The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-01
Concerning Needed Legislation
For This County.
BOUNTY ON LIONS
Corrections of the Registration Law and
New Road Legislation-About
the Campaign.
From the Libby News:

l.. ii. FauSt, fepIeSelIdIlVe-elccI
from Flathead county was inter-
viewed by a representative OF the
Jews on the approaching session of
the legislature, and gave out several
statements which will prove interest
ing to the readers of this newspaper.
AS will be seen Mr.. Faust intends
following out the plan of lettering
the condition of the present road
laws, which is in line with the po-
sition he took with the voters while
canvassing the several parts of the
county during the campaign recently
closed. He is also of the opinion
that matters of legislation should not
be subordinated entirely to the ques-
ton of who shall represent Montana
in the upper house of the national
legislature. He said:
THE information | have about the
complexion of the coming session OF
the legislature is that which has been
given to the public through the news
papers, and as we all know the repub.
licans will constitute in that body
what theorists, who discuss politics
and political economy, in the abstract
call good thing for constitutional
government-that is, an active minor
ity. While | am firmly Of the opin-
ion that the interests of the state
would be best subseved were the
other fellows in the minority, yet the
people Of Montana have said what
they want, and they are entitled to
and shall have it.
However, important as is the cleo
ton of the two senators next winter,
it occurs to me that this feature of
the 7th legislative assembly should
not so overshadow everything as to
stand in the way of much needed leg
islation. Along these lines it seems
that the most important is some leg.
islation affecting the method of rails.
ing revenue for the construction and
maintenance of our highways, and
for the proper and economical ex-
penditure of monies so raised. Gener
ally speaking | am opposed to the
present road laws. 1t seems to me
that were we to establish in the
county, Independent road districts
similar, though larger of course, TIC
our school districts, and place the
road monies in the county treasury
to the credit of the several districts
as is now done with school monies
subject to the order of some author
lied official, we would at least bring
the expenditure of whatever money
may be to the credit of district
more directly under the personal SUI
pervision of the people of that dis
trict. They would have the selection
of the official under whose direction
the money would be expended II
this connection it may be said thai
the same people, who would have
the power to elect the officials of the
several road districts, would also
have the power to elect the boare
of commissioners, who, at present
have absolute control of all roat
matters. While that is true it mus
be remembered that we are about a,
diversified as it is possible to i'm
agine, and in the contention of thes,
various interests lies the creates
weakness of our present road law
for it places a board of commission
ers in position where, to speak il
terms familiar to practically all o
us, they can play the two ends agains
the middle, or the middle against tn,
two ends, as it best suits thei
purpose, and all the time be buildin,
political fences. Now, l do not wan
to be misunderstood in this. TIL
above charge is not made against tn
present board of commissioners, no
any other board, but the fact remain
just the same that if any board wer
SO disposed they could operate alon,
lines under our present laws whicl
would SO dispose of the road revenue
that the best interests of the peopl
could be made secondary to that O
the political preferment of those hay
ing the disposition of the money
Among other things it will be my en-
deavor to remove that Temptation
from subsequent boards of count
commissioners-for we all know tina
the flesh is weak.
1T would not be wise to do ava
with some central authority altogett
er, for there must be some genera
plan, especially as affecting the mai,
roads through the county, but thi
feature, in connection with man
others, is matter of detail to b
worked out in the committee room
Likewise the question of the electio