The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-12-30
THE WEEKLY TRIBUNE,
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 80. 1892

There lies the city which inside OF
ten years will have the largest popula-
ton of any city between st. Paul and
the coast
Such was the exclamation Of Attorney
General Haskell as he reached Great
Falls from Helena Monday on his way
TO Dawson county. \ TRIBUNE reporter
asked him why he had this opinion OF
Great Falls. and he said because of its
almost unlimited resources. the natural
water power. and the impetus already
given it through the enterprise of It's IN
habitants. Mr.. Haskell was on his way
east to look after the men who were
captured as participants in the robbery
of the Great Northern train near Harre.
He said that no return had been made
in respect to the whereabouts of
these prisoners aud the attorney
generals office was in need OF
the information which he was
looking up personally. speaking OF
prisoners and the present state prison
arrangements led the Attorney-General
to make some comments on Il report cir.
culated TO the elfort that the number Of
prisoners would he greatly reduced dur
ing the next year as the terms Of about
sixty c%ulprits would terminate. This
the .Attorney-General says is Il mistake
as there is more likelihood Of the mum
Der being increased than diminished. 1t
is true that a great many Will be re-
leased but the number will be offset by
the new prisoners. In lSs9 when he be
came Attorney General there were 80
prisoners in the pen. The number has
been increased to 3l3. The
Expense runs oycr 100000 per year
for the prison now. and is liable to
be more rather than less. Mr., Haskell
also said that the expenses Of the state
during the next fiscal year vii. be over
half 4 million dollars, including a de-
~ticicncy bill of $4,000 which will have to
ne met. This deficiency includes $4,000
10 pay the mon who advanced the re-
muneration for the democratic members
Of the legislature of lss9. $4,000 for wolf
bounties. $4,000 deficit of the state
prison. 5000 due 70 assessors for collect
ing statistics during the last three years.
$4,000 claimed by sheritfs for transport
ing prisoners. and SJ.OOOfor minor claims
and 5000 for printing the codes. There
~ ..... til. -n,nll itnt,E y-hiph uriil
have to enter into the deficiency bill,
and the encouragement significantly re-
markell that this matter would have
to be attended 10 before any new appro-
priatious could be made. The CONVEX
sation then led to the subject Of cost of
elections and registration under the
present law. Mr.. Haskell said that the
registration as now arranged costs the
state 100000 for each election. He then
said that he proposed the adoption of
the California statute in regard to this
matter, making the county clerks of
each county the registration agents.
Under this system the voters are not re
luiI1t W lcSlSttl L4JlE lIdI III IL \
years. if their residence remains the
same. In case Of change of residence
they register in the new county. The
assessors are enabled to collect informa-
ton while making their tax levies and
without extra expense to the state. and
the registry books are kept open every
day that the office Of the county clerk Is
open, so that a voter can register at any
time. The lists are then made up 10y
precincls and posted. as under the pres
ent law. Mr.. Haskell thinks this system
would be more simple and economical
than the present method, or than any
thing proposed by Judge Hunt is his ar
ticles to the Helena Independent,