The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-13
A PROTEST AGAINST DIVISION.


APRoTEsT AGAINST DIVISION.
A MissouIa Correspondent Gives His visws.
Correspondence Nao North-Hest.
As bills are being introduced in the pres
entLegislature tending to nearly obliterate
Missoula county from the map Of Montana,
and - misrepresentation Is rife and ne device
deemed unlawful to further the ends Of the
projectors of these bills, we must ask little
Of your space fer the purpose Of giving a
few facts in relation to this iniquitous scheme,
which will, we think. prove interesting read
ing to the divisisnists in both branches Of the
Legislature.
In the first place, we will premise that we
believe Representative Emigh to be an hon
est man; . man open to conviction and
DESTROYS Of doing the best possible fer his
constituents. And eur belief is now, in view
OF the great change in public sentiment, that
were 1t not for strong personal feeling against
many parties Presidents of Misssula), he
would not SO strenususly advocate the pas
sage Of an act of benefit to the few, and Of
great evil to the many. But, unfortunately,
these feelings are the mainsprings to most of
our actions. The first petition from Bitter
Root valley, accompanying the bill presented
by Representative Enigh, praying for divis-
ion, purportsd to have been signed by SO
taxpayers Of that section. Upon reference
to the assessment roll In Missoula county for
1884, 1t was found that Al Of these signers
paid no taxes, and the remaining 4s only on
amounts ranging from $40 to $500. Again,
the original bill creating Bitter Root county,
fixed the county seat at Corvallis. About 200
names were obtained praying for division,
but claiming that the choice of county seat
be left to the people Of the proposed county.
In case an amendment Of that kind was at
tached to the bill the petition was to be used
fer division. II not, against It! Prominent
gentlemen of the Bitter Root petition tele-
graphed their member to this effect, and re-
ceived an answer that the bill would be so
amended. On the strength Of this the petit
ton was forwarded, but the wishes Of the
petitioners were entirely disregarded and
their names used to promote the cause Of
division, pure and simple.
Again, in the Herald of February 6, Repre-
sentative Emigh claims that the revenue re-
Root valley would amount to 1868 annu-
ally, when Is q matter Of fact the revenue for
the year 1884 amounted to only little oyer
half that amount. In the Herald Of same
date Representative Eastman claims that q
majority of the heavy taxpayers of Bitter |
Root valley were in favor of division. A
petition containing over one hundred sigma |
lures Of bona fide taxpayers, sent to Council |
man Kennedy, sufficiently contradicts this |
assertion. Mr.. Eastman also states that the |
tax levy for 1884 was % mills, and that under |
debtedness was increased $4,000 (nsthing |
like round numbers in these cases). In refu- |
tation Of that assertion, and we will back 1t |
by afidavits, IL necessary, we will state that |
the tax levy for 1884 was col mills, and that |
the expenses of the county did not exceed |
the revenues one dollar.
We also object to the undue prominence
given to the visit of any gentleman from
Bitter Root to the Territorial Capital. Such /
personals given (unknowingly, Of csurse,)
have q tendency to mislead. We quote |
again from the Herald Of Feb. 8: Anderson
Buker, one of the Oldest residents and one |
Of the heaviest taxpayers Of the Bitter Root
valley, is on a visit to Helena. Mr.. Buker
favors the creation Of . new county" SC. |
As matter of fact Mr.. Buker Is an old resi-
dent, but the heavy taxpayer part we en-
phatically deny. In 1884 he was assessed for
$3.50, and his influence for or against dI vision
should be measured by the proportion of the
entire assessment that hs represents.
Again, the Bitter Root valley draws from
this portion of Missoula county nearly 81, 500
per annum fer school purposes, which ena-
bles them to support COED schools during
major portion of the year. In case Of divis-
ion they must depend upon their own assess
ment entirely, and putting the levy for school
purposes at Its highest "A mills, they would
rot have half the school fund they enjoy ut
present. Personally We do not care how
many counties are made, Or hsw many new
sets of ofice-hsldsrs are foistsd upon the
people, but we do object seriously to the
loss Of political influence we will sustain as q
county by the division scheme. There will
be three little ene-horse counties, neither Of
them capable of paying their officers; We
will be obliged to have joint councilmen and
Joint representatives, and the county holding
the balance Of power will always dictate
terms to the other two in the matter Of their
selection.
We would also call the attention Of the
people to another phase of this vexed ques-
lion. As Missoula county stands at present,
nome Of her officers are overpaid. Divided,
and salaries must necessarily be
reduced. Capable men will not give their
lime and attention to county Offices unless
they can do as well in them as they can in
other branches Of business. The consequence
will be, under the system Of reduced salaries
and reduced fees, that the offices of trust will
be filled by incompetent and untrustworthy
men, and fraud, deceit, sxtortion, and prob
Ably embezzlement, will become common
among officers who are underpaid, but who
must perforce make living out of their in
Another question, and we drop the county
division business, and hope that the Council
will serve II In the same manner. At the
November election, 1884, q great many new
officers were elected. These at tho time
Knew what they were to expect, and at the
lime their bonds were fled entered into q
,ontract with the people to perform certain
iuties, for which they were to receive GER
ain emolunsnts. How can any body of
fair-minded men-legislate these
officers out of position or out Of salaries. We
iont think they can or will, but II they do
twill be an act Of rank injustice, and ons
hat will not rebound to the credit Of this
Fourteenth Legislative Assembly.
VERITAs.
Missoula, Feb. 10, 1885.