The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-01-26
OUR HELENA LETTER.
A Busy Day in Committee Of the
Whole.
Portions Of the Constitution Con.
sidored.

0pCCA6l CORRESPONDENCE Oh the MINER.
HELENA, Jan. Is, 1884.
T0-day's session was devoted prin.
cipally to considering several reaolu.
tons in COMMITTEE of the Whole.
After disposing of some minor husi-
ness the Convention went into COM
mittee Of the Whole, with Langhorne
in the chair, for the consideration of
the resolution relating to city, comfy
and town organizations.
1t first provides that the several
c0uDties as they now exist, are de-
clare d to be the counties Of the State.
On motion the words until such
counties shall be otherwise estab-
lished'' we're added to the section and
it was adopted in that form.
The second section provides that
no county seat shall be removed up-
less by a majority of the qualified
electors of the county voting there
on ut a general election, and that no
eli ction for removing the county
seat of a county shall be held oftener
than once in four years. After a few
amendmen 8 changing the rhraseol
Ogy, but not the meaning of the sec-
ton. it was adopted.
Section third, providingthat no part
of one county shall be stricken off
and added to an adjoining county
without first submitting the question
to and gaining the consent of q ma
jOrity of the qualified voters Of the
county from which the territory is to
be taken, was next read.
Various amendments were offered
and rejected. Finally Vivion offered
a substitute, which was amended to
read as follows: 1.-THE Legislative
Assembly may provide by general
law the manner in which any por-
ton Of any county can be stricken
off of one county and added to an.
other, or for the formation of a new
county,"
This was adopted.
Section four provides that in all
cases of the establishment of any
new county the new county shall be
held to pay its proportion of all the
existing liabilities of the county or
counties from which such new coun-
ty shall be formed.
Gala way offered an amendment
that no new coun'y shall contain q
less area than 900 square miles.
Dixon moved to amend the section
so that In forming a new county it
shall not lose Its proper share of the
value of county buildings, improve
ments, etc., in the Old county or
ceunties from which it is formed.
The motion was put to a vote and
carried, after which the section, as
amended, was adopted.
Section nine provides that the
county judge and commissioners
shall hold Office for four years, and
that where the population of q county
hall exceed 10000 the board of coun-
ty commissioners shall consist of live
members (including the county
jud9e) and that vacancies may be
filled by appointment of the Govern
or, by and with the consent OF the
Senate.
Dixon moved to amend 80 that the
county judge shall hold his office two
wears and the commissi ,ners four
years. Adopted.
Howell moved to strike out the
last clause, "by and with the consent
of The Senate" Adopted.
Collins moved to strike out 10000
and insert 5000 as the population
Necessary for u county to have in Or
der that it may elect five commits
sioners. Adopted. The section
passed as thus amended.
Considerable discussion ar SO il
regard to section ten, providing for
county of1cers-one clerk, oAe sher-
lift, one treasurer, n assessor, one
surveyor aud one coroner-to hold |
office for two years.
Stevens was in favor of empower
ing the commissioners to remove an
assessor and appoint a successor.
Mccormick thought the commits
sioners should be given the same
power in relation to the Office of Su-
p%erintendent of schools.
PembertOn said if that was to Oe the
rule it would be rs we'll to include all
Officers even up to the highest. But
he cid not believe in One.man power
or in giving to any body OF men the
privileges that properly belonged to
the people.
Clark cOncurred in Mr.. Pember-
position IN the question.
Mccormick thought that the two
offices under discu. sion, when vacant,
should be filled bv appointment.
Vivion took a different view of the
:a~e
Stephens amendment was put to a
and lost.
Hedges moved that the first part of
The section be amended so as to pro.
vide that the legislature shall provide
~ law for the election of the officers
named. This was adopted, and with
or two other slight amendments,