The semi-weekly miner., 1885-01-28

Lines, Ohicial Duties,
Gambling, Etc.
Organization and Compensation Of
Militia.
HELENA, NJ. T., Jan. q, 1855.
To-day the committees on ways and
means and on judiciary in both hous-
es announced that they had appoint
ed a. clerks the gentlemen named in
my letter yesterday.
The appointment of Mr.. ]. w.
Kemper as clerk OF the judiciary
committee of the council Is an excel
lent one.
BILLS PASSED IN THE COUNCIL.
Council bill No. 8, to amend Sec
ton SIS, fifth division of the revised
statutes, relating to Official oaths, In.
troduced by DeWolfe, Of Silver Bow,
reached its third reading to-day.
DeWolfe explained the object Of the
bill and said: 1.-THE motive for intro
ducing it is simply to correct what
deem to be useless provision OF the
present law. Section 575, a. 1t now
stands, requires all officers to take
and snbscribe an oath that they have
not paid or contributed. or promised
to pay or contribute, direct tly or lndi
rectly, any money or other valuable
thing, to procure their nomination or
election. This appears to me useless,
and for myself somewhat humiliat-
ing. felt it the other day on taking
the oath of this body. When a man
is elected to office he is presumed to
be entirely innocent. and 1 cannot
see any more reason for requiring
him to take such an oath than for
requiring him to take an oath that he
has not stolen anything. Other Sec
tions of the statutes amply provide
against bribery at elections and pro-
vide tor its punishment. No officer
who would be guilty of violating
those provisions would hesitate to
take the oath, and 1, is rather an in |
centive to perjury than q means Of |
preventing corruption" This bill |
only requires an officer to take an
oath to support, protect and defend |
the constitution Of the United States
and the laws of Montana Territory,
and: to discharge to the best of his
ability the duties of bis office.
The bill then passed in the council,
Kennedy alone voting against it.
Council bill No. regulating the
attachmeht of real estate was ex.
planned by Buck and passed unani-
mously,
Council joint memorial No. l, in
relation to reservations and restric-
tions in Northern Pacific land deeds
and contracts, introduced by Ken
nedy, reached third reading, but
on motion of Greene. was recom-
mitted to the judiciary committee.
House joint-resolution No. 5, ap-
2ropriating' $9S.75 for the relief Of
Fisk Bros, of Helena, to pay for
printing tickets for voting ON the
Territorial Constitution, already
passed by the house, was reported
from the committee on ways and
means, without any recommends
tion, but passed by a vote OF 9 to 3.
COUNCIL BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Greene: A bill in relation to {
the taxation of telegraph lines for
the payment of tax of twenty-five
cents on each mile of wire in lieu of
all other taxation whether territorial
Or local.
BY Greene: A bill to amend Sec :
ion n, chapter 6. of the criminal q
practice act, providing that when q
complaint is made before a magis- = !.
rate it shall be his duty to examine
he complainant under oath and re
luce the evidence to writing before 9
ssuing a warrant for the arrest of .
he offender
THE HOUSE. Il
A message from the governor was = =
cad announcing that he had signed t1
ouse joint-resolution No. l, for the b
ppointment OF committee clerks; also 8
ouse joint resolution No. 2, for the u
eilef of w. A. Clark, also, house d
No, 3, approyriating v
j, 900 for the expenses of Montana's q
xhibit at the New Orleans Exposl. y
On. =
Forbis presented petition from
ne photographers of Butte asking 4
nat the present tax of $3.50 per
mum upon their business be re- 4
lOved. The petition was referred to :
ne committee on ways and means. {
Hatch, chairman of committee on \
erritorial affairs, to which was re-
erred the communication from the
Governor in relation to the American
Exhibition TO be held in London in
sS6. recommended that Montana be 4
at the exhibition, but j.
lat the expense of the exhibit be o.
let by public subscription, and that
le Governor appoint two Commits
oners to attend and represent the {
NOTICES OF HOUSE BILLS. liz
BY Forbis-A bill regulating assess.
lent life insurance companies. :.
BY Seligman-A bill concerning 1