The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-09

ANACONDA NEWS.
THE new BOUNTY LAW
Provisions Governing the Issu-
ance OF Bounty Certificates.
CLERK MUST BE A SCALPER
With a Sharp Knife-He Will Saver the
Scalplock OF the Poor Coyote
and Hang It on
Wire.
CLERK MUST BE AS CALPER

One of the bills passed by the recent
legislature-the bounty law-seems cal
cttlated to revive an industry which
flourished in these parts long before
legislative assemblies were thought Of,
but which the advance of the white
man fnterfered with to such an extent
that it's suspension has been almost
complete.
Scalping, as a general thing, is lost
art. The practice has fallen into decay.
Probably in order to revive it the Sixth
legislative assembly passed the bounty
law in the form that it did. Hereafter
the qualifications that must be possess
ed by county clerks. besides the present
qualifications, will probably be clause
requiring him to be an expert scalper
and the man who has the largest num-
Der of scalps attached to his belt will
be the successful candidate.
The new bounty law provides that
for each grown wolf killed S. shall be
paid: for each coyote 50, and for wolf
pups $2-wolf pups to be killed before
November l of each year. The person
who kills the animals shall, within 80
days of the date of killing, exhibit or
cause to be exhibited. the skins of the
animals, including the tail and the skin
from the entire head, including the en-
tire ears and also the upper part of the
jaw attached to the skin, to the county
clerk of the county in which such ami
mails We're killed. and shall at the same
time file with the clerk an affidavit set
ting forth that he killed or caused to
be killed the animal or animals from
which the skin or skins were taken:
that the same We're killed within the
bounds of the county to whose clerk
of the same was presented; and the
county clerk SHALL before issuing the
certificate require affidavit of two resi-
dent freeholders of the county. that
they are acquainted with the person
presenting the skin or skins, and that
to the best Of their knowledge and be-
lief, the animal or animals from which
the skin or skins We're taken, were
killed within the limits of the county.
The county clerk shall thereupon call
to his assistance, either the county
treasurer, or, in his absence, the clerk
of the district court who, being pres
ent, both shall, in order to prevent
fraud infinitely examine each skin pre-
sented. and should such examination
disclose that the scalp and ears, with
the skin from the entire head of such
animal .or animals, and the, upper jaw
attached thereto. has not been severed,
punctured patched, or in any manner
marked the county clerk shall there,
in the presence of the other official nam
ed above mark each skin by severing
just behind the ears, the entire skin of
the head and face. including the upper
jaw attached thereto, embracing both
ears, and then redeliver the skin or
skins to the person presenting the same,
and SHALL at the same time. make out
and deliver to the said person certifi-
cate. showing the number and kind of
skins so marked by severing, and the
name of the person presenting, the fact
of the filing of the affidavit herein pro-
vided for, and the examination made as
required, and said certificate shall be
duly signed by him in his official ca
pacity and attested by the officer Off
ciating with him; provided. that when
any doubt exists as to the kind of skin
or skins presented, whether wolf or coy
ote, certificate shall be issued for the
lesser bounty. ~
The measure provides for record to
be kept by the clerk in a book and then
proceeds, land the clerk shall also re-
tain the pieces of the skin or skins sew
cred by him. preserving, tagging and
sealing the same on a wire Kept for
that purpose, to be preserved by him
for public inspection, for a period of 80
or until the same shall have been ex-
amined and inspected as hereinafter
provided for; said pieces of skin or
skins and the tag thereon to check and
correspond with the description of same
entered in said bound book as an official
record; and at the expiration of said 30
days, the county clerk shall, in the
presence of the other officer acting with
him in the examination of the skin or
skins, and Of the chairman or chairman
pro tenn. of the board of county COM
missioners destroy with fire
such pieces of skin so severed by him
and sealed on such wire for public in
spection."
The law then directs the chairman Of
the board of county commissioners to
make the examination above mention
ed
The bill provides for the levy of the
bounty tax in the following language:
TT shall be the duty of the board of
county commissioners of each county
in this state. at the time of the levy
of the annual tax. to levy a special tax
of five mills on the dollar upon the as
sessed valuation of all cattle, horses,
mules. asses and sheep in their respec-
tive counties. which tax shall be col
lected as other taxes upon live proper
ty. Any county commissioner
who shall refuse or interfere to prevent
the levy of the tax aforesaid shall De
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and
upon conviction thereof shall be punish
ed by fine not exceeding $500 or i'm
prisonment in the county Jail not ex-