Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-02-17
Roef7 Mountain HlSla1ln2l
r.. N. SUTEfE1EsLIN, Editor.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1875.

IdNS DISSlOil ~ NtNTAN eiACao w '-@
effect the interests Of the Territory more
than any preceding one Montana has ever
had. We are glad it is over. No body OF
men ever assembled in our Territory have
been furnished SO much wholesome gratuit-
Gus advice. Petitions from all quarters and
upon various subjects, have been presented
the hotels and boarding houses of the Capt.
tai have been thronged with lobbyists, and
every leisure moment Of our lawmakers has
been haunted by these a~X-grindcrs. No
doubt but that, their time out, and labors
ended, they are glad to go home and enjoy
Nh hour of quiet. But will they, can they,
enjoy peace Of conscience? Do they feel
that they have performed their whole duty
TO their counties? We hope; yet we will
not pass our Judgment until we fully under
stand what has been DONE. We have fur
nished our readers with the proceedings in
rs condensed a form as possible, giving the
bills introduced, those passed or rejected,
and those signed by the Governor. And
such as are of the most vital Importance, we
hope to publish in full at our earliest con-
venience. They have enacted some good
laws, and some bad ones. Some that reflect
credit, and others that should kindle the
blush Of shame. First, they appoint guar
dians to watch over the welfare of counties,
and prevent the printer from robbing them !;
then they enter his sanctum and place a
price upon his labor; and, last, they pass
three railroad bills, the least of which estab-
fishes a precedent more dangerous to the
welfare Of the people than all the rest COM
bined. We refer to the act enabling coun-
ties to vote subsidies to railroads a meas
nre that, if adhered to, will sooner or later
bankrupt the country.
AS to many of the bills passed, we can
say but little, as yet, not having been able
to learn their provisions.
We entertain the Utmost confidence in the
wisdom and ability Of our legislators, but
we assure them that a record is made, and
their deeds shall henceforth stand in judy
ment. IF their legislation result in good to
the people, then all praise shall be awarded;
If to the contrary, we shall not finch from
our duty to the people.
The HUsBANDMAN did not set itself up as
the adviser of the Legislature, as to what
measures should be enacted. but we did sug-
gest that there was danger of too much leg
~islation, and we are of the opinion that we
have it. In the matter of railroads, we fear
they have acted upon the principle "while
you are getting, get a plenty" and have got
an abundance. Three railroad bills, two of
which are likely to pass, are rather too much
of a good thing. The contest between the
Northern Pacific and North and South rail-
roads will be a hot one. Representative
men, friends of both roads, will perhaps
canvass the Territory, and there is a posi-
Mlity Of both bills passing. The people
have never been called upon to decide a more
important question; never has there been
greater interests at stake. A misstep, a
false move, and all is lost. Our country is
young and prosperous. Cucumber it by
burdensome taxes; hang a hopeless debt
upon its industries, and the bright and glo-
rieHs future marked out for Montana is
blighted. We appeal to the farmers and
stock-growers, who bear the burden of tax
alton, to rise to the necessities of the hour,
and study we'll the effect likely to be pro-
duced by either or both of these bills. You
are here to build up a home willyou launch
the country headlong into bankruptcy and
ruin? viii you grind yourselves into the
dust? Will you impose more burdens upon
yourselves? Now is the time for You to lay
sectional interests aside, and as wisc men,
consider the matter at issue; and if you
deem il wise to invest i'm Il railroad, we trust