The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-19
BUTTE News.
LAW WAS NOT PASSED
Old Trustees Jubilant Over an
Alleged Discovery.
SPEAKER DIDN'T SIGN 1T
They Assert That There Is No Longer
Any Doubt That the Now Board Is
Illegally il. Possession of
the Office.

The old school trustees, with one ex-
ception, are jubiiant. They have firm
and abiding faith in the idea that they
will get another go at the district
school affairs. or at least they will be
able to Dust the present board of trus-
tees Several Of them expressed them
selves yesterday that there was no
longer any doubt that the present board
was illegally in office.
They have discovered new basis for
this declaration The law under which
Mr.. Long and his associates are hold
ing Office was never passed by the leg
islature at ali. and therefore there is
no such law to say nothing Of the
numerous alleged fatal defects discoy-
cred in il and pointed out by Judge
HARDWOOD According to the new argu-
ment advanced. Mr.. HARDWOOD discov-
cred by an examination of the jour
nails of the house and senate of the last
legislature, that the bill, which is now
published as the school law. is still in
the hands of a joint conference COM
nlittee and has never been reported To
the legislature. According to the rec
ord on the journals, the bill originated
in the senate, was passed and sent to
the house. where it WAS referred to the
committee of the whole and reported
back TO the house with amendments
and passed. 1t was then sent TO the
senate which refused to concur in the
house amendments. and the house re-
fused to- recede. Both bodies of the leg
isiature then appointed conference
committees to consider the bill. and
that is the last account shown by the
journal That was on the last day of
the session. The senate journal shows
that the president signed the bill, but
the house journal does not show that
the speaker did so, and there you are.
I'm my mind, there is no longer any
doubt that these trustees are holding
office under a void law" said Attorney
@. NJ. Hall. who is also school trus-
tee.
The one exception among the old
trustees is Edwin Bray. He stated
yesterday that he did not attend the
secret meeting of the other trustees
few evenings ago, and did not want the
public to think that he had anything TO
do with the affair or that he was anx-
ious to be trustee again.
William Bray. the man who is SO
active in the contest and who gave out
the statement that the meeting had
been held in the Office of the Thompson
Investment company. is not the ex-
school trustee, and is not related 10
him. His activity in the matter Is en-
tirely disinterested and is only such as
all good citizens should exercise. His
statement that the meeting was held
in the Thompson office was probably
unintentionaliy incorrect. and perhaps
Ii was made under mistaken notion
of hiding the fact that the meeting was
held in the Office of Trustee o. NJ. Hall.
w. r. Thompson of the investment
company complained yesterday against
being dragged into the controversy. and
he had good complaint coming under
the circumstances.
The meeting which was held In Mr.
tees Curtis and Mcconnell and by the
present trustees. Hawiey, Lyons and
Halt The two last named. after at
tending that meeting, We're modest
enough not TO attend the meeting OF
tn, other board Mr.. Eawley. however
was present at both. 1t is announced
that the old trustees will hold another
meeting or two before election.
Judge Clancy still has the contest
under advisement. but IL is barely pos
sible that he will decide the matter to-
day.