The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-04
THEY WILL GET THEIR PAY.
Attornsy-G General Haskell Says the
Constitution Provides for Sal
aries Of Legislators.
Senator Brown Gets Angry at His
Associates and Goes
Home.
business in Both Houses-Dawson County
Wants to be Split In Two-Riils
Introduced.

Business in Both Houses-Dawson Count
Wants to be Split In Two-Rills
Introduced.
Attorney General Haskell has advises
the state auditor to pay the members oil tn
legislature their per diem and mileage
They will receive the compensation pro
vided by the constitution, which ia at tn
rate of Sc per day and twenty cents pc
mile going to and returning from the capi
tai. In his request for an opinion on tn
subject the auditor asked: "Where tn
present house of representatives have il
due form certified to me, under the hand o
the speaker and chief clerk thereof, thu
amount Of mileage and per diem due t.
bach member for the second session of thu
legislative assembly hus the number O
miles necessarily travelled in going to ane
returning from the seat of government e
his residence by the usually travelled rout'
at twenty cents for each mile." The audit
or also asked whether under the law ant
the constitution he had the authority tt
draw a warrant in favor of the member
without further legislation.
The encouragement quotes that part O
the constitution which says: AFTER thu
first session the compensation of the mem
hers shall be as provided by law; provided
that no legislative assembly shall fix it:
own compensation" He holds that the
compensation remains as fixed in the con-
stitution, it never having been changed by
a -no-.Ll. Tho ~ ~ ion, Sc
also to the effect that the constitution IN
this respect il self executing, and is also an
appropriation when it fixes the compensa-
ton and mileage, and hence does not need
any legislation to enable the members to
draw their pay. The attorney-general also
advises the auditor that the members are
entitled to pay only from Feb. l, 1891.
Senator Brown, of Beaverhead county,
has not attended any of the meetings of the
senate this week. On Monday ho went
home, declaring that he would have moth
ing more to do with the republican side of
the senate. The cause of his anger is the
action of all the republicans, except him
self, voting tc remit the fines imposed on
the democratic senator's for their absence
last session. When he left Helena it was
gwen Oul UutAb A0 AoA kOAo away W. sHSOJ
Some reports went so far as to declare that
he intended cutting loose from the repub-
lican party. At the same time it was stated
that he had no intention of rejoining his
first favorite. the democ ATTIC party. There
we're various surmises as to which political
organization he would train with, since he
did not care tt affiliate with either the
democrats or republicans. One suggested
that he would join the farmers Alliance.
while another thought he would go to the
prohibitionists. In either case he would
suspension of the rules. His
republican associates were very much aai-
tated over the position of the Beaverhead
senator yesterday. They conferred together
az to what should be dons. and the senate
even took a short recess to allow them time
to deliberate over the existing situation.
They determined to follow the advice adj
lost her lamb. They will let him alone.
The senators are getting used to thei7
new quarters in the Power block. and, aside
from the absence of necessary light, find
them very comfortable. Lieut.-Governo1
Richards is having his platform enlarged SC
that he can rise and sit down without fall
in off. Quite a show of business was trans
acted yesterday.
A petition vas presented by Senator Ba-
ker asking that a new county, to be known
as Valley, be created out of the upper part
of Dawson county, with Glasgow as the
county seat. 1t was signed by 365 citizens
and taxpayers of Dawson county. The
petition asks that the proposed new county
-l.. I lI-A .~.k. 80 N~u~~- r-.kI -
the Missouri river. Among the reasons
urged for the creation of the new county il
the fact that Dawson comprises one-ffth
the area of Montana, that it is a little less
thar mel half the size of New England, ano
that Dawson's territory is unwieldy for jul
dicial and other purposes. Glendive, the
present county seat, is practically inaccessi
BILE to people living north of the Missouri
river. The Missouri forms a natural bound.
ary between the northern and southern por
lions of Dawson. and there are no RAILROAD
connection between the two parts. In ordel
to reach the county seat residents of tn,
northern portion are compelled to trave
via Helena 800 miles, via Crookst IN or Far
go 800 miles. or via Fort Butord 200 miles
the last seventy-fve miles being by stage
wagon Or horseback. The petition alst
says the proposed county of Valley is rap
idly filling up.
Senator Hedges introduced a concurren
resolution authorizing the governor to ap
point a commission, no two from the sam
county, to consider proposals of gifts O
lands or money for the location of stat
institutions. Senator Hedges also intro
duced a memorial to congress for the re
moval of mineral restrictions ON schot
lands and the extension of the time c
leases.
Bills were introduced and referred in tn
senate and referred as follows:
BY Misunderstanding for regular ses
sions of the supreme court in March, Jun,
October and December.
By Cardweli-Ceding to the United State
jurisdiction over that part of Montana en-
braced within the limits of Yellowston
park and all lands neeked for military res
ervations.
Notices of the introduction of bills wei
given as follows:
Hedges-An act providing for the publ
cation of supreme court reports; an act re
latlng to the title of school lands.
Gibson-Io enable counties to incur Gel
tain indebtedness.
Becker-Creating the county of Valle,
defining the duties of the state board {
examiners.
misunderstanding the office of marsh,
of the supreme court; for immediate pay
ment of state funds into state treasur,
providing for advertising for bids for ful
nisning supplies and printing for stat
Offices; enabling universities n collep,
under the control of religious bodies to I
organize and change corporate names,
Notwithstanding the act concerning o1
scene literature.
BaylleS-Amendinq the act proyidino E,