The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-09

prOnlDltoQ from entering tho DOotn WITH
an illiterate voter. or marking his ticket
except in the presence of tho other judges.
TIE CODE.
want to emphasize the Importance of
the adoption of the code. 1t should be
adopted as a whole. in order that it's har-
mony be not destroyed, and revised as the
wisdom of the legislative assembly may
direct. The we'll known ability of each
member of the code commission is
guarantee that nearly every requirement
within its field of labor will be satis-
factorily met.
CREE INDIANS.
Several hundred Cree Indians roam at
large within the borders of this state.
They are wards of the British govern
meut and claim to be political refugees
who participated in the Rel rebellion.
Every effort TO induce these Indians to
voluntarily leave the state has proved un-
availing, and / have tried in vain TO en-
list the federal government in the matter
of their removal. Under treaty stipula-
tions the federal authorities refuse 20 in
terfere, there being no well defined prece-
dents to govern their action in a case OF
this character; therefore no relief can be
expected from that quarter. The govern
ment also refuses to set apart any portion
of the public domain as reservation for
them, thus compelling the state 10 deal
with the wards of n foreign nation. Evil
dence is accumulating to the effect that
these Indians are a constant menace to
our stock interests and our game pre-
serve, respecting no law passed for tho
protection of those interests when it
serves their purpose to violate the law.
In the nature of things II is practically
impossible to reach individual members
of the tribe in order to meet out the pun
ishment prescribed by law through the or
binary processes OF the courts. Isolated
cabins have been rifled and acts of vio-
lence perpetrated by the Crees, while it is
universally understood that the practices
and ceremonials of the tribe are foreign TO
civilization and repulsive to our people.
The only way to abate the nuisance into
which the presence of the Indians
has grown is to deal with them
collectively, and, if possible. remove them
from the state into the jurisdiction of the
British government.
Unless this is done our game laws will
afford no protection to tho game preserves,
for the police power of the state would be
inadeuuate to enforce the laws with wan
derIng bands of Indians engaged in hunt
ing at all seasons of the year in sparsely
settled districts. As il is impossible to
| enlist the federal government in move
ment to deport these Indians to the coun-
| try TO which they belong, it remains with
| the legislative assembly to provide ways
and means for the solution of the prob
| lem, to the end that isolated settlers may
| not SuIler from tue
Iions of the Crees. and that the live stock
| and the game interests of Montana may
| receive the protection contemplated by
| the laws upon our statute books. rec
ommend the adoption of such measures
as may be deemed necessary to effect
these ends.
GAME AND FISH WARDEN.
Authority is vested in boards of county
commissioners to appoint a game and
| fish warden, upon petition. The law
/ should be so amended as to make the ap-
| pointment of such an officer by the board
| mandatory. In no other way can the laws
| for the protection of game and fish be en-
| forced in all portions of the state. Laws
| of this character are of little benefit, un-
less observed in every locality.
STATE FINANCES.
| The total revenues of the state for 1895
amounted to $40, S1O.99; in 1894 the total
revenues amounted to Sl06, 1926, a net
decrease of S3I I,691.73. The falling of in
| receipts for taxes was Sll,21669, while tho
| loss in licenses reached total of S23,-
| 415.0i. These figures, taken from the re-
| port of the state treasurer, would seem 10
| indicate that Montana has suffered less
| from a depression of vlaues than from n
| shrinkage i'll the volume of business
| trans acted since the panic. The problem
| of increasing the revenues without impos-
L
| payers on the one hand, or impairing the
efficiency of the state government on the
| other, is submitted to the wisdom of this
| honorable body. The affairs of state have
| been economically and prudently ham
| died. that tine best results might be at
tanned with the minimum expenditure of
| public funds. WIth reference to dimin-
| ishing the expenses of the state and in
| creasing its revenues, offer the follow
| ing suggestions:
1 ~ l.
| the county clerk of each county, fee of
| 80 cents for recording each deed should
| be collected for the use and benefit of the
| state.
| .. The expenses incurred in selecting
| and plating lanls for the several state
| institutions should be paid out of the sew
eral funds belonging to the same. amor
| out of the general fund of the state. This
| would effect a saving to the state of at
| least 5000 per annum.
| 3. The county attorney is a county Off
| Ger, and his salary should be paid by the
| county as other local officers are paid. ]
recommend that steps be taken to effect
| a change in Sec. ~ article VIII OF the
| constitution, which provides that one-half
| the salary of the county attorney be paid
| by the state. A saving of more than SlS,-
600 year to the state could thus be ef-
| fected.
| 4. The expenses of transporting inmates
| TO the reform school should be paid by the
| respective counties sending them, a saw
| ing to the state of about 5000 per an
mum. The same rule applied 10 convicts
| would make an additional saving of more
| than Si1 ,O00 If these regulations be not
deemed advisable, L recommend a thor
| ough investigation into the utility of q law
| delegating to institutions of this charac-
| ter the right to send after those consigned
| thereto, thus reducing the cost TO act
ual expenses of transportation. Laws
| bearing on this matter should include the
deaf aud dumb school and the orphan
| asylum. as well as the reform school and
| penitentiury. Judicious legislation along
these lines will effect great saving TO the
| state.
.. The secretary of state should be re-
| quired 10 charge a fee OF % cents per
$1,000 on the capital stock of each corpora
tion filing its certificate of incorporation.
| In round numbers the total capital stock
of corporations filed for the year 1884
| amounted 20 S2i5. 10000. Had such a law