The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-01-28
OUR HELENA LETTER.
HELENA. Jan. Is. 1881

| airy IL, 1oGZ, Tie last night Vi tnc sessioh
when Hon. w. L. Warren introduced in the
Seventh Legislative Assembly b No. 80
Codifcation of the General Laws of Mon
tana," which were read by title, "considered
read" by general consent, passed "ayes Il
nays none," grasped hastily in the arms Of
RUFF Arick, Chief Clerk, and carried by
him to the bar of the House, where, from
behind the mass Of manuscript that rose
above the level of his eyes, he announced
his errand and turned over to the House his
bulky bill. The House passed it 20 to 2
Harry Comfy, Speaker, and N. d. Johnson
voting "No." Considering the general over.
hauling of two-thirds of ii in the last days
of the session, its hasty revision with scis.
sors and paste pot by Star, Newcomer and
others I'm the "Robber's Roost," and "Saint's
Rest" and the fact that it was cracked
through the Legislature with nothing but the
title read, 1t has stood the racket fairly well
as The Codifed Statutes" notwithstanding
some laws just before enacted were snufied
and others that had been of high rank in the
Bannack days were forgotten in the rush of
revision. At the Eleventh session it was
deemed desirable to provide for
A NEW CoDIFICATIoN,
and Harry X. Comfy was commissioned to
do the work and have 800 copies of it print
ed and distributed to the lawyers, Legislators
and others Of Montana, with view to their
discovering defects in the statutes or codif-
/ cations, and reporting the same TO members
of the Twelfth session for correction. 1t was
deemed good plan aud 81 500 good Terri
torial money was appropriated to print the
800 copies. The printing was done-at a
| cost Of more than the amount appropriated
and the printed copies distributed as pro-
vided for. When the Twelfth Session con-
vened, Mr.. Comfy reported his bill; it was
referred. to the Joint Judiciary Committee,
who divided the bill into five subdivisions
and assigned one to each member. On Mon
| day, the oath, the bill was reported back
favorably 10 the Council, with merely the
clerical and typographical errors corrected,
and was the same day passed by both Houses.
/ am informed by members of the Judiciary
Committee that not a single suggestion of
errors or omissions or desirable amenments
to the printed bill come from any attorney
or other person, so that for the principal object
had In view the 800 copies was a waste Of
money. The enactment of 1t intact will,
however, render these volumes convenient
references until the Codification and subse-
quent laws can be published. 1t would
have been better to have included the gener-
al laws of the extra session, have shut off
general laws at an early day in this session
and codified them entire to its close. As it
is now there will be the general laws of two
sessions succeeding the Codifcation to come
into effect to repeal, modify or amend it.
THE DIVISION BILL.
The report Of the special Committee, con-
sisting Of the Deer Lodge county delegation
in the House, reported this morning ii b No.
9. The report and amendments are given
elsewhere. While the amendments reach
some Of the defects in the original bill, their
principal value is in showing its crude and
defective nature, which they fail to perfect.
The whole project of division has been
premature, precipitate, reckless and unjust, |
more Of a craze than a project, less Of a
measure than a madness. Really the time |
for division and readjusting Of county lines |
should be deferred for two years at least, |
until the principal lines Of railway have been |
located aud define new systems, centers, |
and transit Of business, commerce and popu- |
lation. Meantime Butte would have all her |
urgent requirements by the institution Of |
terms of courts and the establishment of
Jail. But If she insists on immediate separa-
ton and the location Of dividing lines, she
cannot assume it without mourning greater
evils than she now complains of. The divis-
ion Of the county debt at the time named In
the amendment Is impracticable; the transit
of court records within the time named is
an impossibility; the legislating ont Of the
County officers she helped elect Is an injus-
tice; the forcible abduction Of the upper
Deer Lodge Valley residents a crime. The
Twelfth Legislative Assembly will not pass
such measure. 1t Is not disposed to turn
loose the division animal at present. 1t has
reasons for it Of which spoke in former
letter. You will find the scheme to divide
Deer Lodge County will fail unless meas
ure Is devised that will be endorsed and
by the entire county delega-
ton. This, 1t Is trusted, will be accom-
plished. Matters have assumed such shape
that 1t is the best thing for the County, and
ha 10 N fab1 ieh
The present bill will not pass; q better
substitute measure may. Speaking Of divis-
ion, I hear of another embryonic project, one
to establish sB. -rH.asa $50 as
STUART COUNTY, #n+
the eastern boundary of which is to be an
almost north and south line which strikes
along the range Of hills just west of Pho
neer. All the old county west Of that Is to be
Stuart County, and New Chicago is to be the
county seat. The plan is to have the bill
take effect two years hence. The dismem-
berment of Poland has began.
wv A PRESS ASSOCIATION.
To defect from these graver themes, it is
proper to say that preliminary meeting of
publishers and editors was held q few days
ago to take initiatory steps toward forming
a Press Association. There was q fair
of Territorial Newspaper men
and Marshal Botkin as the Veteran Of the
Faber Light Brigade presided. A permanent
organization is to be effected Friday, and 1t
Is probable a convention will be held next
Fair week. The solemn obligation Of secre-
" as to Its purposes rests upon every men,
Der Of the temporary organization, and 1t Is
merely mentioned here tina. the public may
be on their guard.
TOWN INTERPRETATIONS.
: Speaker Donnelly has in preparation
General Act for the Incorporation Of Towns
and Cities, which will be presented at this
'ession. The advantage of this will be in
enabling towns to be incorporated ut any time
N doing away with special charters and
having an act under which Judicial decis-
ons In one case will apply to all.