Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-02-20
H~arrington's bill, which requires district


clerks to keep court records in the proper
counties, went sailing through both houses
and will become a law j; also the fee bill Of
district clerks, which gives a salary of
81, $50 and requires them to appoint depu-
ties in each county, which deputies are al
lowed graded salaries, has passed the House
and will doubtless pass the Council Mon-
day. ..4
The county clerk fee bill has been amend
ed and will doubtless pass the House. 1t is
the most unjust and ridiculous measure
that has yet passed tn body. The Deer
Lodge county clerk is to be paid 5000 tor
county work, while Beaverhead, Jefferson,
Meagher and Choteau are to only pay $500
to their clerks. Mr.. Donnelly, of Choteau,
or Mr.. Collins, of Meagher, either of them,
would be willing to do the work ofthe large
counties free, and give a thousand dollars
for the chance to take the place Of the
clerks of the large counties. while in their
own counties they cannot live at a salary OF
$500. Still the Legislature will only allow
them $500, but pay 5000 to those counties
whose clerks can make a fortune in one
term from simply the recording of deeds and
lead claims. This looks like ridiculously
strange legislation for political aspirants to
undertake, since, as a rule, county clerks
are in good favor with the masses, and
much that is done in advancing the inter-
ests Of office-seekers is due to these clerks,
and to cut them down to unreasonably low
salaries is a policy unbecoming. If there
were other emoluments in the small coun-
ties that would help the clerks, we would
not consider their move of r~etrenchment so
bad, but it does appear ridiculous in the
light we now see it. . 7
But the inconsistencies of the legislation
are not alone confined to the title above
named, as the a~pportionnient bill and a
number others that are about to pass appear
equally SIS inconsistent. According to the
report of the committees OH the bills in both
houses, the outside counties will have but
a very small say in the affairs OF the country
now has 100 populations, is only allowed
one member in the House. Chotean one
member in the, House, and a joint council
man with Meagher. Meagher is to be given
two members in the House, but is to rely
upon the half councilman with Choteau.
There seems from the glance we have at it
that the west side counties, with Missoula,
Beaverhead and Madison. have combined
against the east counties. In the Council
these counties have = majority, but in the
| House it Is q tie-l3 each. So it the Lewis
and Clarke delegation stand firm for what
they term a fair representation, !. g., one
house member and one councilman in Gus
ter, Choteau and Meagher counties as we'll
as Beaverhead and Missoula, neither Of the
bills as reported for the third reading will
become a law.
The ELL in regard to. scabby sheep has
passed. the House, but we trust will not in
its present form become a law. 1t prevents
men with f1ocks of sheep from coming with
in SIM miles of scabby fiocks prevents
scabby focks from being driven within one
mile of public highways, SO that it is impos-
sible for men coming into Montana with
scabby sheep to do so, while it does notpre-
vent the present resident flocks which have
scab from doing as they choose. 1t gives
any person the right to stop q flock and ex-
anime it, and prescribes heavy penalties for
violations. A law on the subject may be
needed, but one such as this would certain
ly be of more detriment to Montana, and es-
pecially Meagher and Choteau counties,
than anything yet attempted. In fact to
look at it we see more crooked, knotty leg
~islation than has ever before been attempted
to be put upon our statute books. | said
crooked and knotty, but possibly indiffer-
oot nnd ri .u;po xrn,sld have hnst nynrpc Sa1