The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-23

.ontana. w ednesday, j
with this convention than has any other
citizen. He certainly has no authority
he certainly has no veto. However, ii
he desires, or if any other citizen de-
sres, to address this convention or me-
morialiZe it, that address or memorial, [
doubt not, will be received by the con-
vention. AS far as the joint resolution
calling convention is concerned, the
only official of the territory who is di-
rectly interested in the convention is
the secretary. [ am opposed to that
sort Of proceedings that will admit OF
toadying to officers. Though All officer
[ don't know whether the governor Of
this territory is citizen of the United
States or not, or even of the territory.
For all [ know, he is just as liable to be
d subject Of the king of Italy as a citizen
of the territory of Montana. [ move to
lay the resolution on the table. (Ap-
plause.)
The question being upon the motion
to table the resolution, the motion was
lost, many of the members evidently
supposing they were voting on the pass
age Of the resolution. The question
|
olution.
Merriman-Mr. President, / would
/ like to insert in that resolution. in addi-
ton to the governor, the postmaster of
this place. Laughter.)
/ Galloway second the motion.
| DiXon-I move that this matter be in
definitely postponed. Seconded and
carried.
Galloway asked if something could
not be done toward either securing Il
more suitable hall or rearranging the
seats in this hall
Pemberton also spoke in favor of mov
| ing somewhere else, and said he under
| stood that the academy Of music could
| be secured
! Mills stated that the academy OF mu
sic was already engaged for some other
purpose; besides, it was poorly lighted.
He thought. however, that the court
house might be had
HELENA, January II.
| The convention moved to-day from
Paynter's hall to Harmonic hall, as the
former was too small and the acoustic
| properties very unsatisfactory.
| The standing committees were APP
pointed, members being selected who
l.
of the respective committees, no party
| line being drawn though the democrats
have a majority.
| Mcclure, of BoZeman, presented a
communication sugges ting that in franz
| ing the constitution the titles of COVER
| nor and lieutenant governor be discard
| ed and president and vice president be
substituted. Referred to the committee
of executive department.
Douglas offered a resolution that this
convention memorialize congress for an
appropriation of S5O0,000 for the erection
Of public buildings III Montana, 10000
acres of land for the improvement of the
| Missouri river above the great falls,
| 90, 900 acres for the improvement Of the
Yellowstone river, 10000 acres for the
public schools and 80, 200 acres for the
Montana state college.
On motion of Collins the resolution
was laid on the table to be referred to
pointed.
HELENA January Is.
The president called the convention
to order at 10 o'clock. A heW member
for Gallatin county appeared in his seat
and was sworn in by the president. The
president then stated that he had as
signed Ferris a place on the two stand
ing committees Of rights of suffrage and
boundaries, public lands and homestead
exemptions.
Collins moved that all resolutions pre-
sented relating to the subject matter of
constitution should be referred to the
appropriate committees by the president
without any motion. The motion was
not acted on.
Smith offered the following:
Resolued, That the following shall
constitute the article Oh the judiciary of
the state: The judicial power of the
state Of Montana shall be vested in su-
preme court, district courts, probate
courts, courts of justices of the peace,
and police courts. The supreme court
shall consist Of four judges, who shall
hold their offices for a term Of eight
| years. The state Of Montana shall be
| divided into four districts as nearly
equal according to population as practi-
cable, and one judge of the supreme
court shall be elected from each district,
and the first judge elected from the first
district shall hold for two years only,
when successor shall be elected for
full term, and the first judge elected
from the second district shall hold his
office for four years, when a successor
shall be elected for full term, and the
first Judge elected from the third district
shall be elected for six years, and sue
cessor shall thereafter be elected for
full term. No person shall be elected
as judge of the supreme court unless he
shall have been practising lawyer for
eight years next preceding his election
and shall have been citizen of the
United States and of the state of Mon
tana for at least one year. The qualifi-