The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-20
RULES OF THEIR OWN
Lieutenant Governor Richards Makes q
Decision to Suit the Occasion.
Special tn the standard.

Special tn the standard.
HELENA, Dec. l9.-As WAS daily cx-
pectet, the republican conspirators hogan
their programme i'm the senate this after
noon. Parliamentary procedure, law, or
der and all forms were cast aside by the
most illegal and outrageous ruling ever
attempted i'm u Legislative body. Richards,
who mp to this time has been regarded as
better than his party, showed his hand to-
day rs a thoroughly partisan presiding
officer. All fair minded men are con-
deunninR his action this evening. The
proceedings at the senate to-day were
opened with motion from Hedges that
the senate proceed to elect permanent oiii-
GERS. Fisher, who made himself more
o<lious than usual during the session,
seconded the motion. Baker called for
the ayes and noes and Richards remark
able decision followed. He said: ain the
absence OF any rules. I decide that IL Is
not necessary to give the ayes and noes"
This prccipitated the livelicst debate
yet. Hedges moved that Olds he elected
president of the senate pro tenn. When
the motion put the only votes cast
were those Of the seven republicans,
Brown being paired with Mcnamara.
After the lieutenant governor had de-
clared Oisis elected, Fisher introduced the
following resolution:
Resoirsd, That the senate do now procccd tn
the election of the officers and attaches of this
body, and that the rule of this election shall he
that plurality Of the votes shall elect i'm each
and every ease, until permanent rules are
asloIfcd governing this boiv.
Mr.. Thornton called for the ayes and
noes. after its adoption had been moved,
but 4 !. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS psrs'sted i'm
his former ruling. The remarkable
mathematical ruling was made that seven
ont OF the IA was majority "f the
senators.
Baker asked whether seven was a ma
tority, and Rickartis replied by reading
from Cushing's Manual, which had no
hearing on the situation as the proceed
ings were he nR conducted.
senator Thornton read ~ section from
the state constitution which declared that
| "a quorum was necessary To conduct busi-
ness.
Parl,crry read "a lengthy article on the
matter from the Congressional Record. and
bitterly m OPPOSED the proposition.
| Baker stated that rule by which plu-
rality can determine AN election Of per-
maucnt officers was entirely arbitrary and
| revolutionary. He did not know that
snap ju igment was the order Of the day.
II il was they would perhaps have To
| sbide 10y il.
Mr. Parberry showed 10y "a decision Of
| Blaine when he was speaker OF the ma
| tional house of representatives that Rick
| ards ruling was o,Itragco,isly illegal.
| Mr.. Baker then moved that the resolI-
| ton he tabled, but il WAS lost 10y "A vote of
to q, Parbcrry not voting.
| The resolution of Fisher was then
| passed. the democratic senators not vot-
| ing. They left the senate chamber and
| the republicans proceeded To elect other
| minor officers.
| After this, upon motion OF Fisher, lots
were drawn for the purpose of detcrmin.
| ing what senators would have the one
| year and three year terms which resulted
follows: For the one year term,
Arlington, Baker. Mcnamara, Hoffman,
| Fisher, Odds. Henncssy and Babcock
| three years term. Brown. Rc,ld. Becker,
| Thornton, Hedges. Parberry. Rutherford
and Thompson. II will thus be seen that
five democrats and three republicans go
| out next fall.
| A committee was appointed tn confer
| with the rump house. Committees to not
/ ify the governor that the two houses were
| organised and ready for business. and Ia
| ready for business.
| An adjournment was then taken until
10 o'clock Tomorrow morning.
| The following shows how the conspira-
tors will attempt to carry the Legislative
question into the courts. Yesterday Will
liam II. Roberts, member of the ruInp
| house Legislature from Silver Bow county,
| presented Ia State Auditor Kinney bill
for $45, as follows: Per diem as repre-
| sentative, five days. Nov. y To Nov. "a, at
81 per day, SD; mileage. 15 miles, from
| Walkerville to- the capital, AZ ~ cents per
mile. $15-total. S45.
| Auditor Kenny placed the bill on snle
! but absolutely refused to allow il. though
| pressed ny Mr.. Roberts. The latter then
took legal advice and this morning filed
an affidavit in the district court. applying
to the court for writ Of msntlarnus to
compel the auditor to audit the bill.
Judge Hunt heard the application and
| granted the request 10y issuing "a writ al
mandate, commanding Auditor Kenny 4,
audit the bill of Mr.. Roberts, and in ease
I of his refusal. to appear in the di-tric
court at 10 o'clock "a. IN. on Saturday, DE.
ccmher -, and show cause why he did mo-
do so.
1t is probable that the republican sena
tors and the. unenbers of the r,iInp hou>.
will meet in joint session soon and elec
two United States senators.