The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07

Il IOklIk Utl ~ w ~
number of days such voter must reside within
n p~recinct before he can vote thereiY
or any other requisite, In direct opposition
to any Of the constitutional requirements
then II can ss well require Of the elsctol
entirely new qualifications, independent o.
che constitution, before the right Of sufgrag,
can be- exercised. II the e~xergencies of th,
times are such, which / do not believe. that
q fair and honest election cannot be hello
In the city of Detroit, or in any other place
In our state. without other qualification
and restrictions upon both native born ant
naturalizsd citizens than those found II
and authorized by the constitution, Their
the remedy is with the people so alter suef
constitution by the lawful methods pointed
out by that instrument.
] therefore recommend such modiflca.
tions of existing laws ~ will remedy the
evils pointed out.
Purity of the BALLOT.
The last territorial Legislature inaugural
cd a ballot reform that is worthy of note.
While the Australian system Of voting as
whole does not come up to public expecta-
tiOn, IL is nevertheless a departure in the
right direction and its general acceptance
by the people with some notifications, in
my opinion. il assured. There should be
no abatement of public interest in legisla-
tion designed to secure and perpetuate the
purity of the ballot. The present law
I would be Just rs effective asi was designed
to be if instead Of printing the names Of all
the candidates on one ticket. their names
the party whose political principles they
avowed and which might be taken into the
voting place by the voter, or upon the same
ticket in separate columns. / recommend
this modification Of the law. III present
system Ia tantamount to an educational
qualification ON the nno hand np n nsu
plete surrender upon the other to judges of
election, who, IN many cases, are incom-
petent, and in some cases venal. The
time Is too short to point out the many i'm
perfections Of the law, which was we'll in-
tended, but which to the most casual OBJ
server in the light of observation and act
ual experience has been demonstrated to be
very crude. II this system can be simpli-
Fed and at the same time preserve it's es-
sential qualities. in my opinion. it will pop
ularize politics and in the end secure the
most perfect reflection of the popular will
OF any system ever inauguratsd. 1t stimu-
iates courage in the dependent to vote ac-
cording to his conscientious convictions.
and above all, It strikes savagely Ut the
method of machine politics and promises
its complete humiliation. In other words,
simplified and properly guarded, it secures
TO the voter the largest freedom of thought
and Independence of action and exercise of
Judgment of any system which has ever OBJ
tanned to my knowledge. So certain am I
Of the ~salutary effect Of this system that
venture the prediction it will never be
abandoned until the state is ready to aban-
don its sovereignty.
II our institutions are to endure, and the
honor, integrity and prosperity of the state
are to continue to be the hope and anchor
OF the citizen, the voice of the people ex-
pressed at the polls without hindrance or
intimidation must be sedulously guarded
and maintained at all hazards. The duties
OF the officers charged with the responsible
lty OF declaring the result Of an election
should be made SO explicit and the punish
ment made 30 severe that the temptation
tor venal treachery, at vital points will be
forever removed. l call your attention to
the unusual and unnecessary expense in
the matter of printing which the present
election entails upon the people. It should
be framed to meet only necessary and
proper expenses.
Presidential Electors.
Before another Legislature shall have as
sembled an election for president and vice.
president of the United States will occur.
Provision should therefore be made as con-
templated by the United States statutes
upon this subject n for canvassing the
votes. declaring the result and SO forth.
Notaries Public.
Under the law there is no limitation
the number of notaries permitted to
be appointed. The convenience which such
an officer has been found to be, especially
in remote and sparsely settled communi-
ties, has led me to appoint such in every
case where the applicant possessed the nec-
essary qualifications. There have been 800
n~otaries appointed and commissioned since
the 8th day of November, A. d. 1889. Not
a single case Of malfeasance or misconduct
in office has come under my observation or
been brought to my attention.
Rewards.
Under territorial law the governor was
authorized to offer rewards for the appre-
hension of persons charged or convicted of
crimes, in his discretion, in amount not ex-
ceeding n thousand dollars. No rewards
have been offered during my term of Office.
Two rewards ~aggregating one thousand
dollars were offered by Gov. White, late
governor of the territory, for the apprehen-
sion of two Indians charged with murder.
The Indians were apprehended as claimed
by the sheriff Of Missoula county, the coun-
ty in which the crimes were committed.
They have since been convicted, and the
sheriff of that county claims the reward.
Public policy. however. it seems, is OPP
posed to paying q reward to an officer for
doing an act which by law it is his duty to
And l have been constrained to
withhold the approval of his account. l
also call your attention to the fact that the
existing law seems to appropriate money
for a reward in arresting a prisoner, but no
is expressly made for the
payment of a reward for the apprehension
a person not a "prisoner." In other
words an escape seems to be necessary be-
fore the appropriation is available.
Protection of Ranges and Timber From
Section 8, article 10, of the constitution is
follows:
Sec. 3-The legislative assembly shall en-
act suitable laws to prevent the destruction
by fire from any cause of the grasses and
Upon lands of the state or upon
lands of the public domain, the control of
which may be conferred by congress upon
state and to otherwise protect the
same.
In this state, where 30 much is made to
depend upon the preservation of the ranges,
every possible protection and safeguard
consistent with property rights and a full
of the same should be invoked
to prevent prairie fires, there ought to be
a community of interest in this behalf. l
of the opinion that nothing could be
lone more conclusive to this end than the
passage of a law by which railroad CON-
panies operating within the state should be
compelled to burn their right of way annu-
ally and thus prevent a spread of fire Oripi-