Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-02-21
ErcHErAH, NJ. T., Feb. 18th, 1873.

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! Made RcsA and Ponder Over
| Them.
ErCHErAH, NJ. T., Feb. 18th, 1873.
| Editor Arant Courier:
In your issue of February 7th, see a
timely article headed, "Unrepresented,' -
taken from the New North West. Timely,
because 1t deals with question Of para
mount importance to us Of Custer County,
and one In which the whole of Montana IL
either directly or Indirectly interested.
That the people and business interests of
this now important portion Of the Terri
tory sh:u, or even can. be wholly and to-
tally DISTINGUISHED while they are bearing
their full burden Of Federal and Territorial
taxation. and more than their share Of the
public defence against the public enemy, is
preposterous.
1t is true that the question Of representa-
ton is mudded. and the suggestion OF the
Eer North Vest Of an appeal to Congress
tor help. is one that should be acted on
without delay. not only by the citizens of
Custer county. but those of all the other
counties should aid them. and thus united,
petitions should be backed by the power of
all the Federal officials in Montana. What
is now Custer county was ''Organized,' or
bounded and set off as county known as
Big Horn county, and attached to Gallatin
county for Legislative and judicial purposes
by the Seventh Session of the Montana
Legislature. At the same time and in the
same act. the other counties were organ
lied. bounded, and set of, but neither
ChOteau or Dawson counties were by the |
act attached for either Legislative or judicial
purposes.
The same Assembly passed separate
act, attaching all of these three named
counties for judicial purposes only.
The same Assembly passed an Appor-
tionment Bill, making Gallatin and Big
Horn representative district, and also
Dawson and Choteau one.
The eighth regular session passed new
Apportionment Bill, leaving out both Big
Horn and Dawson counties. Said bill con-
tanned 4 repeating clause, and the question
desire to raise is this: Does this repeal
ing clause affect Sec. II, chapter XXI, page
1872 of the laws Of the seventh Session
This section adjoins and bounds Big Horn
county, and attaches it to Gallatin county
for legislative purposes and care, or was it
the intention that the repeating clause of
the Apportionment Act of the eighth SEES
sion should affect it. True, the counties of
Gallatin and Big Horn are no longer a
legislative district, but the county Of Gala
in is, and the county of Custer, which has
acquired all the rights of Big Horn county,
S attached by act Of legislature to Gallatin
county for Legislative purposes. and if this ,
loes not mean the right of helping choose ,
he members apportioned to Gallatin coun- :
v. what does it mean:
In the event Congress refuses to mend 9
he matter. is not this better deynier resort !,
han the delegate figure head plan? 1t is
rue the people of Gallatin and Custer
vonld loose their just and proper number
f members of the Legislative Assembly,
MT with us of Custer county. :'half loaf
J better than no bread" and if Gallatin !.
ounty would concede the right without :
ontest. the balance of the Territory would ).
lrely acquiesce. "
JOSEPH w, ALLEN.