, 1884-03-07

There was considerable excitement
around the legislative halls yesterday
morning on account Of the dispatches
from Washington announcing hat the
bill to extend the Jurisdiction, for judi
cisl purposes, of the territory of Mon
tana owe the Yellowstone National
park had passed the United States sem
ate. In view of the gravity of the stu
alton, President Holiday, of the coun-
Gil, as sooR as that body had convened,
suggested that the reading of the jour-
nal had better be dispensed with for the
time being, and arose to address the
council on the importance Of acting at
once in the matter, and suggested that
as the Yellowstone park bill, which had
passed the day before, be at once put
in proper shape and presented to Gov
ernor Hale for his signature. he dwelt
at some length on the Importance to
this territory Of retaining its jurisdic-
ton over that portion of our territory
which Montana is thus striving to OBJ
tain. The necessity Of doing
thing at once was apparent, and under
suspension Of the rules the Yellowstone
bill, which in the meantime came into
the council slightly amended, the ques-
tion was put on concurring in the
amendments and carried without a dis
senting voice. In answer to a suggestion
as to whether anything had been heard
from Delegate Post at Washington on
the subject, Colonel Babbitt arose and
stated that he had the day before re-
ceived a telegram from Mr.. Post, ask
ing whether anything was being done
in reference to the National park, and
that he had replied to Mr.. Posts in
qHiry, saying that "a strong bill and
memorial was on its passage in the leg
islasure."
Several suggestions were made as to
what ought to be done. 1t was pro-
posed at first that as soon as the bill
was perfected to telegraph the same at
once to Washington in order that it
might be used there by Mr.. Post in his
fight which he is making to the bill
which is now pending in congress, and
which contemplates thedisruption of our
territory. Again it was proposed that
a committee from the legislature be
hurried on to Washington to intercede
in our behalf, and 1t was announced
that Prof. Bailey and possibly Colonel
Downey would go OF to the capital and
cooperate with them in an endeavor to
head off this attempt of dismembering
the territory. Finally, however, it
was decided to pass a joint resolution
in the council containing also a memo
rial reciting in substance the bill which
had been passed the day before, and to
have the same telegraphed to Washing
ton last night.
The joint resolution was therefore
prepared, introduced and passed in the
council under a suspension of the
rules, and toward the close of the after
Moons session the same made its ap-
pearance in the house of representa-
tives where it was promptly taken up
ano acted upon. Here also, as in the
other branch of the legislature, it
passed under a suspension of the rules,
and when the recess was taken last
evening at half past five it was ready
to be sent to the governor for his sigma
ture.
Thus it transpired that our legislators
were warned in time to take prompt
action in this important matter, and
we ought in addition to what has
already been done to take further steps
regardless Of expense to prevent this
great calamity from Detailing our ter
ritory. A strong sentiment prevails
to the effect that if it is thought that a
committee representing the legislature
and people of Wyoming could
strengthen the hands of our delegate in
this matter, then let that committee
be sent at once. To lose the Yellow
stone park now would be a terrible
blow to this territory from which it
might not for years.
The joint resolution above referred
to together with the memorial and the
full text of the Yellowstone park bill,
was telegraphed to Delegate Post last
night by Colonel Babbitt and the legis-
latiye committee designated for that
purpose, and has ere this been received
in Washington. The message consisted
of fOur thousand worda