The Helena independent., 1893-02-24
IN THE SENATE.

Business Pushed Along in Good shnDe bv
the Upper House.
The senate went in committee of the
whole twice yesterday. the first time TO CON
slider Senator doddard's bill to provide for
the registration OF the names OF electors,
and to prevent fraud at elections. This is
one Of the several acts designed to amend
the election laws Of the state along the line
OF Judge Hunts suggestions In The INDE-
PENDENT. After tho bill had been road the
committee recommended Its passage.
The second session of the committee late
In the afternoon produced more entertain
msnt. The first bill under consideration
was that known a. the Billings penitentisry
measure. which provides an appropriation
lor another penitentiary at that town. and
ton. After CALDWELL had moved for a fa-
vorable report Gibson made a brief but
forolbe speech against the bill. lie did
not believe it in the interest Of the state to
maintain two penitentiaries, and pointed
out in contrast that in all Montana there
Minneapolis "Where was the necessity"
he asked. "of keeping up two state prisons,
especially since very large expense was
involved" He did not know what the
Legislature meant by making SO many ap.
propriations, nor could he see where the
provided for an expenditure Of $50, 600 this
year. and he did not believe the state was
able to stand 1t.
Senator Goddard In reply said ths bill
had been carefully considered in the house.
Inc present penitentiaiy to Montana was
every Citizen. In ono Of the rooms $50 men
are confined and there is danger to every
mans life. 1t was shame to call the
present building penitentiary. The pres
ent bill appropriates money for repairing
these buildings. but it is proposed to start
another penitentiaIy at Billings. In no
place in Montana can psnitentiary be
constructed so cheaply AZ at that place.
The quarries there afford the best building
material and in the construction employ
mont can be given to the 0onvicts. Sena-
tor Goddard added that he had not entered
secu ing votes for this measure.
Senator Gibson replied that it was very
Well known how votes had been secured for
tho bill. On motion the committee reoom-
mended the passage of the bill.
House bill No. Ga lroviding for the
formation OF Broadwater county. was then
taken mp with the oommittee's recom-
mendation that it do not pass and
this report was adopted. There were no
opposing votes. The committee also con-
CURED in house joint memorial No. 5.
which asks congres to oppose the repeal Of
substitute in the interest of silver ia
adopted. y3a
Senators Mats and Folsom were ap-
pointed members of conference commit
tee on senate bill No IL. providing for the
terms of office, powers duties. etc of a
state board of education. Senators Eggles-
ton and Gibson were appointed a commit
tee to confer with the house committee for
a great seal.
The following senate bills were passed:
Providing for the annexation of a part OF
Neagher county to Cascade and another
part to Yellowstone; increasing the number
OF justices of the supreme court from three
to i've; to enable counties to issue bonds to
get rid of unhealthy smoke and fumes;
for transferring certain documents to the
care of the state historical society; relating
to powers of savings banks and trust de-
posit companies; repeating general incor-
poration act.
A petition was presented bv Senator
Cullen from residents of Dawson county
asking that the laws be so amended as to
provide for the reduction of salaries of
county officers in view of the unusual bur-
dens Of taxation.
The following house bills were read in the
senate and referred. Numbers g. 1O9 lOS,
76 and l23.
he fish and game committee reported
favorably on house bill 81 and the COM
mlttes on counties and municipalities, un-
fAvOrably on house bill GA