The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-28
MORE FUN IN THE HOUSE
The Chestnut Known as the County
Officers Bill Again Causes Tire
some Filibustering.
Lively Sparring Over Two Reports
Submitted on Mr.. Days
Printing Bill.

The Senate Com on Education Rec
ommend strict Measures In Regard
to Delinquent Reports.
A long sigh Of relief will go forth from
the house when No, II, AZ the county off,
GERS bill is familiarly known, is finally dis
posed of. The representatives. who want
tho bill to take effect before 1893 were
seain inclined to force matters yesterday.
In the morning Mr.. Wallace started the
fun by moving that the bill be referred to a
special committee with instructions to cor
rect the error in the engrossment. Fill
clustering was then commenced and con-
tinued until recess. Various motions in
tended to delay action were made. Mr..
Loud raised a point Of order; MI. Howey
moved "a call of the house, which was Or
dered; Mr.. Phillips, moved a recess, which
was ruled out Of order, and several appeals
were taken from . decisions of the
chair, all OF which we're sustained.
As yea and nay votes were taken
on nearly all OF these motions action was
delayed until 1890 O'Clock when Mr.. Wal
lace's motion WAS passed. In the after
noon the speaker appointed Mr.. Wallace,
Mr.. Beach and MI. Cory IS the committee.
Those opposed to the bill are now hoping
that it will be lost before final passage.
The delay thus far indicates that efforts
will be made to kill the bill unless it is
seain amended to take effect in 1893. The
county officers are seen about the lobby At
all times of the day working hard to switch
. fnuv ~ che pappaaaOfafIVaa over To their
side. lnhe vote now il very evenly divided
and it is probable that on final dasSage the
majority will not be more than two or
three.
The morning session of the house is
usually devoted to routine business and is
therefore devoid of much interest. In ad-
dition to the parliamentary skirmisb over
No. IL an exchange of words followed the
committee reports on bill 10 or the printing
bill. Two reports were submitted, the
majcrity bv Day and Monteath recommend
ing the bill with a few amendments. These
provide that the contracts be let twice each
year with the approval of the governor and
treasurer, and also that all printing and
binding shall be lone within the state.
Mr.. Harlan, who was in the minority,
recommended that the bill do not pass.
After it had been moved that the majority
report be adopted Mr.. Penrose~ suggested
that the reports be printed for the intelli-
gent consideration of the house. He
thought there was a job in the bill which
should be known. Mr.. HASTE did not favor
the bill because it was class legislation and
was designed in the interests of a few con-
Germs. Mr.. Day and Mr.. Howey favored
accepting the majority report. After more
debate the majority report was adoped
by a vote of ~ to19.
The senate committee on education, after
examining the report of the superintendent
of public instruction, report that they find
many valuable suggestions, but unfortu-
nately they are too late for action or con-
sideration. 1.-THE value of statistical in
formation" the committee says, lis much
impaired by the failure of a few in doing
their duty, and some more effective means
must be devised to remove such derellct
oficiaIs." The committee suggests that
the superintendent of public instruction
have his report printed in advance Of the
meeting of the legislature. The law re-
quires this report to be in the governors
hands twenty DAYS before the legislature
meets. He got it only a few days ago. The
delay WAS caused by waiting for some
reports from counties.
Twill we have a extra session." is the
leading ~interrogatory among legislators
now. ALI agree that another session is de-
sirable, though not an absolute necessity at
this time. Comparatively few of the gov
ernor's recommendations have beck placed
in the form Of laws, but the more necessary
appropriation bills have been passed. and
tho atata can uow uorvv a1opu for q $imo
The governor, in response to nnmerousd :
nands, will probably call an extra session,
but he may not take this action now. Some
Of the legislators believe that the session
should not be called until next winter in
order that the new code may be discussed
before adoption. II this is to be done some
provision should be made for the printing
of the code in order that it may be circu-
lated among this attorneys of the state. An
other reason given is that the members are
desIrous of returning to their business and
resuming legislation at a more convenient
time. There are others who wish to remain
here until all business is finished. The
work in the house has progressed thus far
with ine1cusable slowness. 1t is doubtful
if the bills now on hand could be disposed
VI IN haOtlcI oe5olOu VI Utility udy5.
Senator Hoffman's bill for the pratection
of travellers was shifted about in the house
yesterday. The committee report recon-
merding that the bill do not pass was laid
on tue table in the morning and taken up
in the afternoon n placed on general
orders. 1t is a bill to knock out the ticket
scalpers and to provide for the redemption
of unused tickets at tte Office of the COM
pany. 1t is provided that the authorized
agents OF ths railway companies shall be
provided with certificates and seals to show
their authority
The following bills passed the house yes
tesday: s. b. 10-To amend 446. 467, AGO.
l63, fifth chapter compiled statutes. con-
cernicg interpretations for industrial pur-
poses. House bills: Fixing a~pportionment
of representation; 1L5-To allow raising of
the waters of tbs Jefferson river for irriga-
ton purposes; 20-Prohibiting trusts: 12l-
To provide revenue for the state.
The senate memorial asking Col. Sanders
and Ir. Power to vote against the Conger
lard bill passed tbs house by a nearly unan-
imous vote. Mr.. Roberts was the only
member expressing objections against the
bill. These as stated were on the ground
that the bill was in the interest of the peo-
pie of Montana.
The senators are protesting against the
action of the house in keeping back senate