The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-30
OUR LEGISLATURE.

OUR LEGISLATURE.
The Meeting Of the legislature on Monday
next will be an event Of very great interest
in the political history of the state. The
day is less than week off and yet compare
lively few people can be found who evidence
the slightest appreciation of tho situation.
In many ways the crisis of last year will be
repeated if the signs of the times indicate
anything. To begin with the democrats
have governor and a senate beyond ques-
ton. In addition they have house, though
three judges have decided that legislative
body cannot judge the qualifications of its
own members. The claim of the republic
cans is confined entirely to the house, which
could in no way effect political legislation
in the event of a republican majority, if the
legislative wheels should move. demo-
cratic governor and a democratic senate
will always stand in the way of legislation
in the interest of the republican party. A
republican majority in the house would
therefore practically mean nothing at all.
But the democrats propose to control the
house. Unless the programme is changed
they will meet at the place designated
and organize. They will pass
bills which will 90 through the
senate and be signed by the governor. If
our republican friends are to be believed
the matter will end here. They say that
the supreme court will rule all such bills
null and void. If this occurs, we shall
have the spectacle of three men overruling
the will of all the voters in Montana.
Will they do it?
From any point of view the election OF
November had one clear and distinct mean
ing; that is that the people of Montana
placed the seal of condemnation on the re-
publican manipulation of Precinct 81.
This is the situation. How will it be set
tied?
Various plans have been suggested for
bringing the houses together for the trans
action of the states business. Some say
that the ten members of Silver Bow county
must stand aside. Others say that the best
way is for the members to draw lots to see
which five will serve, and still others say
that the entire matter should be settled by
a new election. Unless compromise ia
reached we shall see two houses meet for
in Electric hall on Monday.
The democrats will 90 ahead with business
with governor and senate and the rump
house will be alone with the supreme court.
The situation has been discussed even be-
yond repetition. The only difference now
is that no United States senatorships are to
be contested for. The whole contest is now
reduced to business proposition; will the
state have much needed legislation or will
We work along another year without laws or
It is generally believed
that some form of settlement will be
reached through there are no very good rea-
sons for this superstition. It was quite as
easy to solve the problem last winter after
The senators were elected, but no solution
was reached.
For the purpose of gathering ideas and
visited few of the leading
business men and state officers. Other
opinions viii be printed later on. found
Mr.. +. w. knight very anxious for fair
settlement of existing difficulties, and he
oACACA u ouHHCoVloA SAHU AAuy bCuUAO Viz
deadlock. He said: "In the first place we
must now look at the situation from bust
ness standpoint. The present legislature
-;a--A ---i--.~a- hAuaad thu justification as
personal sambition, but cannot see how il
can leRislate in tho favor of either party.
Under these conditions our legislators
should return with the sole idea of
caring for the interests of the state. One
way to settle the difficulty would be in the
drawing of lots by the ten members from
Silver Bow. For instance, they could draw
lots to see which five would return, or they
could draw to see which four would return
and then leaving the final drawing between
two. This occurs to me as an easy wav of
solving the problem. The necessity for a
final settlement cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed. You know the eastern idea of
Montana is that of rather lawless region.
This view is of course dispelled when east
ern people come here, but with the history
of last winters deadlock in addition the re-
suit ia lack of confidence in Montana
among eastern investors.
Mr.. l.. H. Hershfeld has shown great
deal of interest in the settlement of the
trouble, though he offers no suggestions.
He said: think we must leave the matter
entirely to the intelligence of the members
of the legislature. They can see the neces-
sity Of settling the matter as we'll AZ any.
one. l believe the good Judgment of these
men will bring about the legislation of
which the state stands in so much need.
The deadlock has certainly injured the rep
utation of the state in some quarters. but
I found that the eastern people were great
~ surprised to learn that our new state
could 60 through such q crisis without more
serious trouble and then get along so we'll
without really necessary laws and appro.
priations.
DR.. G. K. Cole has spent good part of
the past year in the east and il therefore in
a position to know how eastern capitalists
regard Montana az field for investment,
In this connection he said: II found last
year that the deadlocked Legislature greatly
injured this state. 1t left q general i'm
preston in the east that Montana was not
a safe place to invest money because our
laws were in an unsettled condition. Now
then, We find ourselves in the same situa-
ton, for which. at the present time, l can
see no immediate relief unless the leeis.
lators are thoroughly determined to get to-
Rether. have heard it suggested that the
H..