Show Twenty Second Biennial Session Utah Legislature Facing the omnipresent problem of taxation and governmental eco ceo economies and numerous other Issues of vital Import to the people of of the state tho legislature to the state of Utah swung Into Its tw n- n second ty-second biennial session at the state capitol Monday at high noon When the 23 members of the senate and CO members of the house were called to order by Secretary of State E E Monson and Justice D W Moffat the law law- lawmakers lawmakers makers promptly whirled Into the task of organizing the two houses bouses naming officers and of the session and then In joint ses sion listened to Governor Henry HenryH II H Blood read his biennial mess mess- message age The governor briefly present present- presented presented ed his recommendations for e d ed legislation to improve the effi- effi efficiency efficiency of governmental tion of public and at aL the sam same time sounded a call to the tho legIslators to exercise economy In Inthe inthe the appropriation of state funds to the end that the tax burden upon the people may be kept as low as possIble consistent with good gOY gov- government Flood of Bills Due With the mE message of the gover gover- governor nor still ringing In their ears the lawmakers prepared to face a 3 flood or of bills resolutions and other mews meas ures affecting almost every branch of state government go and reaching In effect Into every nook and corner of the state Measures coverIng a number of controversial matters are sched sched- scheduled to make malee early appearance In both houses and the legislators foresaw many fIery battles In the tho Immediate offing Among Amont some of the Important measures scheduled to make early appearance In the senate and house are an old ago age pensIon bill dIrect primary measure a 3 bill con the assessment for tax purposes of the property of public utilities a general civil service measure a bill providing for far tax exemptions on homes and other bills on mine taxation amend amend- amendments ments to the sales tax law laV gasoline tax fund diversion bank taxation partisan judiciary liquor con con- control and a long list of other mat mat- mattel's hers tel's Old Age Pensions One of the first measures due to tomake male make Its appear appearance In the senate In a bill fathered by Dr Herbert n B Maw Salt Lake county pro viding for a mandatory old age pension for needy persons over the age of C 65 years The purpose of this proposed act as stated In the language ot of the bill is To bring about a con wherein nIl all residents of the state as defined by the act shall enjoy security In old ohl age Those who at the ago age of 65 years are not supporting self shall be entitled as asa asa a matter of right and not as a mat mat- matter ter of charity to the benefits pro pro- provided provided vided herein The proposed meas- meas measure ure provides that all of its pro pro- provisions provisions visions shall be liberally construed for attainment of the purposes ot of the act The bill provides for the creat- creat creating Ing of a division of the state de- de department department of public welfare to toI I handle pension matters and also creates county advisory boards to cooperate wIth the state depart depart- department ment in adminIstering the law Jaw Investigations Limited An important feature of the Maw bill Is a provision that there thero shall ho be no Investigation of the financial ability of relatives or friends to help the applicant for pension and the granting of n a pension shall not be affected in any way by the ft- ft standIng of relatives The bill provides a pension or of 30 a month for a single man or woo wo- wooman woman man and 60 a month for a mar sled ried couple it if both have reached the age of 65 and are otherwise qualified to receive the emolument The state Is to provide halt half of th the 30 monthly allotment to match an equal amount to be furnished by bythe bythe the federal government No sped tic fie provIsion Is made In the tho bill for forthe forthe the method or of raising the states state's portion of the funds but the pro pro- proposed proposed posed act created an Old Ago Age Pension fund to consist of such funds and monIes as shall be up- up from tIme to time and such funds as are granted to the state of Utah by the federal gov- gov government for such purposes To be eligible for a pension the applicant must have been a real resi- resident dent of the state of Utah for 10 years Immediately preceding the date of application and must not have been absent from the state for more than two months In the year Immediately preceding the application ap- ap application No Mortgage Lien It is further provided that old age pensions are aro not assignable and are arc not subject to attachment or other legal process One of the tho important provisions of the Maw bill Is that no re- re recipient re under this act shall be re re- re required or asked to reimburse the state for any of the benefits re- re received and no lien or mortgage shall shaH be taken on any property owned by the recipIent The proposed direct prImary law a bill for which is being whipped Into shape by II a commIttee of leg leg- legislators Including Walter K Gran Gran- Gran Granger ger of Iron county Dr Maw of Salt Lake county and others Is to include the best features of the primary laws of several states The proposed law would eliminate the old party system ot of nomina nomina- nominations for office and substitute the primary election Whether or not the bill will provIde just one mary mart electIon and n a final ballot or orwill orwill will include provision for a run run- oil primary before the final elec- elec election tion may not noL be settled until the measure reaches the legislature there being a divIsion of opinion on this point among members of the committee drafting the pro pro- proposed proposed posed bill |