Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-12-20

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mulgated a new ruling regarding the
cancelling OF revenue stamps OF
denominations OF ten cents or over.
Hereafter all such stamps must not
only be cancelled by the writing OF
the initials and the date across the
face, but must be mutilated by the
cutting OF three parallel lines diago-
nally across the face, SO as to render
1t impossible for the ink to be washed
OF and the stamp made To appear as
tho not before used. This order has
been rendered necessary by the num-
erous frauds perpetrated upon the
government by sharpers.
State Treasurer Collins announces
that all outstanding bounty claims,
filed under the laws OF lS95 and 1899,
amounting to about $40, 900 will be
paid by the state this month and
that in addition claims filed in 1893,
1894 and 1895, amounting to about
SG3, 900 would also be met. The
state treasurer believes TINT all
bounty claims will be paid by the
state within n year. Most OF the old
claims are held by banks and thelaw
passed last winter provided that
these should be paid ms rapidly as
II surplus accumulated in the bounty
fund as a result Of the heavier tax
levy.
In n stabbing affray Mt Gebo, Car
bon county, last Wednesday, Thos.
Brewington stabbed Frank Babcock.
plunging the knife blade into his
stomach several times. The wounds
are likely to prove fatal. Brewing
ton and George Babcock had been
standing upon the sidewalk disput-
ing over II bill which the former
was endeavoring to collect, when
Frank Babcock, brother of George,
came along and engaged In the con
troyersy, with the result az be-
fore stated. The dispatch says both
men bear good regulations. Bah
cock is n married man. One report
OF the affair says that Babcock drew
n gun on Brewington.
The list OF property delinquent for
taxes for the year1S99 occupies several
columns on the seventh page this
week. Some OF the persons appear
ing as behind in the payment of their
dues may excite wonder, but in sew
eral cases the reason il that the duty
OF paying taxes on this property is in
dispute, a transfer having been made
since assessment. Altogether thelist
IL much shorter than last year and
represents n still greater reduction in
the amount OF taxes delinquent. For
the first time In many years the list
OF lands owned by the Northern Pa
ciiic Railway company does not ap.
pear, the company having paid their
taxes for this year.
The school board was to have met
Saturday night, but a quorum failed
to appear ind adjournment was
taken until tonight. While 1t will
not be officially determined until to.
night 1t is quite generally understood
that the board will finally yield to
public sentiment and authorize the
Use ofthenew building by the depart.
ments, the furniture to he moved
during the Christmas vacation week
Chairman Cort, who returned las
week, seems to have been touched
with the popular feeling and it IL re
ported that his decision will govern
III necessary to obtain a majority
upon the motion to move into the
new quarters, an arrangement may
be made with Trustee Jackson to
continue the rent on the warehouse
across the creek for a few months,
using the lower floor for storing the
minutes OF the debates had upon the
school house matter by the board
during the past year. The upperhoor
would not be suitable for the purpose
az the building IL none too safe at
best.
The Billings Gazette says: |. ID.
O'Donnell, sheep commissioner for
Yellowstone county and member OF
the state board Of sheep commission
er, made his report to the board Dec.
/. The report showed that There
were on hand In this county on March
|, 1880, 269,522 head Of sheep. This
number has been augmented since
that time by those brought into the
county from other counties or states
by $4,000 head. The number GLANDS
locked since March ! WASTE, 53G. The
report oflambs and sheepslaughtered
or sold and shipped out OF the state
since March | was incomplete but az
NAM, M on,,11 La .au,tl..I A..