The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1881-01-18
intoxicating LIQUORS TO Indians.

Intoxicating liquors to Indians.
There are So csnvicts in the United States
prison at Deer Lodge. The per diem now
paid fer their keeping is seyenty-fve cents
each. As the prison is now overcrowded, the
governor recommends that the legislature
authorize the confinement in county jails of
such convicts as cannot be kept at Deer
Lodge.
The number receiving treatment at the in
sane asylum is 80. The number that has died
or has been discharged since January LIST,
1879, is ~. The governor recommends that
a joint committee be appointed by the legis-
lature to visit the asylum and report fully
upon its condition. In regard to opium
smoking, he says:
The evils resulting from the practice of
opium smoking should be suppressed by law.
Secret places Of resort are kept where the
habit is encouraged and the evil effects Of the
practice will soon be apparent on the youths
who frequent these deBs.
He calls the attention Of the legislature to
defects in our election laws, and suggests that
attention be given to them. He again recon-
mends "the enactment Of a Law requiring the
observance of the Sabbath day as a day of
rest. In regard to the taxation of jury fees
to litigapts he SAYS:
The enactment of a statute requiring the
taxation Of jury fees to litigants in civil cases
uOulu CCCiNC youI dttSNJlON ~ al early udy
III the session. There can be no reassn ad-
vanced that will justify the pay met of jurors
by the county while engaged in the trial of an
issue Of facts betwcen citizens. The public
can have lie interest in, and should not be re-
quired to pay any part of the expenses of
litigation between individuals. recommend
the re-enactment Of the statute Of 1867, re-
quirins the taxation of jury fees to litigants
in all civil cases tried by q jury.
In referring to the organization of towns
and cities, the governor observes:
l think all towns and cities of the territory
not now organized under charters shoNld
have a simple and inexpensive organization
under a general law. The towns and cities
of many Of the states are organized under a
general law which prescribes the duties OF
the officers and requires them to serve without
compensation, except those whose duty it may
be to preserve the peace or protect the prep
erty Of citizens. Tow rs and cities organized
under this system are well governed, and at !
very small cost. The law SHOULD not be com.
pulsory upon towns and cities to organize
under the law, but allow them to do SO upon
the petition of a certain number of residents
Ne concludes his message with the fellow
ing remarks:
l sincerely congratulate you aud the people
of the territory upon the fact that two rail.
roads have reached our borders and promise
to be rapidly constructed to our business cen
tres. We cannot overes,imate the advantage!
to be derived from railroad connection will
the great cities ofthe east. With water com
munication and competing lines Of railroad
Montana will always have the advantage o
cheap rates for freight and passenger traffic
With the early and certain influx Of popula
ton and capital, and the construction O
railroads through the territory, the future Q
Montana must be bright and promising.
l shall be glad to concur with you in ever,
measure that may calculate to promote tn
general welfare Of the people.