The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-02-18
OUR HELENA LETTER.

tive history Of Montana. On the evening pre-
ceding, Hon. Oscar A. Sedman, member Of
the House from Madison County, died OF
what ID known as black measles. On the
Friday preceding, he had moved the midday
recess; on Saturday he was confined to his
bed and at five o'clock Sunday evening his
spirit had departed. Twas the first death of q
member of the Montana Legislature during
a session, and the solemnity Of the event
was deeply felt by all. Thetwo Houses met In
joint convention, appropriate resolutions
were adopted, eulogies delivered and then
adjourned for the day. Mr.. Sedman was q
native Of Sweden, aged % years, came to
Montana in 1873 and has since resided In or
near Virginia City. He was Council MEM
Der in the Eleventh Legislative Assembly,
and was elected to the House for the Twelfth
Session. He had accumulated competence,
and besides his interest in the Sedman d.
McGregory flume in Alder gulch, had large
stock interests. He was q man Of decided
convictions, sterling integrity, exemplary
character and good citizen In all the rela-
tions of life. Ten years ago he married a
most estimable lady, who with four children,
now mourns the loss of devoted and affection
ate husband and father. He had brought them
here to be with him during the session, and
tomorrow they return to their desolate
home. The Legislature appointed commit
tee consisting of councilman w. w. Morris
and Assemblyman Amos Eastman to accom-
pany the remains to Virginia. Helena Com
mandery No. 2, Knights Templar, Of which
order Mr.. Sedman was member, appointed
four Sir Knights as guard of honor to ac-
company the remains to Virginia, and tine
Commandery, Master Masons and members
of the Legislature this morning escorted the
body to the city limits.
SILVER BOW COUNTY.
The Council this morning receded from
all its amendments to the Silver Bow bill, SO
! it has gone to the Governor in precisely the
same form as 1t passed the House. The
bill as passed being published in this issue,
it is unnecessary to refer to its terms in de-
| tail. Deer Lodge County has nothing to COM
plain of IN the division, and Deer Lodge City Is
ON record In favor of the bill as 1t has passed.
1t would have been more equitable If the
| officers now elected had been made &c 06tcio
officers of Silver Bow County, but the Leg
islature, majority of which is of the same
political complexion as the majority Of the
officers, has determined otherwise. Ii would
have been better, too, for Silver Bow County
to assume its functions in 1882, but its peo-
pie have been represented otherwise and
their wishes have been gratlfied. We do not
think Deer Lodge County viii ever regret
this division, but that Silver Bow County
will see ere long that it would have been
better to make haste slowly.
aes TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
The name of ID. III. Weston, for Territorial
Treasurer, was sent to the Council a week
ago and the nomination unanimously con-
firmed. Mr.. Weston's record as an officer,
his excellent qualifications and high charac-
ter as man merited this compliment. The
name of Mr.. Joseph p. Woolman, for Audi
tor, was sent in later and rejected. As Mr..
Woolman had been once before confirmed
and Is universally known to have been the
best Auditor Montana ever had, and as good
as any Territory ever will have, the rejection
was at first unaccountable, except on the
hypothesis that Mr.. Woolman's activity and
efficiency as Chairman of the Republican
Central Committee In the recent Congress
ional campaign had been too trying on the
feelings Of . solid Democratic Council. II
has transpired since, however, that the
Democrats hoped for the appointment Of
Democrat to one of three Territorial offices,
and committee waited upon the Governor
soliciting 1t. II is fair to add that the rejec-
ton aroused strong feeling among promi-
nent Democrats against the action Of the
Council, and 1t is anticipated Mr.. Woolman
will yet be confirmed. Upto this time the
nomination for Territorial Superintendent
Of Schools has not been sent in.
THE ADJOURNMENT.
A question now agitating the Legislative
mind is "When will we ADJOURN" Hereto
fore an act of Congress limited the duration
of sessions to forty days. The estimates
and appropriations for the Twelfth Session
were made on that basis. In December
Congress extended the limitation to sixty
days, but made no appropriation therefor,
and the First Comptroller of the Treasury
has telegraphed the Secretary Of Montana
that the Treasury Department cannot sane
ton any expenditure for the Heightened
session. However, some time since resolu-
ton passed both Houses Of the Legislative
Assembly, naming IL o'clock noon of FRI
day next (the fortieth day. as the hour OF
final adjournment, and it seemed that would
terminate the session. To-day, however, the
House resolved that ten days more would be
required to finish up the work Of the session
and sent the resolution to the Council for
concurrence. The Council made the resolu-
ton the special order for 8 O'Clock this even
ing, and again made 1t the special order for
4 O'Clock p. m. on Thursday. While there
Is q large amount of unfinished work on
hand, there does not seem to be more than is
usually on hand within three days Of adj
journment, or more than there would be at the
same time If there were a sixty days'session,
unless the introduction of bills was shut off,
As it stands the Council Is master ofthe situa-
tion, with strong majority In favor of adjourn
ment on Friday, but as there are number Of
Council bills In the House which Council
members are anxious to have 60 through, the
House may hold these back to force the
Council to extend the session. As you have
che Silver Bow bill, synopsis of the laws
enacted, the proceedings Of the Legislature
and the above for this ISSUE, presume 1t Is
all you will desire Of Legislative matter to
diversity your. columns this week. NJ.
FERNANDO WOOD.
The Distinguished Statesman Dies at Hot
Springs, Arkansas. ts
LITTLE Rock, Feb. 14.--Hon. Fernando
Wood, Member Of Congress from New York,
died 1t Hot Springs, at 10 o'clock last night.
rYnr CrnYN~c Eah * H.. Eo~r~~a~