Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-02-07
UNREPRESENTED.
New Northwest. \

. new SOriu- W est. l
When the Tenth session of the Montan
Legislature adjourned, Custer county ha.
only been organized and there were few
people in what are now its limits. TIL,
subsequent establishment and construction
Of Forts Keogh and Custer and their heavy
garrisons led to the rapid peopling of thai
county. necessitating the appointment OF
county officers and a regular organization
which was accorded. Prior to this the
Tenth session had made the Legislative
apportionment for the election of Novem-
Der, 1878. The Organic Law limits the
number Of members OF the Council to Is,
and the number of members of the House
to rs. The Legislature exhausted that
number in the apportionment. There is
no power or authority in the Territory to
change that apportionment until another
session Of the Legislature is convened.
Consequently. unless an extra session is
meantime held and the apportionment
amended, the election next November must
be in the present appoItionment. This
would leave Custer county unrepresented
in the Legislature at the Eleventh session,
and probably until the regular session of
1881. 1t Is now claimed by the Custer
county people that they have at present $50
qualified voters, which is a greater number
than was polied in either of the nine Or
ganized counties in 1876, except Deer
Lodge, Lewis and Clarke and Madison.
Custer county is now paying considerable
United States and Territorial revenues, and
her residents are sanguine that by next
November the county will poll 1850 votes,
which will, on the basis OF 1876, place her
third in voting ranks in the Territory,
while she will still remain unreprescnted in
he Territorial Legislature for two years
This anomalous condition of affairs is to
,e regretted. And yet it is one for which
here is no legal and adequate remedy in
Montana. Her entitlemcnt to representa-
ion is recognized in the older counties,
nd her fealty to Montana in declaring
gainst annexation to the proposed new
'erritory of Lincoln appreciated and hon
red. The will exists to accord her repre-
entation, but there is no legal way in the
'erritory. However there is a power to ]
orrect the matter. Congress can pass a ]
asolution increasing the number Of MEM ]
ers allowed in the Montana Legislature at I
lie Eleventh session, and provide the j..
leans for paying them. If this increase |
ere made for the Eleventh session only, !
he next apportionment act could give !
lem equal representation on the old basis, {
I'd the exceptional increase exist for only I
e one session. This seems so fair and {
'oper that we doub, not it can be accom- 7
ishcd. The matter has already been =
omitted to Delegate Maginnis, who will I
ldonbtedly give it his best support. 1t 2
Duld be well for the citizens Of Custer II
unity to petition Congress through the Fl
,legatc, and furnish him with facts SUBJ
initiating their claim. In the event this m
Is. which we do not think probable, h.
ster county might elect a delegate to O.,
, Eleventh session, who would not be is
titled to a vote, bat who would probably "
accorded the same rights rs Terrific he
Delegate in Congress. and his compen- tn
ion allowed by the Territory. The ia
mer method would be the best, but the on
er is 4 0eraier resort.