The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-30

After the consolidation was an accom-
plished fact, and the senate got t~ogetherin
the afternoon, steps were taken to make
the journal of that body conform to the
new conditions. Senator. Brown said. a
committee was expected from the house no.
tifying the senate that that body was Or
ganized and ready for business. Hereto
fore they had been recognizing and recsiv-
ing communications from one house. Now
things were changed. The two had anal
gamated, and every n was proud of it.
II hope" he said, that it will be know WI
all the world over that Montana's legisla-
ture is now a unit, and that we
are ready to launch the ship of
liberty" He moved that Senators Thorn
ton and Goddard be appointed a committee
to make the journal conform to the changed
conditions. The committee from the house
brought in the notice of the organization of
that body, aud Senator Browns motion
was adopted. The matter was arranged
during q short recess and took the shape of
a preamble setting forth the fact that two
houses had met on January 5. and that they
had now met and organized one house.
which the senate recognized as the legal
house of representatives. IT called for the
tify the governor and the house that the
senate was ready to transact business.
Needless to say, it was adopted and Senators
Hoffman and Thompson were appointed as
tho committee by Lieut.-Gov. Richards.
BY this time the harmony and good feel
ing 80 filled the room that the windows had
to be let down to admit fresh air. But it
was reserved for the republican senators to
crown the proceedings of the day with n
most graceful act. Senators Buford, Mats
and Gibson, the committee appointed to
examine the part of the journal Of the last
session relating to fines imposed on absent
democratic senators, handed in their re-
from the day the democrats began staying
away up to the last day of the session. It
also found that fines had been imposed by
the eight republican, as follows: w. s.
Becker, $3.50; j. A, Baker. D. j. Hennessy,
G. ". Hoffman. G. J: Mcnamara, William
5000 each, a total of $47,o 900. The report
a minority OF the senate which
had no such power conferred by
the rules. 1t therefore concludes that all
the fine were null and void. Further, the
committee believed that the expense in
CURED in the arrest and return of Senator
Becker seemed to have been RENTED when
ne WAS purged of contempt just before run
ming away a second time. The committee
also reported resolutions that the lines were
illegally imposed, bat that to remove any
possible doubt:they be removed. The reading
Of the report brought out Eiany smiles.
Lieut.. Gov. Richards took a seat in the
body of the senate, and let Senator Thorn
When Assistant Clerk Marks had con-
cluded the reading Senator Hedges took
the floor. This" he said, recalls some
lively recollections Of scenes that should
have been blotted from our memories. The
report seems to have been reserved for the
day whom the two houses have gotten to-
gether. 1t is u happy omen that we are
called on to act upon it at this time.
Some of the members cannot vote
upon it. But it is a gracious act that tho
should come from among the old members
who can. ! now do no. Loud applause.
l tender this as part of our contribution
TOWARD the act of reconciliation, that we
may enter on our duties without any bad
feelings or recriminstions. ] doubt now,
and always have doubted, whether we e1-
ceeded our legal prerogatives in imposing
these fines. But it was the only thing W.
could do. In the spirit which | believe is
shared by evory member on this side,
move the adoption OF the report and thus
wipe out the memory OF tho whole transac-
tion." Applause.
Senator Brown wanted some further ligh'
on the subject. Are We to forgive you fell
lows for all your rascalityY' he asked annie
a general laugh. He then went on to argu,
against the power of the senate to remit TIL
fines. He thought it unconstitutional
Still" he added, ''the constitution is mad
of India rubber and can be stretched t,
every corner of Montana"
Senator Mats replied to the legal obiec
tions raised by showing That the fines wer
imposed by less than a quorum and quotee
Cushlng to the effect that even the men in
teTested could vote il they saw 1T. Other
wise, according to Cushing, n minorit,
might hold a majority at its mercy by in
GLIDING a sufficient number in Il motion 70
censure or fine to preclude undoing thei
action. The same authority was quoted t
show that the senate could repeal the pro
ceedlngs of a former session.
Senator Thompson did not wish to g, OF