The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-26
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.

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Tho house has many genial mi pleasant
fellows though there 10 4 scsrcity Of huinor-
ists. Speaker Humber. who IN always good
nstured, contributes mors " break The tire
some monotony than tho other members.
His dry jokes have been y relish that 70 far
toward establishing his popularity In this
chair, and when no finds himself In 4 tight
corner on rulings his huInor comes 10 the
rescue. Representative penrosA hat tho
faculty OF hitting a man hard IN debate and
smoothing him over with = good natured
laugh the next minute. Johnny Basrowa
occasionally essays . humorous reference
and usually with good SUCCESS. Mr.. Thcmp.
son always smiles when he In the target Of
saliies though ks does not reply In the
same vein. Peter Breen seldom speaks with
out introducing q bit OF p~lsasantry, aud
he sometimes tells = very pat
story. There ~ much less humor
on the floor OF the house than In the som.
mittee and cloak rooms. There the re-
stfaint guarding the surroundings Of
Statesmen IL lost, and geniality follows.
s4s
Representative Roberts. Of Silver Bow, IL
ono Of the precinct thirty-four men chosen
to serve in the house. He seldom says any
thing. but when he talks he " terribly IN
earnest, and he usually cracks some one
with the lash before he IL finished. In tho
honse he il digniGed and Is seldom away
from his desk. Mr.. Roberts ID the only
representative who does not wear = necktie.
He is always seen in . heavy double
breasted blue psa-jacket coat, and when
the house IL not in session he sits At his
desk mi smokes u pipe. Mr.. Roberts 10 q
miner, and il found on the laboring mans
side when labor questions are under con-
sideration.
j. H. Nonseath il another Silver Bow
representative whose seat was under con-
test. He Is very popular with his 1880
ciates and il o valuable legislator because
he attends strictly to business. Mr.. Mon
testb, like many Of misrepresentation, has
a fondness for manufacturing amendments.
These are for the most part ON forms of
phraseology in bills, and show that he
keenIy watches the progress OF legislation.
Mr.. Monteath is the business manager Of
the Butte Inter Mountain, and holds up
his end with Col. Read. the two making q
strong combination indeed.
m
II hope this amendment will not prevail"
is a very popular expression in the house.
Every member has had his turn at IL since
organization, and 1t has been heard 50
often that no special faith is placed in the
hope.
Night sessions are not very popular with
the representatives, and would not be held
were it not for the great anxiety to finish
business. Curiously no great desire to
expedite business is shown after the speak
er's gavel drops at 7:3O o'clock. Many bills
could be- rushed through with the commit
tees Endorsement, but each ''promising''
statesman has something to say. These
are usually suggestions which accumulate
to some disadvantage. Last evening Mr..
Harlan, who was in the chair, took occa-
sion to remark that sufficient suggestions
had been received and he would like to hear
amendments. These came in a rush very
soon afterward. When the discussion
grows dry 1T night the representatives
while away the time by firing paper balls at
each other or at the reporters desk. Zone
of the members like this fun and others do
not. For instance, when Mr.. Thompson
Whb DhuHEA on JIG ucho ldbb evening lie
looked hot enough to kill some one.
~ Pm
Mr.. Whalcy ripped open the food gates
OF oratory in the discussion over the land
commission bill. He made q plea for the
home and against lsndlordism on the paItof
the state. MIR Barrows called it "enticipp
and others cornplimented Mr..
Whaley's efforts. The joint member from
Gallatin and Jefferson 10 not exactly a De-
mosthenes but he means what no says.
~
The lobby 10 lonesome and deserted since
the county officers have gone. They will
probably be back before long for the bill az
amended provides that the law shall take
effect next January. Their return will be
welcomed, for they are good fellows.
And He froze the Other Ear.
In the Office of a prominent arcbitect in