The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-25
CONTEST OF ATTORNEYS
House Listens to Finest Debate
of the Session.
THE COURT REPORTER BILL
Stiff Led the Opposition and Was De-
feated H B. 132 Still in the
Hands of the Governor-It Is
the Center Of Interest
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard
Helena, Feb. 24.-The house this
afternoon listened to the finest debate
of the session. 1t was contest of the
attorneys of the house and the subject
under discussion was the bill abolish
ing the office of reporter of the SUI
preme court and increasing the salaries
of the justices of that court in COM
pensaton for their performance. of the
work of reporting. The measure came
up in committee of the whole. Stiff
moved to strike out the enacting clause
of the act, and in support of his posi-
tion made a splendid argument. His
contention was that the act was not
constitutional. He said that he would
be glad to see the burdens of the JUS
tees of the supreme court lightened
and their salaries increased, but he
thought that it should be done in
manner that was constitutional. OPP
posed to Stiff We're all of the other at
torneys of the house except Stephens
and he stated on the floor that he did
not know how he did stand on the
matter. Speeches We're made by Day,
Kelly and Mats in support of the bill.
all Of them being mastery efforts. Stiff
replied and Mats closed the debate in
the best speech that he has made this
session.
AS substitute for the motion of
Stiff, it was moved that the bill be
favorably recommended, and the latter
motion carried by a narrow margin Of
four votes. The debate was noticeable
from the stlict attention that it at
tracted. There was no conversation in
the hall and all members and the lobby
followed the discussion closely.
House bill 1872 is still in the hands of
the governor. He has had it under
consideration and there is much spec
ulatien- as to what he will do with ii.
Two dayswago it was freely asserted
that he would veto the measure, but
to-day it is hinted that he may sign
it, on account of the overwhelming vote
in it's favor in each house. The oppo-
nents of the bill are working night and
day to secure it's defeat in case it is
| returned without the signature of the
governor From the fact that they are
SO unremitting in their efforts, it is in
ferred that they still lack enough to
accomplish their purpose. They have
resorted to every known device to Sc
| cure the defeat of this important bill
| and it is now the senter of interest
| here.
The larger part of the morning ses-
sion was taken up to-day with the con-
sideration of the reports of the select
! committee appointed to investigate the
affairs of the Stockgrowers' association.
! Four of the members of this committee
| presented a report in which the aSso
| citation was favorably commented upon.
| Chairman Truscott presented a report
| for himself, in which he said that he
was not satisfied with the results of
the investigation. One paragraph of
! his minority report says:
Your committee is convinced that
| there are some big niggers in the fence,
| and the chairman has had hold of leg
| several times, but he was not strong
enough to drag the cuss out into day
| light with the other four members sit
| ting on his body"
Motions We're made for the adoption
of the two reports. Day then moved,
| and ToCle seconded the motion, that
the whole matter be tabled. This mo-
tion prevailed and the committee was
discharged. Protests were received
from Madison county, protesting
against the division of that county.
But one bill was introduced, and that
came from a committee in the form
of substitute for the license bill
Hedges tried to Introduce an appropria-
tion bill. but Marcyes objected and,
under the rule requiring unanimous
| consent, Hedges could not accomplish
his purpose.
The following senate bills We're read
for the first time in the house and re-
| ferred to committees, after which the
| house recessed till 2:30:
S. B. 7S. relating to the inspection of
| horses shipped out of the state: S. B.
"a, relating to pharmaceutical laws: s.
B. "a, altering the boundaries of Meag-
| her and Cascade counties: S. B. SO, eX-
tending the boundaries of Flathead
county; S. B. II, relating to the busi-
ness of financial corporations; S. B. 95
| to abolish state printing, and S. B. SIS,
relating to policies by resident agents.
When the house resumed third read
| ing of house bills was taken UP. II.
B. So, relating to polling places for
school election, passed. the house con-
curing in the senate amendments.
H. B. 120. providing for the payment
| of interest on bonds. and H. B. 121.
making Hibbard G. Van Pook official
map-makere of the state and pleGging
| the senate to purchase 300 maps from
them, passed. as did H. B. 52, relating
| to building and loan associations. and
H, j. NJ. ?, providing for the removal
| of distractions in the Pend d'Oreille
| river.
The following senate BILLS were read
| a third time and concurred in:
Senate substitute for II. 3. 20. re-
lating to the legal rate of interest; s.
B. &c. relating to secur.tv With negO-
| table Instruments: S. B. CO. relating to
the nomination ana election of school
trustees; S. b. G3. relating to the APP
preparation of money fer Assistant Ser
geart-at- Arms Kelly for services; S. b.
y, appropriating money for Senator
Geiger; S. J. NJ. 8, relating to the Fort
| Peck reservation.
The house went into committee of
the whole at this point, with Gibson
| in the chair. The following bills We're
considered
S. B. 80, relating to an increase in
the salary of the supreme court JUS
tices, concurred in; H. B. Ia. relating
| to an increase in the number of su-
preme court justices. indefinitely post
poned; H. B. 1877, fixing the state tax at
21s mills, passed; H. B. 5. providing
for the election of road supervisors
passed; II. B. 2, providing for witness
| fees in courts not of record, passed
| II nrayi6ipp for