The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-09-29
vs.. NO APPROPRIA-
TON.

In their effort 10 mollify an offended pub
les sense Of right and wrong the Demo- |
cratic journals Of Montana that have espous-
ed the cause of Major Maginnis for a sixth
term, under circumst ances that were q ira
vestie on all fair expressions of party opln-
ion, are making an immense amount Of fuss
over the appropriations made by Congress
for disbursement within the Territory Of
Montana, since he has been Delegate, and are
arrogating to him all the credit therefore.
We are Lot at all unwilling to gve delegate
Maginnis credit for all he has done, but this
talk about his securing all these appropria-
tions is humbug, and the intelligence Of the
Territory will resent II as such. The esti-
mates for civil and military service, includ-
ing all regular disbursements, are made out
by the local officers In charge OF the several
departments and are forwarded by due course
to the Secretary of the United States Treas
ury. The First Comptroller examines and
subjects them to the provisions Of law gov
erning such appropriations and If they are
found correct they are approved by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury and 60 before the
committee on appropriations. Ninety-nine
times In hundred the appropriations are
made or rejected precisely as recommended
by the Treasury Department, and no inter
position whatever is required from delegate
or any one else. In matters ofspecial legis-
latioD the services of the Delegate are de-
sirable. In list of appropriations now be-
ing published with some eclat as Legislation
proposed by Delegate Maginnis," we find,
"To complete Fort Maginnis, $4,000; i'm
proving the upper Missouri, 100000; im-
proving the Yellowstone, $40, 600; improving
National Park, $4,000; surveying Crow
reservation, $4,000; to carry out the provi-
sions Of the treaty, $780, 900; for support and
civilization of the Crows, $4,000; ditto
Blackfeet, $40, 900; ditto Gros Ventres, $780,
600; ditto Assinaboines, $4,000; ditto Flat
heads, $4,000; Executive aud Legislative
expenses Of the Territory, $4,000; Helena
Assay Office, S27, 900. OF these doubtless all
but the first fye items are provided for by
treaty and statute and are made indepe ndent
of the effort of our Delegate. The fact is
that during the past two years Delegate Ma
ginnis has not done any great service, and II
any one can point oot where he has accom-
plished anything for the West Side counties
we would be glad to see it cited.
On the contrary, we charge Delegate Ma
ginnis with direct and wilful neglect Of what
is not local but a general and important
matter, the tendencies of which are however
more noticeable to us than to other locali-
ties. We refer to his indifference and lack
of effort to secure an appropriation increas-
ing the facilities of the United States Peni.
Tertiary. We have noticed the Congression.
al Record closely, and the claims Delegate
Maginnis' admirers have set up for him,
but In neither case has there been particle
Of evidence that during the past two years
he made any effort whatever to secure the
enlargement of that structure. For the
past SIX years, Grand Juries, Judicial and
Executive officers, the Territorial Legisla-
ture and public journals have repeatedly and
persistently set forth the inadequacy OF the
building to hold the felons of the territory,
and he has been entreated to exercise
small portion Of the omnipotence he Is ac-
credited with IN securing an appropriation OF
$4,000 or $4,000, or the diversion of the In
ternal Revenues of Montana TO that amount,
that the prison may be enlarged to capacity
somewhat approximating the demands made
upon 1t. He has not secured 1t. We do not
find fault with this, because we have no. SO
much faith as Mr.. Houser's friends have In
Major Maginnis' power to control Congress
sional appropriations. What we find fault
with Is that he does not try. There are vast
amounts appropriated to civilize Indians and
precious little good comes of 1t; there are
considerable amounts secured to improve
rivers where the railroads have captured the
traffic, and there was an intimation not long
since that II 100000 were needed to erect
Capital buildings in Helena the efforts OF
Delegate Maginnis could be secured to that
end. But, although the penltentiary Is
densely packed and overcrowdcd; although
on this ground felons are being pardoned out
who do not deserve and should never have
freedom till the last day of judicially adj
judged penalty has been served out: although
this matter has been repeatedly and in the
most urgent manner presented to his
attention; although population and convic-
tions have doubled or THRILLED and the wrong
and injury is ever increasing and prisoners
have ceased to regard their length Of SEN
tence as having any bearing on their term OF
imprisonment, we have waited in vain to see
Delegate Maginnis exercise his potency in
securing the sum required to double the ca
pacity of the prison. We hold that this
point Is well taken; that the neglect merits
. rebuke, and that in face Of the fact the pa
rade made of the old Indian treaty appropria-
tions by the Democratic papers Is not rec
ommendation of their candidate to consider
ate men.