Butte semi-weekly miner., 1889-01-16

her on account Of her great output OF th
4 precious metals and inexhaustible empir
!. OF grass.
IL recommend that you create q territoria
board Of agriculture for Montana, provid
for it's organization aud service in thi
lgreat interest, and supply it with q reason
n ably liberal support from the public treas
ury, to carry forward It's efforts in adyanc
ling and developing the great source Q
wealth in these mountains. It's wealth t.
the country is not alone in dollars ant
fines and expands the moral and physica
man, strengthens him Tor good citizenship
and repels the approach OF crime.
TIMBER, FISH AND GAME.
| Connected with the subject Of tilling tn,
soil, there is one other important interest
full OF value to the people, namely
the timber, fish and game. This Territory
is rich bey0und the computations OF figures
in these Goi.given blessings and supplies,
and wise craftsmanship should guard
with the greatest vigilance against their
ldestruction. / have reason to believe
that the laws already on the statute
book upon these subjects are violated
in every county in the Territory, and
within the last two years great injury
to the wealth OF the country has been
inflicted. charge you to scrutinize well
these laws, and to tighten the bands
against this reckless waste and destruction.
BOUNTY FOR KILLING WOLVES, ETC.
Moreover, I recommend that you pass a
law offering bounty. reasonable in
amount, for the killing OF those enemies to
civilization-the wolf, the coyote and
mountain lion. They are perhaps the
meanest and most cowardly trio Of ami
mails that live, and live BY stealing. The
most careful and best possible safeguards
should be incorporated in the.l against
fraud in it's administration.
ELECTION LAWS.
It is almost twenty-five years since the
few white men and women then in Mon
tana, surrounded by many unfriendly In
dians, decided to plant permanently in
these mountains the standard OF American
civilization. Pursuant to that decision,
they appealed to the congie OF the United
States for it's favor, and the organic act was
passed, under which this territorial govern
ment was organized. That act OF congress
containing suggestively the frame work OF
the government, and granting authority to
u
constitution of this Territory, and by virtue
OF the authority therein granted the people
have from time to time met in legislative
assembly, and formulated their views and
wishes into laws. One of the duties de.
volving upon the law-making power OF this
new government, and OF first Importance,
was to declare the terms on which
the citizen could acquire the right of
suffrage, and how the will OF the people
through the process OF elections should be
ascertained, and to protect and secure
every one entitled to the exercise Of
this high function, and to guard well
against any and every one who would
dare interfere. The men whose far
seeing wisdom inaugurated this govern
ment knew well, and fully appreciated the
power. They provided ballot for every
citizen, entitled under the law to vote. The
voting privilege is sacred right to the
voter and every lover OF the government is
interested in preserving to him that right,
and warding off every attempt to weaken
the force OF it's exercise. ALI over the states
of America we hear much OF fraud in
elections intimidation, bribery, ETC.; and
it is claimed that in many instances the
people have been robbed of their choice in
elections, and results most humiliating and
unwelcome forced upon them. The law
should be plain and explicit, showing
who shall be allowed to vote, and the pre-
cinct or township where his vote must be
cast. / respectfully suggest that in this re-
gard the laws OF the territory should be
changed so That every voter shall be re-
qured, il he votes at all, to vote in the
precinct or township Of his residence, and
not allowed to vote at another; that he be
10 ofa ha hoa
ident citizen OF the territory, or have de-
cared his intention to become such, for at
least six months, and of the township
where he offers to vote for at least thirty
days. The government is kept alive,
and it's activity in ministering to
the wants and necessities OF the
people must be through agencies pri-
marily selected and provided by the people.
The voters OF the government cou-
stitute but small part OF the population
for whom the government is created and
upheld and the greatest care should be OBJ
served to guard every one OF them from in
timidation or other vicious influences, tend
ing in any degree to weaken the force OF
the trust confided to him. 1t is a great
crime against free suffrage and against the
people to corrupt the voter, or to offset his |
voice at the poles with ballots unauthor-
ized by law. Every attempt to inject into |
the election count illegal votes, or to clothe |
q legal vote with the garment OF
bribery or other criminal tinge is a stab |
and a wound in the direction of death to |
free government. l recommend that you |
prepare and pass bill reeasting the cleo
tion laws OF Montana, and provide the |
mplest security for thosewho by law are |
invested with the responsibilities OF suffrage |
H. l. he spct |
who would engage in the crime OF it's de-
bauche.y. This subject demands your
most earnest attention.
In the state OF New York and many
other states, and in nearly all the large
cities, they have registration laws. Their
practical operation upon those people has
proved to be success, and commend
most urgt ntly to your careful study and
favor the preparation and enactment OF a
law for Montana. Your
craftsmanship will master the question
and arrange the details OF such bill with.
out further suggestion; and a measure OF
this kind conditioned to apply to the Deople
OF this Territory will be found to be the
strongest safeguard against the enemy to
free and fair selections. 1t is said penal laws
are Intellectual to prevent bribery, intimi-
dation and fraud, and that 1.-THE primary
remedy is the secret ballot" l have had
occasion to bestow some study upon these
called Australian system OF voting, which
has recently been adopted in the state OF
Massachusetts and went into effect in that
state at the beginning OF this year. 1t has
been tried, too. in the Governments OF Eng.
land. Scotland, Ireland and Canada. and
had the favor OF those countries. There
are some wise features and effect
ual safeguards against intimidation and
bribery in this system, and some OF which,
if not all, might be made useful in this Ter
ritory.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
At the extra session OF the last legisla. |
tive assembly, held in September, 1887, a
law was passed exempting the county at
from appearing as counsel for the
in the Supreme Court. and re-
pealing the law in that regard. The bill |
30 passed, created the Office OF attorney |
general for the Territory, aad prescribed
the duties assigned him. It also provided !
that the Governor should nominate and |
appoint by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Council. The Governor made
q nomination for that Office in pursuance
Of the provisions of the law, and the same
was rejected by majority OF the Council,
and that body adjourned, leaving the
office that they had created vacant. The