The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-10
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10. 1891.
THE LEGISLATIVE SITUATION.

THE LEGISLATIVE SITUATION.
The Helena journal is not as rapid as
it WI, a few days ago, and now it calls
loudly for compromise. The journal evil
IDENTIFY recognizes that the democrats
have the best of the situation and it Is
willing that the poor rumps o the
second floor of the electric building shall
yield to the inevitable. Discussing the
subject that paper says:
The extraordinary conditions that
would confront the state in default of
Legislation, demands that all political
ambitions, party tactics, partisan purposes
and private grievances be thrust aside for
the public good. TO do this involves NO
violation of the law, no surrender of
principles. 1t implies only caucus con-
sem on the part of the two political Or
CARNATIONS to some plan of compromise
honorable to each. If steps In this direc-
ton are o taken In time to rescue the
the state from threatened anarchy, the
responsibility will be firmly fixed by an
outraged pubic where it properly belongs.
The journal, true to the interests of the
great Montana public and its own convic-
tions of duty, can foresee the possibility
of conditions wherein a party sacrifice in
volving no surrender Of principles, may
rebound to the honor Of the organization
and challenge the admiration and approx
al of all thinking men. The prestige Of
making possible legislation to preserve
the integrity Of statehood, may be a lau-
rel that will crown with glory the party
that falls heir to the hvnor of that act.
~
Appropos Of a compromise we may say
hat Chairman T. E. Collins of the demo-
cratic state committee suggested a fair
and reasonable one while vt the capital q
few days ago. His proposition was that
the fifty members Of the house of repre-
sentatives-twenty-ave democrats and
twenty-five republicans--whose title to
seats IL un%questioned, should meet and
proceed with the business of the state.
By reason of their supremacy in the SEN
ate and the executive office as we'll as the
verdict in their favor at the polls on No
vember 4th, the democrats should be &C.
corded the speakership, the other officers
to be equally divided.
This arrangement would leave the ten
claimants from Silver Bow out and their
contests would simply be referred to the
committee on elections to be acted upon
in the usual way. With the house equal
ly divided politically none of them
wcul. be seated. For the 4sen1e reason
no legislation of q political nature could
be enacted, and both houses could pro-
coed with the pressing legislative wants
of tho state. This proposition seems to
be emlnently fair and If 1t is not accepted
by the republicans, the people will know
who is to blame.
The Tribune takes the ground that
there is no time to lose In the matter of
proceeding with legislation. The sixty
days session is at best short enough for
the first working term of that body. If
the republicans do not see fit to meet
the democrats on this half way ground,
there is just one thing else to do, and
there should not be twenty-four hours
delay in doing it. The democratic senate
and house should go right to work
making laws and if any state officers
interfere with them let them take tie
consequences. There seems to be excel.
lent ground for seating Chas. E. Duer in
stead of j. W. Power of Choteau county;
let 1t be done promptly. Then it the su-
preme cour proposes to follow Its llue Of
p%artisanism, there is a way to deal with
that body. Impeachment for cause
would he fully In order. This cause need
not be any decisions rendered by the
court. The action of one of the judges
as an officer of the canvassing board and
of another in boasting OF the street what
the decision of the court would he In this
Legislative case, would be good ground for
deposing them according to the forms of
law.
*x*
1t rests with the democrats to see that
legislation begins promptly, and If the
republicans insist that their five frauds
who were defeated at the polls should
have the slightest recognition, the ex-
IRENE mode of procedure should be re-
sorted TO. The TRIBUNE, however, would
prefer to see a compromise effected, but
in case the republicans refuse to assent
to 1t, linen the case is desperate enough to
demand a desperate remedy.