Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-03-06
AN EXPLANATION.

VI I'm
have ut least made one mistake. l have
some consolation, however in the thought
that it is human to err, and thar al no
execution to the general rule. L am also
well aware that it is impossible tor any man ,
to perform a public act without being SUD-
iected to public criticism. 1t is Impossible
to please everybody, should we be ever SO
we'll disposed. Some will find fault in spite
of our good intentions, and so the World
goes on. Wise men will differ on great ques-
tions. and it yet rema MS to be determined
who is the W'sest, the editor OF the Hus-
or the man who voted tor the
bullion bill, while at the same time the UNI
pleasant ssurprise" with which the news
will be received by my constituents, is, In
deed truly painful.
AS TO the wisdom of my vote on the bull
ion bill, that is something which time alone
will determine, and should it prove 'any-
thing but creditable to the agricultural peo-
pie whom / represented" will be very
sorry tllat,I did not consult the editor OF the
HusRANDMAN before | cast that fatal vote.
.sConfession is good for the SOUL" ana l
hope this will, in some degree, atone 1or
the mistake that l haveimade in not awaiting
myself of such valuable counsel.
But to be more. serious. we regard the
bullion question the most difficult one TO
solve tina engaged the attention of the Leg
~islature. It ce tainly is a knotty problem
and has puzzled the mind of almost every
one who has given it one thought. 10 say
tEe.law, that has just passed is entirely fee
from, objection would perhaps be assuming
too much, but that it is a better law than
the one it repealed, l think can be safely at
firned. and feeling this I gave it my sup
port. I found there was q difference OF
opinion in regard to the Interpretation OF
the old law. and ON account Of his. serious
trouble were likely TO arise from its opera
tion, which would result disastrous sly to our
mining interests. Miners We're very anx-
ions that this trouble might be avoided. and
] public interest seemed to demand that some
: law touching this subjecT should be enacted,
} the Interpretation OF which could not pc
T questioned. -
We consider the mining interest of our
country oflvast importance, and to cripple
l it in any way would be very unwlse. we
! had better foster this interest by Legislation
than to in any way retard its progress. we
had better be too lenient than too severe. l.
e the present law should prove to be an un'
lust discrimination in favor of the miner ths
mistake can be corrected to years hence
: Let us aryg the wisdom ofthe law before We
condemn it. or the men who supported IT
Several members who voted against thesbll
would have supported it if it could hay'
n been amended so that one-tWeltth OF thepro
ceeds OF mines would have been subject t
taxation, but by what rule they were abb
S., to cone to the conclusion that one-tWelttl
'd should be. taxed, is more than | could I'm
$ derstand. Why should the one-twelfth b.
+ taxed more than the other eleven-twelfths
a. Let the advocates of that measure answer
ne / am satisfied, if the proceeds of our mine
10 are correctly reported, many Of them WI
produce a greater revenue to the terrltor
m thar was collected under the provisions 6
d. the old law. But, should the miners refus
re- to make correct returns, it is nothing MOI
1e than men engaged in other pursuits may a.
We have to trust to mems honesty whe
70 they list their property, and | believe thu
n miners are as honest as any other class
our ~titizens. hope this question will
ia discussed in all It's features-that the pract
be cal workings Of the new law may be close
We watched, and all Its defects pointed GU
ell that hould necessity require, it may
TO- displaced by a better and more equitab
"a lawyat the next session Of the Legislature.
;u ~ e j. Il. THORPE.
=, Deep Greek. M. r.. March 5, 1879.