The Sidney herald., 1957-03-21
Commentary On
1867 Montana
Legislature
BY d. W. JOHNSO
State Representative

In the l08th hour of the Goth
legislative day, there is time &c
look back over the session and at
tempt to evaluate the actions
taken and the progress made.
Old timers say this has been
the toughest session they have
seen and l will have to admit that
some days the work was difficult
and firing. In only one previous
session were more bills introduced
than in this one and it will be O
few nor days before we can find
out the total that will become
law.
This session will probably be
remembered most for its increased
appropriations and of course the
necessary increase in various
taxes to balance the budget.
Appropriations were increased
but not to the amount requested
by the Governor in his message at
the beginning of the session and !
feel that the requests of each de-
partment, branch and institution
of the State government and each
unit of the University System
were carefully analysed and only
minimum increases allowed which
were in line with increasing costs
and in the case of the University
System, the increasing enroll
ment-
Salaries of City, County and
State officers were reviewed and
adjustments made in an effort to
bring them more in line with the
present costs of living.
Taxes were raised in almost
every area except property and
while perhaps the raises are not
entirely equitable, progress was
made in that direction.
One highly debatable tax ques-
ton remains undecided and that
is the method of highway finan-
cling, on which two schools of
thought could not resolve their
differences. :
Fuel taxes remain the same
through January Is, 1858 at which
ime the tax on gasoline will be 3,
'educed 1c. /,
Property taxes for common
.chools should be relieved some
What by the higher appropria- ,
ions for the Equalization Fund
md also by the increase in the :
PERSONAL Income Tax and Cor ,
ooration License Tax, $50 of
also flows into the Equali-
Fund. The passage of H. B.
l27, as amended, allows an aver
age of about a 1919 increase in
he foundation program which
will allow the use of more State
money if it is available.
Two sales tax proposals were !,
elected in the House because it Z
the thinking of the majority {
hat this type of tax put the :
.reatest burden on those least
BILE to pay. j
Attempts to get bills taxing the :
fontana income of non-residents :
trough the House failed, probab- h
Y because of the difficulty of en- r
such d law. However, sub Z
equent legislatures will probably r
investigate this further as the es- c
of the revenue such a law !
would bring is quite a substan- I
lal sum. :
Labor made some advances in :
10Th their Industrial Accident and {
Unemployment Compensation ben
fits but a law to cover indus
rial diseases at this writing
GEMS to be a lost cause. r
Laws to streamline and modern Z
re our Welfare Act were passed. {
'hese were necessary, partially, to G
axe advantage of the Federal r
i'd now available which will in {
urn effect savings at the County |
evel. s
The Korean Veterans Honor I
rum has been signed into law
nd within a reasonable time the a
honey should be available for q
ne men and women who risked e
leir lives for us in that action.
urther aid for the education of
ar orphans was also granted by
lis Legislature.
OF the several hundred bills
hich met death, one place or
lother, some were of good in