The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-18
THE CONGRESS At OGDEN,
Gov. Richards Arranging for Ten
Delegates at Large to Repre-
sent Montana q
Appropriation Bills for tho State
Educational Institutions APP
proved and Signed.
Bill Amending the Revenue Act In Re-
gard to Payment Of Taxes the
Only One Left.

Gov. Richards Ia corresponding with .
number of gentlemen thu oughout the state
for the purpose OF securing delegates to at
tend the Transmississippi congress which
ia to meet at Ogden. Utah. on April "a next.
Tho congress held it's first ~session at Gal
weston three years ago. 1t second session
was held at Denver about ak months later.
II met q third time at Omaha. and fixed
New Orleans as its place to meet next. The
meeting at New Orleans was its fourth and
the congress assembled In that city last
February. This made four meetings OF the
congress east OF the Rocky mountains. and
it was decided to hold the next session west
of the mountains. and Ogden Was selected
as the place on account of the railroad
facilities for reaching that city from all
parts OF the far west, its fine opera house
and other conveniences for handling q
large assemblage. May 2. 1898. wa fixed
as the time. But on account of this date
conflicting with the Worlds fair opening
the executive committee has changed tho
date to Monday. April "a. The territory
embraced in the representation to this con-
gress takes in all OF she United States west
of the Mississippi river and that small
part of Louisiana and Minnesota east Of
the river.
Tn bnsis Of representation is as follows:
The governor of each state and terlitoty
has a right to appoint ten delegates; the
county commissioner or county Judges
mny namo one delegate from each county;
tho mayors Of all towns and cities select one
delegate for each 5000 people or fractional
part thereof, and no matter how small n
town may be, if it has n mayo, ii is enti-
tied to one delegate; NIL commercial bodies
| in all towns and cities may appoint the
Same number as the mayor. This last in
| cludeB chambers of commerce., real estate
exchanges, produce exchanges, cotton ex-
changes and all similar commercial bodies;
each of these can BIO represented BY as
many delegates as the city from which they
come is entitled to.
All transportation companies. whether
| rail or steamship. are entitled to one dele
gate each. Governors, mayors, county
judges and presidents of boa. DIS of county
| supervisors are ex- officio delegates to the
congress.
The object Of the congress is to discuss
all questions affecting tho west that may be
| the subject of legislation at Washington,
and to speak through its resolutions to the
national congress. Hence irrigation, arid
lands. silver. public lands. the policy of
the secretary of the interior. Pacifc and
Gulf coast harbo.s. and many other i'm
portant questions come up in q body COM
posed entirely of western men.
This is the most important representative
assemblage of the west. 1t has already in
fuenced legislation, notably measures for
the improvement of the Mississippi river.
The congress- is becoming better known
and more influential with each session.
1t is the earnest desire of the officers and
friends of the congress, that the next ses-
sion should be attended by all the COVER
! nors and congressman of the Twenty-Five
Iransmississippi states, with a view to
harmony and unity of action in legislation
in the interest of the west.