The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-03
SNAPS WILL BE SCARCE
That is When the New Political Code
Becomes Law.
SOME SWEEPING CHANGES
Public office VIII No Longer Be
Private PushoVer But the OF
fIcials win Need to
Rustic to Eat.

BrrrE. Feb. Butte and Silver Bow
county will probably be moro Affected by
the adoption of the new codes than any
other section of the state, and that the
nronosed laws are not received with me
greatest degree of satisfaction by the pres
ent county officers IS evidenced by the
fact that they are passing many restless
DAYS aud slecpless nights III fixing up
proposed amendments, batch OF whlch
90 to Helena almost daily.
The political code provides for radical
changes in all the county and township
officers. but no change Is provided Tor III
Office of school trustees. The old law is
left almost uuchan ed except that in case
OF malfcasAncc IN Office the code provides
that the board OF county commissioners
"may investigate" the charge. The
method OF election is no; changed and the
trustees are he'd no more responsible
than they now are FOR the administration
of the affairs of tho schools. 1t makes ono
change, however, that would DO quite
severe to tho present board OF trustees,
several of whom arc almost constantly IN
the employ of the district. The new code,
like the old law. makes it m.sdemeanor
for any trustee to Toe interested directly or
indirectly. or act as agent, IN any con-
tract, for the sale of anything TO the dis
trict, on penalty of removal from olllce, IN
addition TO "A fine not 10 exceed 5000 or
Imprisonment IN the county jail not To
exceed six months, or both fino and nm
prisonment.
Tho new code also says that no religious
or partisan test as to qualification SHAH
be applied TO teachers.
The law contemplates the greatest
change in the Office OF sheriff. IL limits
his number of deputies in counties OF the
- from
making a profit on the board OF prisoners
and does not allow him To charge mileage
except Tor the distance actually Travelled
and then only II cents milo Tor gong
and coming. lie is allowed TO charge
mileage only once when ho serves more
than one person on the same trip and
where he serves more than one paper on
the same person. Many other important
restrictions are placed on him and heavy
penalties provided Tor their violation.
The work of the county clerk and re
corder's office is more than doubled. In
addition to what he now has to do he Il
required to do tho work of the auditor
which latter Office Is abolished. lie Is re
quired to keep "a record of medical certiii
Gates, records of births. marriages ant
deaths, and heavy penalties are provided
for cases where ministers and doctors
fail TO make reports of births, marriage
aud deaths. Every man Is supposed Il
know what he has TO do under the new
law, for, as Col. jack Forglorc says, zig
norance OF the law excuses no one bu
the lawyers The county clerk is ais
required TO keep a record of bronds. 4
made keeper of weights and measures
required TO receipt for moneys paid out 10
the treasurer and makes him genera
overseer and responsible for eyerythin
going on in the county. and on top OF
all Is contemplated reduction in hi
number of deputies.
No fees can be charged for naturaliza
tions after the code goes into effect. an
one OF the county's sources Of revcnu
will be cut off.
The code gives women not only the rigl
20 vote at school elections, but also say
that upon all questions suhmltte
TO the vote of the taxpayer
of the state, or any politics
division thereof, women who are taNpa,
ers and possessed of the qualifications fc
the right Of suffrage required OF men /
the state constitution. equally with mel
have the right to Vote
The law makes sweeping reduction
the fees TO be paid witnesses and luro
and provides for many other reform
along the same line.