The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-02-08
Delayed Editorial Correspondence.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The Ship Of State Encounters Rough Seas,
hut Sails Safely On.

HELENA, Jan. 29.-Absence from Satur-
day morning until Monday evening, and
three sessions day at present, breaks the
continuity and limits the scope of your edi-
torial correspondence this week; but unless
some Ill betide | shall endeavor henceforth,
until we moor the good ship, "Constitution,"
safely in the harbor, to be on duty.
Saturday was devoted principally to con-
sidering the report of the committee on Edu-
cation, which on Monday was adopted with
amendments and referred to the committee
on engrossment. Finding it impracticable to
obtain correct copies of the reports before
their return from that committee, after
which they will not be subject to amend
ment, defer any attempt to give their text
at present, leaving the summariser of Conven-
ton doings to give the salient points in his
department
Monday morning the report of the COM
mttee on Corporations, Pemberton chair
man, was considered in committee of the
whole and amended and amplified by addi-
nonal sections. Ii Is believed that as re-
ported back and adopted by the Convention,
1t is adequate, comprehensive and complete,
and as equitable in its provisions as relates
to the public and TO corporations rs could be
devised. Monday afternoon was devoted TO
consideration Of the committees on Bounda-
ries and Public Lands, Stephens chairman ;
Rights of Suffrage, CHOPPER chairman. and
ApportiOnment and Representation, Gala
way chairman. The amendments TO these
were few and did not elicit much dis cussion
Monday evening the report of the committee
on the Executive Department, Mills chair
man, was considered in committee of the
whole. This morning the chairman of the
committee Of the whole reported these back
and they were generally ordered engrossed
without much amendment.
The Executive Department report, how.
ever, attracted the lightning and for time
the electric storm was violent. The first on
set was against section II, providing the
Governor should not be elected U. s. Senate.
during his term as Governor. The next to the
youngest member of the Convention, Mr..
Hunt, of Fort Benton, moved the section be
stricken out and supported his motion with
a speech Of brilliant eloquence and toucfl
of pathos that charmed even the opponents.
Several members participated in the discus
sion and the section was stricken ont by a
vote of 20 to Is. 1t had passed the commit
tee of the whole the previous evening by 10
to Is, but its friends got the worst of il sin
the draw" and what l believe was most
excellent provision, was eliminated.
d., /, 4
sue in the Convention-that of the salaries of
State officers-which set the big guns boom
ing. The committee had reported the salary
of the Governor at $1,000; Secretary of State,
5000; Auditor Treasurer, Attorney Gen
eral and Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, each $1,000. In committee of the whole
last evening the salary of Governor had been
raised to 5000. To-day there were, pre-
sumo, eight or ten amendments establishing
greater or lesser sums for each, and the de-
bates thereon covered nearly every subject
except sacred history. After IL was all over,
the salary of the Governor had been fixed at
5000 and the other salaries were adopted as
first reported. They were made to include
only the first term, instead of the first two
terms. The Legislature thereafter fixes the
salary The power of the Governor as re-
lates to removing officers of his own appoint
ment was taken away, ten days given him to
consider bills and few verbal changes made.
File No. 3 came out of the ordeal, not I'M
scathed, but less disfgured than could have
been hoped for, and, believe, improved as
an entirety in Its trial by fire.
But the contest over this proved but a
skirmish to the general engagement that fol-
lowed, when resolution, originally intro
duced by Galloway, prohibiting all State,
Legislative, county, district and precinct
officers from receiving and using railroad or
stage passes, under penalty of forfeiture OF
office, was reported adversely by the CON-
mittee. Galloway, Clark. Hedges and Eaton
supported, and Toole, Pemberton and Vivion
opposed the resolution. 1t was the heaviest
encounter that has occurred during the ses-
sion, and any member who didu't haye an
air compressor in his chest, a dictionary in
his mouth, and the entire upper story Of his
head full of ideas, had no particular business
in the line of fire. Mr.. Pemberton claimed
1t was an imputation upon the integrity of
officials; Mr.. Hedges showed like enact
ment was in the laws of Montana; Mr.. Toole
asserted it was legislation and not consti-
tutional principle; Mr.. Clark showed that
the United States had adopted an amend
ment to its constitution de-citizenizing those
who received titles, ETC., from foreign pow
ers; and Mr.. Galloway read similar section
to that proposed Ia the constitution of Cali
fornia 1t was stated that no man could be
influenced by pass. Mr.. Eaton avowed
that no man could accept courtesy or favor
without disposition to reciprocate it. And
so the battle swayed IN elaborate speeches to
and fro, sometimes over the same ground,
and again new vantage points being gained
for an hour or two. Finally the committee,
by vote of about 20 to IS, repo ted the reso-
luton adversely. But the end is not yet 1t
will come M tomorrow in a form that will
divest 1t of the objection that II is penal leg
islation, and think will carry.
And here let me make an explanation that
1 find desirable that your readers may not
nisinterpret the actions of the Convention.
During my recent leave of absence, / was in
terrogated as to why the Convention voted
down the report Of the Committee on Towns
and Counties, prohibiting any subsidies.
Because it was the sense of the Convention
that the prohibition did not properly belong
in that place, and 1t knew tbs Commi ttee on
Finance, etc. would report more complete
and comprehensive section covering that
and all other forms of subsidy That report
was adopted to-day unanimously Again,
measures are introduced that are entirely
legislative In their nature, and are properly
stricken out OF an instrument that should be
one of purely fundamental law, and left for
legislative enactment. a very remarkable
instance Of that kind occurred at rhis even
ing's session. The report OF the committee
Of seven members, Norman chairman, on
mining, wafer and water rights. six sections