The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1865-03-18
Bannack Gorrespondence.
From our Special Correspondant.1

bANNACK, Feb. 9th, 1865.
DEAR PosT.-It is gratifying to be able
to mention rare instance of conscientious
adherence to firmly settled convictions on
the part of one of your Madison county
delegation.
There has been passed by both houses of
the Assembly "An Act to provide for "a
cdrlcieS in the Legislative Assembly," Now
it is due to Mr.. Huffaker to say that this
act received from first to last unfinchino
and obstinate opposition. His reasons for
this course were well set forth in his lucid
! argument against the bill wherein he con-
eiuslvely demonstrated that the Assembly
had no constitutional right to vote them
selves pensions. This reminds me Of the
legislation concerning extra compensation.
The Governor and Judges have $1,000 vo-
ted them from the Territorial treasury, not
unusual, and hence, strange to say, not
wrong. The Secretary, Attorney General,
Surveyor, &C., are left out in the cold
The members of the Assembly voted them
selves extra compensation, not wrong unless
we consider the amount, which is twelve
dollars per day, making their entire pay
sixteen, dollars per day, beside mileage; a
nice bill for the Territory to pay.
A bill has also passed crediting all per-
sons who paid taxes under the Idaho laws,
the amount so paid on the tax for Montana
upon their producing the receipt to the tax
collector, as evidence of such payment-a
most excellent law. The tax law will make
tax payers groan, especially when they
know where the taxes go, and travellers in
Montana will curse this assembly so long
as its monuments Ooll-gates) remain.
We are all becoming wearied with the
dull monotony of our duties here and with
the changeless routine of the assembled
wisdom. But for Courtright in the House.
and BOmbastes Furioso in the Council, the
ennul would be terrible and stagnation COM
plete. We are also relieved by occasional
acts which illustrate the peculiar legerde-
main which prevails. A House bill passed
both houses, received the signatures of
their presiding officers and was carried to
the Governor for his approval. Here it was
confronted with petition signed by ma
Jorlty OF the members OF the House asking
him to veto it, which he did, and then it
went back to the House which passed it
over his accommodating veto.
The bill relating to printing the laws, re-
qulres the printer to make sense of them; an
arduous task certainly. Should he succeed
in the onerous task he will figure largely
and creditably ly in history as the eight won
der of the world.
So much of the Governors message as
related to Federal affairs was referred to
Committee whose report surprised every
oa2 The knew that DR.. Laavitt and Mr..
Thompson belonged to it, but it has trans
pired that Mr.. Bagg, made it on his own
responsibility; and Mr.. Thompson openly
stated that he had never heard it until it
was read as the report of the Committee !:
and l presume that DIR. Lcavitt only awaits
proper opportunity to repudiate it also.
The truth is there are several members
Of the assembly of whose political status
am ignorant, and the trouble is they are no
better informed than |.
They mean pretty well but some of them
are swayed easily by other considerations,
to take all sides of all questions. In nv
next | will try and give the finale of the
two houses. Franklin.