The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-03-15

purposes that are not public, and takes II
without compensation. No bill could pass
through Congress that specifically granted
THE power Without rosericeton. bat the
power 10 granted by necsssasy implication
in the bill thst passed tbs House. 1t woOld
certainly Ike result greatly tobe deplored BY
shosc favOring subssdy, if sitter OH the
labor and expense of obtainin. it, the whole
matter should be defeated by an injunction
to prohibit the issue Of the bonds. This
contingency the bill provides agsinst.
3D. That this restriction defeats North
and South connection.
/ was certainly surprised 10 scc this state.
ment In the Helena papers. q J understood
that those papers have been claiming for
some months past that nine-tenths Of the
people on the East side. Taxpayers and Ill,
were in favor of county subsidies. How
then does the requirement of iwO.thlrds
vote defeat ity Am l u understand that
tho claim has oil along been mere buns
cOmbe-Or worse!
II docs not seem to have occurred to the
grumblers of Montana that general law
has to he controlled by considerations that
do not apply to . special one. 1t general
law has IL Oe r.sOrtcd tD, then ito provisions
have to bc drawn, not with reference to y
single road in Montana. but To all that may
be built, not only in Montana, but IN oil tue
Territories. THIS necessi,aies safeguards
that will apply 10 number Of years aud oil
kinds of populations. The microscopic
vision that can sec but one Territory. and
but one locality In that, 10 u vision thst l
neither possess nor desire u obtain. do
not think the objections to the limitations
upon the subsidy voting power well taken,
but rs have said before, have not been
AnA Tn oanf rNFn SAf Ia
restriction, Sd that II exists in some form.
Before the receipt Of the Helena papers de-
nouncing the bill, had suggested to the
subcommittee on public lands in the Sen.
ate. that they should 80 modify it, as to re.
quire U threc>fOur,hs vote of the qualified
eiectOrs without reference to the payment
OF taxes. and this morning two Of the Dele
gates, myself being one. succeeded after u
weeks argument and persuasion, in getting
their differences Of opinion rec"nciled, AMI
the restriction in the torn last mentioned
agreed to. am now expecting the bill tn
be reported " amended. If it Can he got
through the Senate. VIC will do oil that can
be done to secure the agreement Of the
House Ia the bill rs it may pass the Senate.
II the House shall refuse 10 agree 10 the
bill, we will have last chance in con
ference committee No general law can in
my judgment b. passed without some heal
thy restriction upon subsidies, nor will
advocate such law without it. Tax payers
have rights Us well AS those who pay none,
aud the fac: that mining property in the
Territories il exenp, from taxation. gives
the owners Of that species Of property sui.
ficient preference over others, without be.
irg used - nm argument why they should
be permitted Ivy bare majority vote to
confiscatc the property Of those who do pay
taxes. It my action in this regard shall not
BE- satisfactory To any portion Ut the people
OF Montana, the question n to who is rlgh:
will have u be left 10 time and future develop
nents. 1t is source Of great regret tn me u
be compelled to differ with 81 many valued
friends, but it nothing is done st this
session to facilitate y railroad connection,
the fault will have to rest with the conflicts
ing ideas ut members If Congress on every.
thing relating To railroads in the Territories
and those who, although willing enough t.
find fault, have failed up u this hour to give
me the slightest information on any point
connected with the practical construction
ordinarily decent treatment Of representa-
tive leavc to the discriminating Judgment
Of the public Not word on the subject
of subsidy ever come 10 my ears until sfie
the last election. II not having been mad.
an issue before the people I am forced Il
follow my own judgment in the premises
neither seeking nor Sinking any respons
ibility in connection with the subject Al
though this letter il longer than intended
have not touched upon one half If thu
points necessary to . complete understand
ing Of the matter in all of its details l hsv,
acted and written ON the theory that III,
principal projectors Of North and SOuil
railroad are only animated by sincere re-
gard for the public welfare As 10 whethe
such 10 In reality The case We will probably
know hereafter. Truly yours,
WV. 81. CLAGETr.