The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-03-04
n LEGISLATURE.

The legislative assembly Of the Ter.
ritory of Montana will adjourn one
week from to-day. Up to this writ
ing neither body has passed upon
measures of vital importance to the
prosperity of the Territory. There
is, however, a large number Of bills
in the hands of committees yet to
he acted upon. Among the most Inn
portant Of these Is the registration
bill, the prize fighting bill, the gamb.
ling bill and the "cow DOCTOR bill.
The frst will die in the committee
room unless its friends bestir them
selves and infuse some life in the
seemingly paraly sed measure. Both
houses have locked horns on the sec
ond and its fate is now uncertain.
The history Of this bill shows that
eminent minds like eminent author
tiles d. not always agree. The orig
NAL bill. declares prize fighting . fell
ony and provides that principals
shall be imprisoned in the peniten-
tiary tor a period of not less than one
year nor more than ten. 1t also i'm
poses a heavy fine upon every one
concerned in one including specta.
tors. In this shape it went through
tie house on the run with only three
opposing votes. It went to the coun
Gil where the spectator clause was
thrown out and the penalty reduced
10 imprisonment In the Territorial
prison to not less than three months
nor more than one year. The house
refused to concur in these amend
ments and appointed a committee of
conference to wrestle with q like
committee from the council over this
little difference of punishment. Un-
less one Of the houses recede or q
compromise b. effected the bill will
go by the board.
The gamb ling bill Is in quite as an
unsatisfac.ory condition. It went
through the house with a whoop and
hurrah with onIysix opposing votes,
but the council stopped it in its rush
for the Governors Office. When 1t
reached that body 1t was referred to
aseIect committee which reported it
to the council in committee of the
whole. It Was again referred to q.
select committee for amendment.
Two reports will be made upon it by
the committee. The majority report
will favor the prohibition of all
percentage games, aud the
removal Of gambling to upper rooms
of buildings, and leave the license to
be regulated by the general license
law. The minority report will sim
ply cut out the clauses in the Forbis,
bill, which are said to be unconsti-
tutional and leave the rest of the
measure as it came from the House.
The report will be acted upon this
week and the fate of the bill will be
decided.
The ''cow doctor" bill is designed
to protect the interests of large cattle
owners. It provides for the employ
ment of a veterinary at a salary Of
three thousand dollars q year, which,
with his travelling expenses. mus. be
paid by the Territory. 1t also pro-
vides for the levying Of a special tax
on all stock, exempting that owned
by any one person, the aggregate
value of which does not exceed $500.
The revenue derived from this tax
can be used only in paying for such
stock as the veterinary may pro-
nounce stricken with an infectious
disease and which he may order to
be killed. The bill may become a
law by reason of the numerical
strength of the "cow boys" in the
Legislature, but being such a pro-
nounced specimen Of class legislation
it Is extremely doubtful whether the
Governors signature can be obtained
to the measure.
The several county division
schemes. with the single exception
Of that looking to the formation of
Fergus comfy will probably Idle
u borniu." MI. Jurgens has intro
duced a bill which contemplates the
disestablishment of Jefferson county
and the parceling of it out among
Lewis and Clarke, Madison and Sill
yer Bow counties. AS far as Silver
Bow county ia concerned we are not
aware that it asks for or wants any
Of Jefferson county, and as
Jefferson has not petitioned for
humiliation at the hands of the
Legislature. 1t is hoped the delega-
lion from this county will interpose
their objection to the scheme.
AS only q week of the session re-
mains, the Legislature Is liable to be
as hasty In its action upon bills US
has been heretofore tardy Ia report
log them. The dangerous" point
10 the session Is now reached. But
IT the counssls of the cooler heads
shall be needed there will be fewer !
made and less work be- !
4ueathed to the next legislative
as sembly.
A Washington correspondent says