place
liens on the homes of needy citizens on public
relief rolls. If the latter is just, then, Ander
son insisted, it would be equally just for the
mining and smelling industry to reimburse
the Public Welfare for assistance given the
industry in paying relief funds to Silicotics.
Sicosis payments of $65 a month now
costing the general taxpayers of Montana al
most million dollars per biennium. No accur-
ate figures are available on how much supple
mental assistance to Silicotics, aid to the |
dependent children of such occupationally
diseased, etc. are costing Montana taxpayers.
Those voting faye" on SD So voted for the
gripping industry having to reimburse Public
Welfare for this occupational disease cost.
REGISTRATION OF LOBBYISTS
lib 96-by Ringling*-the Lobbyist Regis
tration bill. Montana legislatures for decades
have been notorious for the influence brought
to bear by certain powerful corporation lob
bies. Other states have had similar expert
ences and many have enacted laws to keep
lobbying within legitimate area of opera
ton. HB SO proposed the regulating and con-
trolling of lobbyists, established $40 lobby
license charge and provided for the Attorney
General to bring civil actions against any
lobbyist charged with "unprofessional con-
duct. Conviction in the courts of "unprofes-
sional conduct set maximum Jail sentences
of six months and fines up to 81 1000 for erring
lobbyists. For his corporation principal, con-
viction of lobbyist could have brought fines
of up to $4,000. HB SO was closely patterned
after the successful lobbyist control law of
Wisconsin. The bill was killed in the House.
"Aye" votes were for registration of lobby
lists.
*Other sponsors were: Mahoney, Barrett,
Felt.
LEGEND
Excused
O-Absent
P-Passed
A-Aye