The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-01-13
OUR SOLONS'
FIRST WEEK.
A BUSINESS GAIT STRUCK.
Nut GrandiOSe Projects Soon TO BE Pre-
scented for Action.
Why Gov. Richards Wants More Supreme
court Judges Appointed.

TRIBUNE. The first week of the legis
lature has passed and has witnessed g
most pleasant outcome of what threat.
ened to be a disagreeable ENHANCEMENT
This result was entirely due to the
determination of the democrats to have
needed legislation and the wisdom of the
~populists in recognizing the fact that
it was only with the aid of the democrats
that they could accomplish anything.
With the republicans they could have
controlled the house, only to find their
plans come to nothing in the ssnate.
BY combining with the democrats they
have an opportunity to get some of their
favored measures through both houses.
The populists recognized this when they
consented TO have the democrats unite
with them and place the Silver Bow pop
ulist, Thomas Matthews, in the chair
in return for their aid in preventing the
republican plan of turning out enough
democrats to insure the return of Col.
Sanders to Washington.
1t will be remembered that it was the
republicans who thought Matthews a
very good hand for temporary chairman
after the democrats left the house with
out a quorum the first day. But they
thought him a very poor man for pre-
siding officer when they found he was
not delivered over to them bag and
baggage" The party lines cannot be
said to be very strictly drawn in the
house except between the democrats and
republicans.
Among other bills that
are looked for will be those for the crea-
ton of new counties. The Flathead
portion of Missoula county wants to be
made a separate county, with kalispell
as the seat of government. The people
OF the Flathead complain that the
expense of travel to the county seat is
too great, and say that though the
revenues of each part may be decreased,
yet the smaller cost of maintenance
would offset this difference. 1t is also
'eported that the lower part of Missoula
county considers itself able to stand
alone under the name of Bitter Root
county. Another project is to form
Bear Paw county out OF the eastern por-
ton OF Choteau county and part of
western Dawson. If this project carries,
Chinook desires to be the county seat.
The western part of Choteau will again
ask to be made Teton county. with an
area of 10000 square miles, including the
B~lackfOot reservation.
The Valley county matter which is to
divide the upper from the lower part of
Dawson, is also likely to cone up again.
1t was before the last legislature, and
strong reasons were urged for tho Iii
vision, the main one being the expense
OF travel from the northern part of the
county to Glendive. At that time the
objection was that there were no govern
ment surveys in the upper part of Daw-
son county, and consequently no titles to
lands. For this reason, it was urged,
none of the officers of the proposed new
county could give bonds with real
estate owners on them. This time, it is
intimated, no such objection will be
found. If all these plans go through.
Montana will have tWenty-One counties.
Another proposition which is likely to
come up at the present session is that of
a state water commission. The idea is
to divide the state into two departments,
one east of the Rocky mountain range
and one west Of it. The eastern depart
ment is to vote on the question of issu-
ing S6,OOO,OOO OF bonds. and the western
department 90 the question Of issuing
100000 in bonds, for the purpose of
constructing canals, bitches, reservoirs
and other water works. The proceeds
OF the sale Of bonds are to be devoted to
the building of such works, and the
water commission is to charge reasonable
tolls for the use OF the water for irrigat-
ing or manufacturing purposes. The |
commission is to be composed of four
members, with salaries of $4,000 each. |
The contemplated scheme is thus far
only in its formative state, and is in
tended to do what a great many have
all along wanted the general government
to do.
The suggestion of the governor in his
message that the legislature increase the
membership of the supreme court by
two does not meet with general favor.
AS a matter OF fact we'll informed law
yers say that if the three judges now
composing the court get dow to ordi-
nary hard work there is not enough
business before them to keep them as
busy as some of the district court judges
are.
Before the admission OF Montana to
statehood the supreme court OF the ter
ritory had not only territorial law to deal
VIII, Dut leueTdl law db well, anu got
through much more work than the pres
ent judges are expected to do.
The proposition to take advantage Of
the provision in the constitution allow
ing two more judges OF the supreme
court is looked upon as part Of a scheme
Of Gov. Richards to reward some of his
political friends, and more particularly
to get the ex.chief justice back on the
hench and mako the court honeleasly ra-
publican for sometime to come. The
recommendation has shown that the
governor of a great state can be very
much like ordinary men on special occa-
sions-especially in matters OF party ad-
vantage.
The subject Of locating the state In
stitutions is not discussed to any extent
a. yet. Senator Gibson Of Cascade is a
etropg advocate Of consolidating all the