The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-02-25
correspondence Of the MINER. a,

4 In the house this morning Forbi
= gave notice of bill to provide fol
the construction of the Montana pen
i itentiary.
f Nichols presented remonstrance
l against the division of Gallatin coun
. ty and the formation of Bridger
county.
Potts. bill to suppress prize Aght
ing was reported back from the com.
mittee of the whole ana placed on its
final passage.
Speer spoke in opposition to the
!, bill. The penalties which are greater
= than those inflicted for man slaughter
} were, in his opinion entirely too Sc
: vere.'
He objected also to various minor
! details of the bill.
Seligman sympathixed with the
obj ect of the bill but thought the
penalties too severe. He thought the
bill should be recommitted with in
structions to modify the penalties.
Forbis replied TO. Speer and Selig-
} man and thought those gentlemen
were acting as obstructionists. The
bill had been fully considered and
the house had repeatedly refused to
modify the penalties. In it's moral
effects prize fighting was as
bad rs mauslaug hter. The lat
ter crime was committed in a
moment of passion, while
prize fighting was premedlated, and
its influence extended to the whole
community. The day had passed
when Montana could afford to allow
gamblers and sluggers to pursue their
neearlous callings. lie was in favor
of this bill even if the penalty were
capital punishment.
Seligman objected to being called
an obstructionist. He did not believe
in extreme measures, and thought
the Legislature should proceed eau
tiously in the enactment of laws, and
that only such laws should be en-
acted as would commend themselves
to all sensible people.
Potts spoke in support of the bill.
The bill passed--aves, 10; noes, ),
Speer, Seligman and Sloan casting
the negative votes.
Biddle, Sloan and Seligman were
appointed by the Speaker as COM
mittee on the part of the House 20 ex-
anime the accounts of the Territorial |
Auditor and Treasurer, in accordance |
with the joint resolution adopted by |
both houses.
The bill introduced by Armstrong
and passed by the council, to amend
section 155 OF the code Of civil pro-
cedure, was read the third time and
passed by the house.
A bill concerning chattel mortgages
introduced by Buck and passed by
the council also passed the house.
THE COUNCIL.
DeWolfe presented the petition and
resolutions adopted by citizens of
Butte in favor of the passage of the bill
to suppress gambling. They were read
and referred to the committee of the
whole for consideration.
Similar petitions from Philipsburg,
Bozeman, Missoula, Boulder Valley
and Gallatin were presented.
COUNCIL BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Greene-To enable the county
of Yellowstone to erect court house
By Buck-Requiring all persons
selling live stock to give bill of sale
of the same.
By Cotant-To prevent the brand
ing of cattle during certain seasons of
he year.
By Greene.-To amend the law in
relation to carrying concealed weap-
Ons.
BY Greene---A memorial to the
President of the United States, COZ
corning the Cheyenne reservation.
Several House bills were received i
and referred to appropriate commit
tees.
A bill relating to the maintenance r
md education of the deaf and dumb
was read third time and passed.
Also bill to ratify and validate
pertain bonds of Choteau county, and ,
The bill for the relief of J. P. Martin, c
probate judge of Gallatin county. y
This afternoon the Forbis bill was S
in committee of the whole t
Kennedy's amendments, which :
we're thought to remove some of the q
objections raised in the other 4
House without weakening the 8
'ill, were not adopted. Ken a
ledy then spoke in support of a
he original bill. He was followed
" DeWolfe in one of the ablest d
peeches of the session. He justified j.
he. prohibition and suppression of 4
'ambling, but opposed the present S
ill. Much of his argument was di- e
ected against the constitutionality l. =
f the last two sections of the bill. II
Buck also spoke in opposition to a
he bill. u
It was evident that a motion to P
commend the passage Of the bill :
7ould be lost, the Council standing =, n
ither = to or to 5 against the bill. s
Chessman then moved that the N
recommend that the bill II
e referred to special committee for y,
which was carried with.
ut dissenting vote. s