Fergus County argus., 1895-01-03
A BOUNTY BILL.

A BOUNTY BILL.
As the time approaches for the meet
ing of the legislature stockmen are be-
interested in bounty bill. tits
a question of great moment to the whole
state, but as there is some apprehen-
sion that the mining counties would
defeat a general bill increasing the
bounty sufficient to make it effective,
it is proposed that a tax be levied on
stock as the next best thing. The fol-
lowing draft of bill has been prepared
by r. M. Allen, manager of the Stan
dard Cattle company, who has through
his interest in the matter started the
ball rolling. Cattlemen and farmers
are asked to make any changes or sug-
gestions so that the bill when formed
for presentation to the legislatures of
the states interested, may be found to
be uniform in working throughout the
the largest possible area OF country,
and satisfactory to the interests af-
fected. These are its terms:
A bill for an act entitled "An act to en-,
courage the destruction of predatory wild
animals, and for other purposes" approved
March LIST, 1890, and amended -------
1898.
Be it enacted by the legislature Of the
state Of Montana:
Sec. THAT an act entitled AN act to
encourage the destruction OF predatory wild
animals, and for other purposes, approved
March 1st, 1890, and amended and re-en-
acted by the legislature OF 1898. be further
amended and re-enacted hereby SO as to
read as follows,
Sec. 2.-For the purpose of encouraging
the destruction of coy otes, gray and black
wolves and mountain lions, within the
state of Montana, the board of county
commissioners of the various counties OF
the said state are hereby authorized and
required to make payment from a iund to
be raised by special levy, as hereinafter
specified and described, the sums OF money
herein designated, viz: for each coyote SO
killed, one dollar; for each gray or black
wolf SO killed, eight dollars; and for each
mountain lion so killed, six dollars.
Sec. 3-The fund from which the sums
above mentioned shall be paid as bounty
shall be created and raised follows, viz
by a special levy of ten mills, which shall
be laid upon the total valuation Of live
| stock, i. e., horses, sheep and cattle, upon
which other taxes are laid. 1t is intended,
and must so be understood, that this levy
shall be laid in addition. to the levy for
state and general county purposes.
Sec. 1.-The above mentioned special
levy shall be collected for the first time
upon the assessment for the year 1898
and no certificates or warrants issued pre-
vious to January 1st, 1896, shall be paid
from the fund raised by the state levy.
| Sec. 5.-After January 1st, 1896. the
| bounty on coyotes, wolves and mountain
| lions killed shall be paid from the said
fund; and in case the said fund shall be
come exhausted before new tax for the
follow wing year shall apply, the certificates
or warrants shall be paid from the new funo
from the tax OF each succeeding year II,
soon as the tax has been collected.
| Speaking on this subject the Stock Grow
ers Journal says:
| few suggestions have been made by
stock men who have read the bill which vii
be given to assist those in considering the
matter who may feel SO disposed.
Leave the present bounty law stand
ing as it is, but have on appropriation
made to pay warrents issued under it
Then have enacted the above law, or on,
similar to it, to be in effect and operative
at the same time.
| 2.-The bill suggested is ambiguous as i
does not provide an authority to maxi
the levy. The power should be reposed il
either the board of county com missioner
of each county. or in the state board.
3.-There should not be such a difference
between the bounty of coyotes and wolves
The wild cat could be well cut out and tn,
IN oney go on to the bounty Of coyotes.
The suggestions of the Stock Grow
ers Journal are right to the point
The present bounty bill should remain
as it is if the bounty cannot be RAISED
in general law, and AN appropriation
set aside to pay certificates on presen
tation. Then an additional law shoult
be enacted taxing the stock industr.
lightly to raise fund. The bounty OF
coyotes in the above is not high enough
and, as suggested, the wild cat bount.
county could be dispensed with.
| We believe general law should b.
strongly contended for. Every count.
in the state contains cattle, sheep ant
horses, and wolves and coyotes are in
creasing in the mountainous regions q
rapidly as on the prairies, and becom
ing so bold that small owners are sui
fering as much from their ravages a
the rangemen. 1t is a question tina
should not be considered from a mar
row, personal andpoint, but from tn
broad ground of the general welfare O
the state.
Any one who has children will reioic
with l.. b. Mulford, of Plainfeld, n. J. Hi