The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-11-03

/ river, celebrated for . brand Of whisky known
- "Rat In the Camp Kettle christened 20
BY X. Bidder. A pilgrim had taken two OF
three drinks Of IL and coming to Biediei
wanted him TO take walk to the cabin Ia
| see the rats In the camp kettle" sMy
friend, said Bidder, ''if you take tive OF
three more drinks of that whisky you will
see whole drove Of elephants in tho camp
kettle" Wilder's Landing Ii point nj
! which supplies for the construction and
maintenance of Fort Maginnis are landed
from Missouri river boats. Some sixty miles
from Helena was Fort Logan, named after a
brave officer, who fell as Big Hole In the de.
| Tense Of Montana's citizens. But II suited
some people ut st. Paul to change this fort
and in the change of location the name alss
was changed. To be sure there was already
one Fort Maginnis In Montana, but two
forts were needed to celebrate so great a
man. At St. Paul il military ring with q
strong appetite for military contracts and
posttraderships. The head Of this ring In
st. Paul Is Mr.. Wilder. A strong member in
Montana Is Mr.. Broadwater. The influence
Of this ring caused the change of Fort Logan
both In location and name. The existence
Of this ring and the fidelity with which Mr..
Maginnis has served its interests at Wash
ington City are matters Of history. / charg-
ed this upon him at Radersburg. His only
reply was that Sherman and Sheridan were
great generals, and he delivered a nlagnif-
cent eulogy upon them-a eulogy that
have greatly admired for the last four or FIVE
. 4.
asked Major Maginnis tn explain IL possible
the relation Of the Northern Pacific railroad
company to certain lands claimed by that
corporation In the Bitter Root valley. Ma
ginnis replied by giving a glowing descrip-
ton Of the beauties of the Bitter Root noun
tains. Which was very much like advising
hungry man to lie on his back and let the
moon shine In his mouth.
Mr.. Maginnis's principal failure az. dele
gate Is in his neglect Of the public and gener.
al interests Of the people Of Montana. The
first Of these Is, failing to urge the admission
Of Montana as State. Only by such pro-
cedure can the citizen of the. Territory reach
full political manhood. Until then, to be a
citizen Of a Territory is to be but n step-child
Of the nation. 1t Is biting sarcasm for the
Territories to celebrate the Fourth Of July In
honor Of revolution against taxation with
out representation. Some complain that the
burden Of State government would be
heavier, but this need not be 30 with care and
prudence. With State government the
grand jury system could BE- abolished-which
Is impossible rs long as the Territorial con-
dition exists. The grand jury system is an
unnecessary, star-chamber, costly plan of Sc
curing punishment TO offenders. 1t can be
aud Is made the means of injuring innocent
men. Ii Is useless procedure. Take MUIR
der case. The coroner's jury passes first upon
IL, writing out the evidence. The examin-
ing Justice does the same. Then comes the
grand jury and again repeats the same work.
At last the district attorney writes out the
indictment, something he could have done a.
well without the Intervention of the grand
jury. Several States have abolished the sys-
tenn and find that the admi nistration Of JUS
tice In just rs effectual without as with the
system. The per diem and mileage paid to
grand jurors, and other expenses consequent
upon the system, will be saved, and will 60
far to tighten the burdens OF State COVER
ment.
The Territorial form of government Is m
anomaly In our political system. When the
Northwest Territory was coded to the gen
cral government, the statesmen looked around
for some authority by which IL could be gov-
srned and found IL in certain passage of the
Constitution, but this passage certainly could
not have been intended to authorize the
erection Of Territorial governments. Now
1t Is held by some that the Territories must
undergo sort Of tutelage-must pass through
q minority before they are admitted n full
grown States. Granting that period Of pro-
baton Is necessary, 10 should not be unduly
protracted. There Is no authority for the as
sertion that the Territory must have popula-
ton sufficient to entitle IL to q member Of
Congress before IL can be admitted M State.
Last winter, in an able, exhaustive argument
for the admission of Washington Territory
Delegate Brent showed that $1,000 popula-
ton was the correct basis for admission.
Upon the session Of the Northwest Territory
1t was provided that three or more StatAs
wnen having population Of &C, zoo. A sim.
liar provision was made after the Louisiana
purchase, which included Montana. Thus a
snail become State upon reaching that pop.
alation. There may be some who doubt the |
existence Of that number In the Territory at /
present. Certainly, no one can doubt that |
by the end Of the two or three YEAR, that |
Will be necessary to complete the steps, the
population will be much greater than Ii
eqnisite for Statehood. But Major Magin-
lis has not make one move In this direction.
Though repeatedly solicited to dc so.
The administration Of Justice Is another
natter requiring reform. Our court Is com.
osed Of Chief and two associate justices,
mo hold courts In the several districts and
iso form the Supreme Court Of the Terri.
Dry When suitor appeals from the de-
sion OF the District Court, he finds sitting
the bench Of the Supreme Court the Judge | I
no decided against him In the court below.
his Is wrong; 1t interferes greatly with the I
'cred right Of appeal. II is human nature !
u one to sustain his own decision. IL in
iman nature, too, to be somewhat partial I
those who are our associates. Reform In Z
Is matter would be easy, rs Is shown in the .
10 OF Dakota. For that Territory Congress ]
'ssed without objection bill making
urth judgeship, and providing that no
dge shall sit on the Supreme bench for the u
cision Of cases appealed from his court be-
w. But Major Maginnis has made no
ort to bring about this reform Another p
long in the same connection Is the small :.
= diem and mileage paid to United States
rors and witnesses. 1t interferes with the 1,
ministration ofjustice. II imposes unne- C
'sary hardships upon many poor men and '
'nen who are not living convenient to the II
ices OF holding courts. The speaker cited q
'eral cases where Montana people had suf. N
ed numerous privations to comply with n
law, receiving but five cents mileage and 4
% per day, and compared their cases with q
u OF Democratic Delegate on his way to i,
ashington. riding in palace car on free q
" and drawing twenty cents a mile there N
from the Government. He showed then N
. the reforms would not sbe difficult OF "a
rying out, by citing the luicknsss with I.
ich Congress doubled the mileage and per 81
IN Of Star Route witnesses living west OF "
Mississippi, when shown that II was al :,