The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1897-01-08
WHOLE NO. 1884.

ted, and are in the senate, whether for
four years more or only for two years
depending upon the outcome of the cases
in which the contest appears on the sur
face. The men who will remain anyway
are Senators Hurd Of Valley, and Rams
dell of Flathead.
1t is believed that the hold over sena-
tors will be retained. They are Senators
Cooper of Ravalli, Flowerree of Teton.
and sligh of Granite. They will displace
the recently elected Cooper Of Teton,
Hickman of Ravalli and Dingwall Of
| Granite. There will be no difference as
to this session in the political complexion
OF the body, for there is gain and loss
OF republican and democrat, while
both the senators from Granite are re-
publicans, but it is thought that the re-
suit in two years more will be rather in
favor OF the democrats filling this year
the doubtful districts and leaving for two
years hence those in which democratic
managers see more hope of success OF
course every democrat gained for the fu-
ture will be step toward securing SEN
ator of the United States, and the issue is
much more important than would be at
first supposed, and goes beyond the mere
personnel of the body.
There will be four county division
fights at least, and perhaps more than
that. The triangular division of Custer
county, which was once the largestin in the
United States, will be one of them. The
Broadwater county division scheme will
be revived again, with variations. for
there are many plans intended to defeat
the main object, one being a scheme to
add to Lewis and Clarke and Jefferson
counties certain portions of Meagher in
stead of making a new county out of
pieces taken from each. The Broadwa
ter county scheme has made a step for
ward at this session, inasmuch as one of
Its chief champions of previous sessions
has since then become the lieutenant
governor, and may be presumed to WELD
additional power The Custer county di-
vision schemes will not fare 50 we'll, per
haps, for this is democratic legislature,
and the argument is being freely made
that every new county made out of Gus
ter means another state senator to help
elect republican to the United States
senate whenever in the future there is
one to be chosen. Custer is now repre-
sented by republican, Senator Mckay,
and although some democrats we're cleo
ted in that county last fall, it is remem-
bered that it was an exceptional year,
even for Montana, and it is dangerous to
take chances. A bill providing for the di-
vision Of Deer Lodge county, giving to An
aconda the capital it recently took from
the place where it had been for so many
years, has been introduced in the house
by Mr.. Humber.
The codes will receive the attention of
the lawyers in the legislature. There are
nine of them in the house, and they can
be depended upon to look after the tech
nical defects discovered since the entire
mass of legislation became law.
A new road law is wanted by some of
the people of the country districts-one
that will bring more practical results.
An effort will be made to protect the for
ests of the state from destruction by fire.
Montana has 100000 acres of the finest
lands in the West, an expert says, and
much Of it will be irretrievably ruined if
some action is not taken be fore it is too
late. The law now in fore e in Minnesota,
with some notifications to make it fit
local conditions, will be the one tried.