The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-01-28

Correspondence of the MINER.
HELENA, Jan. 26. 1885.
District attorneys must 60" Seems
to be the determination of the present
legislature, but when they shall 60
and how their SUCCESSORS shall be ap.
pointed and paid, are matters in re.
gard to which there Is a difference Of
opinion.
One of the first bills Of which
notice was given this session was q
bill by Forbis to abolish the office OF
district attorney and to create the
office Of county attorney. Governor
Carpenter recommended the same
measure in his message. and the
judiciary committee of the council
reported In favor of the passage of
such y law. Forbis introduced his
bill several days ago. On Saturday
Cotant introduced a bill on the sub
ject. which is said to embody the
views of some of the most prominent
members of the Helena bar. Both of
these provide that the present in
cumbents shall hold Until the expira-
ton of their terms of Office. Cotant's
bill provides that the Governor shall
Immediately appoint county at
torneys, and that they shall CO.
operate with district attorneys until
the next general election.
To-day Kennedy gave notice of u
third Till on the subject. which pro
vides that the office of district at
torney shall be Immediately abol-
ished. The distinctive features of
Kennedy's bill are: the present
district attorneys r to be county
attorneys of the counties in which
they reside If they so elect; in other
counties the county commissioners
are tt select county attorneys; at the
next general election and thereafter
all are to be elected by the people ;
the salary is fixed at 81, 200 per year,
one-half to be paid by the Territory
and one-half by the county. They
are also to receive fees for each
trial and conviction, to be collected,
however, from the dsfendant,an ten
per cent on all IN ,neys collected and
on all forfeited ronds and recogni-
zances. Cotant's bill provides that
they shall be paid by s,lary without
any fees.
BILLS PASSED IN THE COUNCIL
Council bill No. Is, to amend Sec
ton n, chapter 6 Of the criminal
practice act, introduced by Greene,
reached its third reading to-day.
explaine ed the object OF the
bill.
Section n at present provides that
when q complaint is made before any
magistrate, charging any person
with the commission OF a public Of
fence within his Jurisdiction, it shall
be the duty of such magistrate 10 is
sue q warrant Immediately for the
arrest tf the offender. Under
the provisions Of this law it Is
said that frequently trumped-up
charges are made for the purpose
Of securing the fees of officers, and in
this way the counties have been ex-
posed to great expense. The section
IS amended requires the magistrateto
examine the complainant under
oath and ascertain what his
knowledge Of the ofense is, and the
is not req ulred to issue his
warrant unless he Is satisfied that
here is probable cause to believe that
an offense has been committed with
his Jurisdiction. The bill passed
The Coun neil unanimously.
GAME LAWS.
Card well, from the committee on
towns and counties, reported in favor
Of the passage of Council bill No.
to amend an act to protect game,
fur-bearing animals and fish. The
general nature of the bill is to pro-
.ibit the killing of game at all sea-
sons of the year for market, or for
speculative purposes. 1t extends the
time for killing grouse and prairie
chickens from August 18th to Sep
LIST, but prohibits killing
them at any time for sale. Ifit passes,
hereafter every man will have to kill
his own game, to be careful when he
kills it, and to be sure he eats all he
kills.
NOTICES OF COUNCIL BILLS.
BY Greene-To amend section 342,
fifth division of the revised statutes.
By Buck-To amend the city
of Benton.