The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-17

They protested against changing the lines
of Jefferson county. n cutting OF part OF
part with . heavy debt. A motion to adopt
the minority report was made, but the
speaker ruled that both reports and the bill
should go on general orders. Lewis called
attention to the fact that tho speaker had
already ruled that . majority and a minor
iEy report could not be acted on In the
house. II had been ruled in committee Of
the whole that they could not be acted on
there. He wanted to know whore diverse
reports could be acted on. A. +. Bray said
the special committee, according to the IN
derstandinR Of the house when the bill was
referred. were not called on to pass on its
merits, but merely to make necessary
amendments. The Jefferson county menu
bsrs called attention to the fact that
the committee had held no meeting. Tier
ney said he had tried to got a meeting
but had failed. the Jefferson ounty Nom
the bill the special order for three O'Clock In
the afternoon was defeated on a rising vote
BY yeas %. nays IL. not the necessary two
thirds. Then the question was again
raised that there had been no meeting OF
the special committee, and that the bill
was not properly before the house. Speaker
Matthews said the fact that two reports had
been made was conclusive evidence either
that the committee had met or that they
had had a row. Walkup moved again that
the bill be made the special order for four
O'Clock in the afternoon, and the motion
was adopted on an aye and nav vote by 36
to IL, more than the two-thirds necessary
to suspend the rules.
The fight against the bill was renewed in
the afternoon, in committee OF the WHOLE.
Leech in the chair. First cams a short
sklrmish over a proposition TO have the
committee rise, but this was voted out of
order, and the bill was read through and
the amendments made necessary by the
time the bill goes into effect was all
adopted. Then came the fight on the
merits Of the bill. LorinR explained that
as a member of the committees ON counties
be had votsd against the bill. but as amend.
ed he belisved IL . good measure and one
that should pass. Smalley spoke to the same
effect. Benson, of Aeacher. said when the
bill was frat introduced his people were
much opposed to it. that being the first In
timation they had had of it being contem-
plated. But having since recognized the
Justice OF the claims Of the people in the
concluded to favor the bill il it were
amended so as not to go into effect until
August, 1894. 30 as to give Jefferson and
Measher time to shape their affairs to meet
the loss of territory. The proposed new
county had the population and the wealth
Me.aher county was something less than
S. 100000. What it would loss, 81, 200, 900.
would still leave over $4,000, 900. Jehsr-
son county had 81, 272,0 COO of ASSESS
able property and would still have
S. $780, 600 left. The part of Jefferson
Of that county's debt. Tho B%roadwntsr
county matter had given trouble ever since
it started, and had even entered into the
senatorial question. He hoped the house
would pass the bill, Bach argued that
there was IS much Justice in the claims Of
| khA R.>.l-AAA. ~--k- A1~v4 80 thaHA had
been with some of the counties already Gre
ated, and even more. whom population and
wealth were considered. Bonner also IA
vored the bill and denounced the opposition
as selfish. He claimed that if this county
bill had come up before the other county
have been in favor OF it. "1here are more
axes to grind here" he said, than there
are stones to grind them on"
Fleming, Of Beaverhsad, opposed the bill,
saying it was unjust to Jefferson county.
which already had a debt of $l75. COO. He
thought the bill premature. If the people
wanted it two years from now they could
it for the same reasons. as did Matthews.
Jockey opposed it because he thought the
limit had been reached on new counties.
Petitions from Radersbura and Placer
against the bill, and from 300 in other
places OF the proposed new county in favor
Ok H. W9Te IeAu. 1ueu CamS GUe uRub Oh
adopting the bill in committee. This mo-
ton was defeated by yeas twenty-three,
nays twenty-four. Then the friends of the
bill rallied and defeated q motion to report
unfavorably by yeas twenty-five, nays
twenty-six. A motion to report favorably
was then carried BY yeas TWENTY-FIVE. nays
B%roadwatsr county people. When the report
was made to the house and declared accepted,
somebody wanted TO take an aye and nay
vote on the question Of adopting it. In
order to get a full vote a call of the house
was asked for. The call, which was the
first the house has had, showed only four
was sent after them. The members then
began to feel hungry and suspended the
call in order TO adjourn, leaving the ser
Reant-at-arms looking for the absentees.
The bill WAS sent to the engrossing com
mittee, and when il comes up on its final
passage to-day the vote will doubtless be
very close.
House bills providing for the establish
ment of a board Of railroad commissioned
and regulating the receiving and transport
tation of passengers and freight on rail-
roads were taken up as the special order in
committee of the whole. Fitohon
bin was ordered reported favossbly
by yeas twenty-siX. nays sixteen, with the
amendment recommended by the commit
tee on railroads and transportation, that
not more than two of three shall be Of the
Same political party. The other bill, known
as long and short hRur' and "anti-poolins''
bill, was also ordered favorably reported
with several amendments. One of them
included mines. wood fumes and stone
quarries in the list of places to which sid.
tracks may be built. and another requires
the side tracks to be at points designated
by the railroad, provided connections arc
at Il reasonable distance. Another amend
ment extends from twsnty-four to thirty
six hours the time for which demurrags
cannot be charged on cars. Another re.
cuced tho fine for each days violation OF
the law from a minimum of $1,000 and
maximum Of $4,000. to $l00 and $l,00'
respectively.
The house passed the following bills
> teachers shall be paid for; requiring schoo
state tax levy at two and q half mills; al
lowing railroads to amend certificates O
a interpretations: requiring separate GU
= houses a. schools.
= Bills were Introduced as follows: b,
= Tallent. amending the Law relating to ap
= portionmsnt of money to school districts
by Graves. regulating examinations TO
positions as school teachers.
The on military affairs re-
q ported favorably OIL the bill to reorganiz
= the national guard.
4 Gov. Richards notified the house that b
d had signed the bill creating the county O
Ravalli. This Ia the fourth and last bi
for new counties which has passed bot
house and received executive sanction.
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