The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-24
CIRCLE KNOCKED Off
The Top Of the Official Ballot will
Have to Do Business
Without It.
SEVERAL BILLS SIGNED
And Are Now -Tierney's Anti
Gambling Bill-One State Nor
NAL School Enough.
SEVERAL BILLS SIGNED
Tuesday-ln the Senate.

The circle at the top Of the official
ballot will not do business at the old
stand in the next Montana election il
the senate has it's say. By the decis-
i've vote of l6 to s the upper house Of
the legislature this morning recon-
mended for passage the substitute for
Hannah's S bill simplifying the form Of
printing the official ballot. This was
not accomplished until the opponents
Of the measure had made strong fight
against it. Among other proceedings
OF some Importance during the morning
session was the indefinite postponement
of the bills preventing railroads from
imposing tunnel charges in Montana
and Anderson S bill raising the age Of
consent.
This afternoon one of the most im-
portant of the senate bills was con-
sidered in committee Of the whole, the
measure creating the twenty fifth coun-
ty in Montana, to be known rs Powell
county.
The following committee reports
were presented and adopted:
The finance and claims committee
recommended concurrence in Fl. B. 43
creating the Office of assistant state land
register with all amendment making
the salary 81 500 a year.
The committee on corporations rec
commended the indefinite postponement
of S. B. 90, Senator Warmers bill, pre-
venting tunnel charges by railroads
running through Montana. The COM
mittee on towns and counties recomend-
ed for passage Tierney's bill, S. B. SO.
for a classification Of farming, meadow
and grazing lands. The public morals
committee recommended the indefinite
postponement Of Anderson's S bill chang
ing the age of consent The judiciary
and finance and claims committees
asked permission to engage clerk to
be used exclusively by those commit
tess. This was authorized and the COM
mittee engaged William Goodyear.
In committee of the whole, Myers in
the chair, the senate considered a num-
ber of measures upon the general file.
The substitute for S. B. 81 (Han-
nah's), relating to the printing Of bal
lots and the manner Of voting, and to
provide simpler form Of ballot and
greater secrecy in voting, was the first
bill considered. 1t stirred up more de-
bate than any other measure, but was
finally recommended for passage. The
bill provides for printing the names Of
the candidates and the party or princi-
pie they represent on the same line and
in parallel columns with no party
name, emblem or the famous circle at
the top Of the ballot. The voter is to
place cross in the place left blank for
that purpose between the name of the
candidate and the party. In the ar
of the candidates and the
party names the space for making the
cross the bill provides:
"The lists of the candidates of the
different parties, as we'll as the names
of independent candidates. shall be
printed in the same column on the bal
lot in the alphabetical order of the
names of the parties OF principle for
which they stand. When there are
several persons to be elected to the !
same office the candidates Of each party
shall be arranged in separate groups
and in each group the names shall be |
alphabetically. After the
name of each candidate there shall be |
printed the name or names Of the party
or parties which have placed him in
or the name of the princi-
pie for which he stands. but no party |
name shall consist Of more than two
words. Between the name Of each |
candidate and the party name there
shall be- printed blank square in
which the elector may mark his cross.
Upon the third reading Of bills Sena-
tor Stanton's initiative and referendum
bill was considered and defeated. The
Fad measure had eleven supporters
when it came to q final vote. Sixteen
votea were required. ~ IL was bill
an mendment to the constitu.
lion.
8. 3. so. providing for the joint trial
pf criminals when accused Of participa.
lion In tho same crime. and 8. ]. n. 3.
appealing for direct voes By tbs peo.
ple, were both passed and ssnt TO the
house.
The Powell county bill wss eousiAsr.
ID In committees Of ths whole In tho
,snats this Altsrnooa In tho presence ol
} large Asssmhlss os friends and oppo.'
aent& Several warm speeehea were
nAdls Pro md con. The hlll fNilsd 10
paas tha c0snmittes By 3 v0ts u u ~
N nfkAaAl nkssAsnsA Ma vaAA HSssea mm