Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-07-10

-. requires no further comment.
NEED OF MILITIA LAW.
No authority exists for the organi, ;.tiol
of the militia of the Territory. The In
dian situation does not justify the Legisla
tllre in refusing to provide authority fo
the organization of the people into mill
tary companies. Indian raids cannot b'
met and repelled unless the people ar,
armed and disciplined for such service. L
Is idle to assume that we are to have nj
further Indian troubles while so many In
dians are found within our borders and In
such close proximity to the same. Re
ports reach me almost daily of Indians
sacking houses, robbing camps, driving
owners and herders from their herds, tax.
ing human life, stealing horses and other
property. 1t cannot be denied that it is
the duty Of the Territory to protect the
lives and property of its citizens, and this
duty can only be accomplished by provid-
ing for the organization and arming Of the
people in military companies. The Exec
utive authority is powerless to enforce the
laws of the Territory when resistance to
the execution of the same is too great to
he overcome by civil officers. In my judg-
ment every consideration of public inter-
est and public safety demands at your
hands the enactment of a well-digestcd
militia law.
THE TERRITORIAL DEBT.
The bonded debt of tile Territory is now
payable at the option of the Territory, and
is drawing Interest at the rate of ten per
cent. per annum. The First National
Bank Of Helena, Messrs. l.. ii. IIershfield
& Bro, and the Corbin Banking Company
of New York, each offer to pay par for the
entire debt at the rate OF eignt per rah''
f,..-....-.-..... o,f,~vtf,Aay recon-
mend that the Territorial Auditor and Ter
ritorial Treasurer be authorized to negoti-
ate the bonds of the Territory at the low
est rate OF interest, not to exceed eight per
cent. per anntlm. An act funding the debt
Of the Territory at lower rate of interest
should have been passed at your last ses-
sion.
CLERKS OF DISTRICT COURTS.
The act fixing the compensation Of the
clerks of the District Courts is radically
detective and should be so amended as to
avoid the construction that courts may
place upon 1t. It is understood that tho
clerks in two OF the districts claim six
thousand six hundred dollars as their COM
pensation, instead of sixteen hundred and
fifty dollars, and will seek the enforcement
of their claims in the courts. The ex-
pense and annoyance OF such suits should
be avoided by making the law definite and
certain.
JURORS FEES.
repeat my recommendation made at
the regular session for the enactment of a
law requiring litigants to pay the fees Cf
Jurors in civil actions, and to amend the
law in relation to the qualifications of
jurors.
RAILROAD MATTERS.
I have the honor to submit for your
proposition from the Pres
ident of the Union Pacific Railroad Com
pany "a copy Of the same is transmitted
herewith, containing the terms upon
which said company will extend the Utah
& Northern Railroad into this Territory.
| believe the proposition is the best that
can be obtained, is reasonable, and should
be .cepted by the Territory. The officers
Of the Union Pacific Railroad Company
10 not hesitate to say that the Utah 4
Northern Railroad will not be extended
my farther north than is necessary to con-
trol the business of the Territory, unless
friendly legislation is extended. l am
aware that the opponents of exemption
assert that the road will be extended into
he Territory without any friendly legisla-
ion. Now, If any evidence can be pro-
luced to sustain this position, l will gladly
DIN In opposing exemption, or any other
i'll. am satisfied the people of the Ter
itory desire railroad communication, and
avor extending such friendly legislation
" will insure the construction of rail-
'0ad into tho Territory at IN early day.
n the year 1876 Lewis and Clarke county
voted almost unanimously three hundred
md fifty thousand dollars In bonds for the
of q railroad from Helena to
Fort Benton, and on the question Of vot-
ng a subsidy of three millions OF dollars
# coupon bonds to the Northern Pacific
the vote Of the Territory stood
,O54 tor the subsidy and 1886 against 1t.
dadison county voted sos for to 396
gainst. GallatiD county, ZOE for and 80
gainst. Lewis and Clarke, 56S for and |
% against. This vote is the largest ex-
,ression Of public sentiment on the ques-
lon of railroad legislation, and the large
ote for a money subsidy, that reached
early one third of the tax duplicate Of the
,erritory at that data, will certainly justify
he present Legislature in procuring the
onstruct1on Of railroad into the Terri
Dry for the small consideration OF exempt |
u the road from taxation for the period
{ fifteen years. The pretended claim that
xemption IL the worst form of subsidy h |
OF entitled to any consideration at the
ands Of reasonable men, for exemption |
oes not even imply the payment Of any
,oney, Of the issuance Of bonds, or In any {
,anner involve the credit Of the Ferritory.
he experienes 6f every country penetTat-
4 by railroads clearly demonstrates that !,