The Helena independent., 1889-03-15
AZ Anonrnr rsrnrArIoN.

The last legislative assembly OF the
territory OF Montana made an abortive
attempt, In the last days OF its otherwise
uneyentful existence, 10 usurp a power
which act OF congress has conflded In the
constitutional convention that is TO as
semble in this city on July Of this
year. The attempt Of the legislative as
sembly was OF so ridiculous character
that IL can but bring into contempt those
who led and those who blIndly followed.
The determination TO put through, on
the last day Of the session, bill appor-
tIonlng the territory for the state legis-
latiye election that is 10 occur on Oct. l..
was conceived by clique OF self-consti-
tuted leaders OF the republican party.
under whose direction the members OF
both houses placed themselves. TO be
marched up and down before the people
in q parade that was strongly suggestive
Of cap and bells. But as II to show what
their disposition was. and what II would
have been had they possessed the power
to make a law out Of party caucus res
olution. the speaker Of the house and the
president OF the council welded their
authority In fashion that would have
done honor to the agents OF the auto
crat Of all the Russias. Especially in
the council parliamentary rules and
usages were shattered remorselessly be-
meath the gayel OF the president. The
democrats. led by Middleton. Of Custer,
made gallant struggle, and but for the
arbitrary rulings OF the chair the legls-
latiye assembly might have been spared
the disgrace that attaches to
the puerile attempt 10 override
an act Of congress. The situation OF
affairs was candidly stated by Kennedy,
who, In explanation OF his vote, said he
had been elected as republican, and in
Difference to that fact felt II his duty "a
vote for the passage OF bill which he
knew to be utterly absurd; that he could
30 vote without doing violence TO his
convictions because Of the fact that the
bill could never become law. Mr.
Kennedy's declaration. following this
explanation. that he would never again
trust his conscience to the keeping OF
political leaders for whom he had no re
spect. personally or otherwise, marks the
severance OF his connection with part!
which has shown spirit Of intolerance
unworthy OF the present age.
As TO the right OF the Legislative as
sembly to apportion the territory for tn
Legislative election under the state con
stitution, the twenty-fourth section o
the admission act OF congress passed oil
Feb. 20 and approved Oh Feb. % settle
the question clearly and with sutiicien
explicitness when II says that "the con
stitutional conventions may. by ordi
nance, provide for the election Of officer
for full state governments, including
members OF the legislatures and repre-
sentatives In the Fifty-frst congress.
The providing for the election OF mem
bers Of the Legislatures includes the AZ
pOrtionment for such election, and th
assumption Of power by the legislatiy
assembly OF the right 10 make an appor
tionment now is too absurd to be con
sidered. The report Of bills signed b
Gov. Leslie does not include this legisla
tive abortion. and 1t would have been al
insult to his intelligence TO suppose 10
moment that he would put his sigma
ture to IL. The failure to sign 1t befor
the adjournment Of the assembly leave
1t as intangible as an exploded soa
bubble.