The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-02-06
OUR HELENA LETTER.

AA A14Ve
"A Deserved Tribute TO the
Ability OF D sleRates.
A Constitution Strong in Every
, Point.
The Excursion to Clancy, Jefer-
son and Wlckes.
Special Correspondence Of the MINER.
HELENA. Feb. 3, 1884.
The convention has so nearly COM
pleted its work OF substi uting and
amending, that the tmmittee ap.
pointed tn prepare addresses to the
people setting forth the salient fea-
lures Of the Convention, so that
they may vote upon it intellixently,
may now safely go to work. All
along due regard has been paid to the
public sentiment. A suggestion
made at any time by a delegate that
the people Of his county would not
approve q certain provision, has al
ways received due heed, and If the
election was regarded as reasonable,
no word would be interposed to its re-
moval. The Intelligence and fitness
of the delegates for their important
work has been abundantly displayed,
and their devotion to the pnblic in
tere~t has been evidenced in the re.
ports presented by the committees,
and the untiring vigilance with
which these reports have been
amended and revised. 1t is really
crediLable to the Territory that two
/ score men possessing such sound
judgment, such practical q experience
aud such practical aims, could be
found amongst citizens to perform
this important work; and it speaks
we'll for the good sense and level
heads of the people that In selecting
/ agents to work for them. in no one
instance did they fail in putting the
right ma in the right place.
The American Ieple seem to think
that their brothers out in the Terri
tOries-the stepsons of the Republic |
are not fit tn exercise the functions
of freemen, and hence we are de-
prived Of the rights of self govern
nuent. II they could be made aware
Of the wise sounsels that prevail here.
the spirit of harmony and concession
displayed. the utter lack Of personal
motive, AMI the dignity and ,lecorum
that marx the whole proceeding, our
brethren in the States would per-
haps concede to US a fitness for self
rule, and we should hea: lesz injuri-
Gus talk about "the standardization"
tnat exists in the frontier country.
Having the tbirty-eight consti-
tutiOns of our "conste !lation of
State," to Gull from, and practical
judgment to guide the delegates in
their selection, there was nothing to
hinder the instrument they formu-
lated being the best organic law that
has yet been framed. This consider.
alton has guided their deliberations.
and, I believe, will be found
Impressed upon the Constitution they
are about to submit for public
acceptance 1--WE are acting for the
people, and since it il our first duty
to protect their liberties, this can be
best secured by leaving in the hands
the control of public affairs" They
have also stud'"u>ly aimed to pre-
serve that elasticity in the organic
that will adapt to all future
Among the salient poin,s To he
noticed. are, first, a frame of g ,vern.
ment that has been tested by ex-
p%erience, ald contains all the best
qualities to be found in other State
Constitutions, that have ever COM
mended themselves bv their success
full working The coordinate pow
ers Of the Legislature, the executive
and the Judiciary branches ma w been .
carefully preserved, and their due {
left in the hands of the pa0- I
ole, by shearing down the appoint !,
"g power and making every l
Off e cleo i've. In fixing q
compensation of officers, due regard
been had to economy, still the 2
of parsimoay has been :
carefully guarded against, az it was !,
he object of the Convention to rem. q
Ter the public service at ractive to u
he best talent IN the State. The y
essiOns Of the Legislature are bien. !.
hal and restricted to forty days. I
The dispensing power Ia ve>ted in a >
BOARD of pardons, and the bur len of u
Indebtedness is guarded against bv G
provision that the total indebted U
|. 50 of q county must not exceed g
w pC1 COuCs VI AC0 a|oCSSO(l vdlus
.tion, and any public loan over v
10. 1000 in amount, must be Il
authorized by u popular vote. :,
- practicable, has been replaced by II
Ixed salaries. and the corrupting
'ower of railroad corporations re- o
tricted, by making the acceptance or Il
|se Of free passes an offense to Re II
'unished with forfeiture of office. Il
Experimental legislation has not d
cen much favored. The prohibi- u
question has been left to the dis. :!
Of the Legislature, and II
roman suffrage has not been pro- p
lded for, even to the extent of al &c
her tC vote at school cleo q
ons. This was really ungallant in o.
ur bachelor delegates. ~
February 3. ~
The excursion to Wickes rendered ii
MI. s. T. Hauser to the Delegates
, the Convention, the attaches and O,
re press reporters, was made to-day, b
seventy-five persons cOmpOs- | in
lg the excursion party. Sieighs and fe
started from the CosmO- in
Sllldl I1ulcl dL gov v CIOCh, AUu NJ Sc
} precisely the train started off with s,
,e happy company aboard. At "a
'ancy y brief stop was made. also at su
effersOn, and a ride Of five miles r
ON the latter place brought the m
arty to Wickes. Here the works of III
,e Alta Montana Company were A
and as reduction works were
new thing to many Of the visitors. W
lev watched the various processes of a,