The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1897-01-29
OUR HELENA LETTER
DEMOCRATS WILL STAND TOGETHER
ON ALL PARTY MEASURES.

DEMOCRATS WILL STAND TOGETHER
ON ALL PARTY MEASURES.
The Eight-Hour Bill Passes the House in
Committee of the Whole-Woman Suf-
frage Bill Reported Favorably by Com
Special Cor. of THE NEW NORTHWEST
HELENA, Jan. 27.-It has been week
eventful for the events that have not
transpired in the legislature-the seven
days past. Several things that we're ex-
pected did not come to pass. Among
them was the passage Of the initiative
and referendum, which was to have been
passed through the house according to a
plan adopted at a caucus of populists and
democrats, during the week.
The plan did not bear fruit, however,
partly because the democrats took alarm
when they heard of the possible detection
OF their followers, and sent out couriers
to bring in the faltering ones. At eau
Gus held Thursday afternoon it was de-
cided that the democratic majority in the
house will stand together on all party
measures from this time on, and that
whenever it is deemed advisable to ad-
journ there will be unanimity of action.
On one occasion during the week the tin
went around that an adjournment was to
he taken for the purpose Of holding a
caucus on the subject of the referendum,
but somehow it was not circulated
quickly enough and confusion ensued
while the vote was being taken. A rep
etition of such happening was sought
to be prevented by arriving at a better
understanding at the caucus.
The eight-hour bill of McNally came
up for discussion during the week, and
after being amended in some particulars
was passed by q unanimous vote in the
committee of the whole. 1t will come
up for final passage some day this week
The bill reducing the salary of the gov
ernor to $4,000 also came up and was
passed. The salary of the chief execu-
tive is now $4,000, and the original bill
intended that it should be reduced to
$500 a year. The bill has no effect
upon Gov. Smith, however, owing to the
provision of the constitution that mans
salary cannot be increased or dimin-
ished during his term of office. The bill
is in line with some others that are not
yet come up for consideration in the
house, reducing salaries and abolshing
some of the offices now considered use
less. There is already in the hopper in
the house a bill to abolish altogether the
office of county auditor, which is consid-
cred by many as an expensive and use
less appendage to the county govern
ment.
The senate passed six bills during the
week. There was the bill for bonding
the university land grant for 100000, the
proceeds to be devoted to building a
home for the institution at Missoua;
bills for the appointment of meat in
spectors in cities of the irst class, 8 bill
for the appointment of board of stock
commissioners, bill to make it 10 longer
necessary to post notices on real estate of
attachments levied upon it, and a bill to
make the stealing of live stock felony
regardless Of the value Of the animal
stolen. The bill regarding the attach
ment of real estate is one by Senator
Sligh. Heretofore it has been necessary
to post notice on every separate piece
Of ;ob of+
great hardship to require of a litigant.
The new law requires that service shall be |!
filed with the county clerk and recorder.
The measure is regarded as an important
to the house, but the latter body has as
yet not reciprocated by sending any of
its bills to the senate. Except the eappro-
priation bills to pay the expenses of this
session of the legislature no house bills
have been passed at all.
There was a hearing of both sides in
the Powell county division matter before
the committee on counties and towns
Thursday evening. The committee
finally decided to recommend the print
ing of the bill for the information of the |
members and to have it placed on the
file, without recommendation as to its
passage. The hearing was an interesting
one, being attended by crowds from the
city.
The woman suffrage bill, providing for
the submission to the people two years
C.,1, A., y Al,
stitufion giving to women the right of
suffrage, was reported favorably to the
house during the week by the committee
on privileges and elections. The com
mittee put saving clause in its report,
however, and the members said, through
their spokesman, that while they did not
agree with the idea of woman suffrage