Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-04
WORK OF THE
LEGISLATORS
Has Been Mostly Confined to
Committees.
WILL PROGRESS RAPIDLY
Now That the Senatorial Election is
Over--DemOcratic Factions
Have Made Up.
WILL PROGRESS RAPIDLY
Special to the Inter Mountain.

Special to the Inter Mountain.
Helena. Feb. 4-Many of the legisla-
tors went home yesterday to spend Sun
day with their families, so that it is
"a ther quiet around the legislative halls
today. Yesterday was the thirty-t third
day of the session. When the session is
resumed Monday the sixth session Will
have reached the thirty-sixth day leaving
but twenty-four days Of the sixty allow
ed by law. The session will end Thurs
day March 2. With over One-half of the
session gone it puzzles one to figure out
Just how much has been accomplished in
the law making line. At first thought one
would say practically nothing. On the
surface it looks that way but considera-
! ton should be had for the amount Of work
that has been done in committees. There
more than one bill, the fond hope of some
legislator has perhaps met it's doom or
! been reported back in the shape of SUBJ
stitute.
So far one hundred and fourteen bills
have been introduced in the house and
/ fifty-eight in the senate. The house will
probably reach and perhaps pass the 200
mark One hundred bills will probably
! be the limit of the upper house. Next Fri
day in pursuance of an understanding
reached at the beginning of the session
! which was incorporated in the rules
Joint steering committee will be appoint
ed to expedite the more important meas
ures and generally supervise legislation in
both houses. 1t is expected that when the
steering committee takes matters in hand
the wheels of legislation will fairly buzz
with industry.
But one bill has passed both houses and
received the executive approval. That
was the salary bill H. B. No. 6, passed
January r. One joint memorial has pass
ed both houses. That is senate joint men,
orial No l. This was concurred in by the
house Thursday. 1t will be signed by the
respective officers of the two bodies Mon
day and go to the governor for his ap-
proval. 1t asks congress to put check
on wandering bands of Indians whose
predatory habits are a menace to the citi-
zens Of the commonwealth.
To the casual observer it does seem
strange that the thirty-sixth day of the
session will find but those two measures
| enacted. But as stated there has been
! lot of committee work. Then there has
/ been the senatorial nuisance, for such it
! was as far as legislation was concerned.
Miss Democracy had her hands full de-
Gliding whom she should send to Wash
ington to succeed Lee Mantle. Sixteen
different days saw balloting and no
choice, with the tension growing stronger
every day. 1t began to be generally be-
lieved that a dead lock was on and no sem
ator would be chosen. Happily these
fears have proved groundles. A senator
has been elected and the hands of the law
makers are free
1t is surprising and gratifying to note
how rapidly the i'll feeling engendered
! during that memorable contest n.s.5
into a memory. The late opposing forces
| of democracy seem to be on the hest Of
terms already. 1t would not be surpris-
ing if before the end they completely kiss
and make up The first indication of this
return of harmony was manifested Thurs
day when the joint investigation commit
/ tee submitted its second and final report.
AS soon is the two houses had met in Joint
session and the chairman of the committee
I had announced report f. c. Day. late
leader of the Clark forces in the house.
IN a suave manner made a motion that
the report be received, the committee dis
charged and the report and exhibits
turned over to the secretary of state for
future (?) reference. There were several
seconds to the notion
/ 1T is seconded by Mr.. Toole" said Mr..
Day looking President Sprigg in the eve
and ignoring the other parties who sec
onded his motion.
Yes, by Mr.. Toole," announced the
president as he proceeded to put the mo-
+, tion which carried with a hurrah The
| joint session dissolved and everybody be-
gan to wonder whether they had been
| dreaming or had seen the first indication
| of the dawn of the millennium. The re-
| porters, ever eager for stirring scenes,
| kicked themselves and their luck at the
! thought of report from the joint nvesti-
! eating committee creating as little dis
| turbance as a stone cast in the ocean,
| That joint committee had furnished some
torrid numbers for the press 1t came in
! with rush and roar that threatened
! to knock several senatorial kites all to
pieces. It's passing was really pathetic.
Even Whiteside was not in evidence to
! act as chief mourner.