The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-18
Regarding Special Legislation.

i DeloW We give the law pronlDluh&
the passage of local or special laws in
the Territories of the United States, to
limit Territorial Indebtedness, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assembled, That
the legislatures of the Territory of the
United States now or hereafter to be
organized shall not pass local or special
laws in any of the following enumerated
cases, that is to say:
Granting divorces.
Changing the names of persons or
places.
Laying out, opening, and working
roads or highways.
Vacating roads, town plats, streets,
alleys and public grounds.
Locating or changing county seats.
Regulating county and township affairs.
Regulating the practice in courts OF
justice.
Regulating the classification and duties
ofjustices ofthe peace, police magistrates,
and constables.
Providing for changes of venue in civil
and criminal cases.
Incorporating cities, towns, or villages.
or changing or amending the charter of
any town, city, or village,
For the punishment of crimes or
misdemeanors.
For the assessment and collection of
taxes for Territorial, county, township,
or road purposes.
summoning and impaneling grand or
petit jurors.
Providing for the management of COM
mon schools.
Regulating the rate of interest on
money.
The opening and conducting of any
election or designating the place of
voting
The sale or mortgage of real estate be-
longing to minors or others under dis
ability
The protection of game or fish.
Chartering or licensing ferries or toll
bridges.
Renting fines, penalties, or forfeit
ures.
Creating, increasing, or decreasing fees
percentage, or allowances of public of
ficers during the term for which said
officers are elected or appointed.
Changing the law of descent.
Granting to any corporation, as8ocia-
ton, or individual the right to lay down
railroad tracks, or amending existing
charters for such purpose.
Granting to any corporation, associa-
ton, or individual any special or ex
elusive privilege, immunity, or franchise
whatever.
In all other cases where a general law
can be made applicable, no special law
shall be enacted in any of the Territories
of the United States by the Territorial
legislatures thereof.
Sec. 2. That no Territory ofthe United
States now or hereafter to be organized,
or any political or municipal corporation
DR. subdivision of anv such Territory,
hereafter make any subscription to the
capital stock of any incorporated COM
Dany, or company or association having
corporate powers, or in any manner loan
is credit to or use it for the benefit Of
my such company or association, or
borrow any money for the use of any
juch company or association.
SEC. 3. That no law of any Territorial
legislature shall authorize any debt to
,e contracted by or on behalf of such !
Territory except in the following cases:
70 meet casual deficit in the revenues,
o pay the interest upon the Territorial
lebt, to suppress instructions, or to
provide for the public defense, except /
hat in addition to any indebtedness
reated for such purposes. the legislature
nay authorize a loan for the erection of /
renal, charitable or educational institu-
ions for such Territory, if the total in
Iebtedness of the Territory is not there
" made to exceed one per centum upon
he assessed value of the taxable pro-
oerty in such Territory as shown by the
asst general assessment for taxation. And |
thing in this act shall be construed to /
rohibit the refundin of any existing /
of such Territory or OF any
Dlitical ormunicipal corporation, county,
r other subdivisions therein.
SEC 4. That no political or municipal
orpora ton, county, or other subdivision
a any of the Territories of the United .
states shall ever become indebted ID any .
4 amer or for any puTpos to any amour
n the aggregate, including existing in
exceeding four per centum
m the value Of the taxable property
it in such corporation. country or sub
livision, to be ascertained by the last as
Tor Territorial and county tax
,revious to the mourning of such in
and all bonds or obligations
/ excess of such amount given by such
shall be void; That moth
lg in thi act contained shall be so con-
rued as to affect the validity of any act
+ any Territorial legislature heretofor
nacted, or of any obligations existing or
Hereunder, nor to preclude
he issuing Of bonds already contracted
# in pursuance of express provisions of
w; nor to prevent and Territorial
egislautre from legalizing the act OF any
,unty, municipal. corporation, or sub
vision of any territory as to any bonds
eretofOr issued o. contracted to be is
led.
SEE. 5. That section eighteen hundred
nd eighty lime, tile twenty three, of
e Revised Statutes of the United
ates be amended to read as follows
"The legislative assemblies of the
veral Territories shall not grant private
arters or special privileges, bat they
az, by general incorporation acts, per-
it persons to associate themselves to
Their as bodies corporate for mining,
and other industrial pur
;ts aDd far conductino the husinesS of