The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-26

adonted. There b nothing that legis'ar
to.. arc more jealoas' Of than fair and
eoual representation. In this respect
they always guard the rights and Inter
~ az their constituents. No appor-
t,onment bill can be framed that IL OK
.ctlv and mathematically correct. while
4. Territory IL subdivided into ooon ties
ar districts. The best that can be done
Il to observe fairness and equality and
aim 1t exactness ~ far ~ fsirness and
equality Of representation will allow.
This the Legislature dtd-and by q
unanimous vote of enc house and a
minority Of more than three to one IN
the other passed the bill which the
Governor pocketsd and thus prevented
from becoming . law. In doing this
the Governor no doubt exercised pre-
rogative given him by law, but his act
was contrary alike to the theory on
which territorial governments rest, and
to the interests and welfare Of our people
CONTRARY to theory-for 1t has already
been shown that Congress regards
questions Of this kind ~ purely local
and to be regulated by the people them
selves or their immediate representa-
contrary to the bet interests OF
tho people, for in matter like this they
are the best aud should be the final
judges. Congress refuses to act
because to do 20 would be in
violation Of the principle Of local self.
government, but a Governor appointed
by q CO ordinate branch of the general
government, and who is in no way re-
sponsible to the people for his acts, de-
feats the will of the people by thus 81
lently ignoring their expressed will: /
venture to say that no Governor OF u
State would be 50 bold as to act In the
way that our Territorial Governor has
done i'm this instance i'm matter direct
~ affecting the rights Of the people. II
the Governor of State did not
would at least feel asufticfent u
accountability to state his oljec-
tons to 1t, and give the representa-
tSVeO VI VIC tJVOPS0 as OpI'"ssuu.Sy VStOC'
of overcoming the objection by their
vote, or otherwise, Of conforming there
to By amending the net.
But this II of the past, ard the qles-
ton recurs what are we to do to get out
of the difficulty we are in? Congress il
busy with other matters more vital tn
the country and to parties than repre-
sentati0n In q Territorial Legislature.
and probably would not act in any
event. The Governor 80 fal as the pub
lie Knows il careless and unc0ncerned.
II something IL not done the richest and
most popul0us county in the Territory
will be without representation in the
next LEGISLATURE and the county of
Deer Lodge will have doubled up in
representation, or the representation to
which both it and Silver Bow county
would otherwise Ike entitled. There
Is little time for delay. II the Governor
will not actor at least signify his in
tentiOn to act-the people of the county
should sign and forward to Delegate
Maginnis y petition setting forth the
facts and their cauSe, and ask relief at
the hands Of Congress either by the APP
pointment Of another appOrtiOnment
board like that of 1850 OF other legisla-
ton that will relieve us from our pres
ent embarrassment. In the meantime
~ one Of the people may ask that this
matter engage more attention from the
local press than it has in the lsast.
BUTTE, April p, 1882. CITIZEN.