The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-10-18
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION,

wherever two Or more persons were
gathered together. INDUCING In earnest
conversation, ii would have been pretty
safe to bet they were discussing q
phase Of the reservation -busineas.
At least nine out Of ten Of the people
one met ON the streets, and who gave
the subject any consideration at all,
were mad about something, and for
many 9 day there has not been SD much
righteous indignation let loose ct the
river metropolis. When the facts in the
case are considered there is not much 10
be surprised at.
From the very beginning it has seemed
TO be the purpose OF the Autocrat in the
premises 20 confuse the people as much
as possible. and the result could hardly
have been Knore satisfactory.
All the desirable locations are held by
O favored few, and although some are
inclined to 'tkick against the pricks," it
Is absolutely needless on their part to do
so.
1T was stated CT cathedsn, we believe,
that there WIS no compromise with
Paddy Murphy, who claims 8 ranch on
the reservation, and ON the strength OF
this announcement agood many citizens
staked off lots, and even erected tents,
inside OF Murphy's fence. A good many
made Out their applications for these
locations, paying g. dollar in each case to
the notary public, when MI. Murphy
appears upon the scene and Informed
the anxious public that he had accom-
piished what he went to the capital for
and that he would hold the fifty-two
acres he had under fence. Yesterday
morning Murphy fled upon his entire
ranch, nearly three hundred lots, and
gave to the probate judge check for the
amount, $1,000 we believe. Does this
look as If there was no compromise or
agreed arrangement of some kind? The
parties who had stakes Or tents on the
ground were not slow to take the hint
and abandon tho4r claims for the present
at least, even though their experience
cost thu M q notartal fee of two dollars!
A great many people are justly indig-
nant at the methods OF the probate judge
In receiving applications. In some cases
the same lots have been filed upon by
from tea to twenty different parties and
scores of others by y less number, but
more than a party. In nine cases out
Of ten the duplicate Tor whatever null
tiple 1t may beg entry would not be made
If the parties were wax that there vas
& prior entry. There has been no effort
made to keep q list of the lots filed upon,
or TO check OF the SAME, for the inforn,a-
ton Of the public. and when the ques-
ton YVES asked the probate judge he
would t%xutl1fully answer that he didn't
know anything about 1t. In fact, he
didn't want to know. Now what is the
RESULT A. & aud c file upon the same
lots. Each Of them has paid 8 fee to the
notary; each has paid SlA to the probate
judge; each may labor under the belief
that he is the only applicant for the
lots, and If he thought it otherwise he
would probably not have touched them.
In cour5e of time one or more Of them
learn the situation, and rather than go
into q contest for lots worth but little
If any more than sl4, retire from the
field In disgust. The money that might
have been invested in lots v G which
there would have been no contest re-
mains in Tattan's hands for at least two
months, and In most cases q good deal
longer. IF the record Of entries was be-
fore them tsaese losses would not be in
Cured. Otherwise, however, it would
not be as much money in the pocket OF
the probate Judge. But 1t Is nothing
less than an outrage on the people.
Another question. Is the probate judge
entitled to his fee of four dollars at this
time? We submit the law on the
subject. Section 1918 Of the townsite
act says:
Each claimant shall deposit with the
probate judge, or corporate authorities,
as the case may be, at the time of filing
his statement rs aforesaid. thesum of ten
dollars for each lot claimed, rs the pur-
chase money thereof. whichishall be inn
mediately deposed with the county treas
urer, etc.
This stipulates the price OF the lot.
Now, reverting to section 1914 Of the
am act. we find the following in refer
enee to the fees OF the probate judge:
The fees Of the pr~olatejudge. or cor
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