The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-02-12
q WAS RIGHT.

Representative Stull's effort in the
direction of making the state the
owner Of an asylum for the insane has
resulted in some good. An investiga-
ton is to be made of the institution
at which Montana farms out one class
of it's unfortunates. It is true that
such Investigations have been ordered
in the past, but as Mr.. Stull charged,
they have never been productive OF
anything, except disturbed digestive
organs and aching heads on the part
of the members Of the investigating
committees appointed by the legisla-
ture, as the quantity Of edibles and the
prodigality Of wine served the men,
bers by the contractors were too much
for ordinary Legislators to consume
and do aught else.
Mr.. Stull's motion that the house
appoint the investigating committee
gave offense to the speaker, who
showed that exaltation to position
does not always relieve the mind OF
pettiness, by bluntly announcing that
he had intended to appoint Mr.. Stull
as a member of the committee, but
would not do so now. Of course, it is
the ~p1erogatiye OF the speaker to az
point whomsoever he chooses, but
good taste should have prompted him
to refrain from exercising himself as
he did. Mr.. Stull felt that he had
Just cause of complaint and the motion
he made was evidence Of his earnest
ness and sincerity Of desire to apply
remedy to an evil which he considered
should receive attention. Further
more, in view of past experience IN
the same direction he was justified in
making tine motion, and this, too,
without desiring to cast reflection on
the gentleman who fills the speakers
chair. Second thought probably would
have caused the latter to view the
matter in the same light. Had the
motion prevailed and the question of
appointing the committee been left
to the house itself, then, no matter
what the report of the committee or
what the action of the members, he
would be free from suspicion and NO
one could charge him with having ap.
pointed men overfrienilly to the con
tractors or in whose probity and hon
esty full confidence could not be
placed.
1t is a notorious fact, as Mr.. Stul
said, that for years past either one o:
the contractors themselves or some
body connected with them has been
member Of the legislature for appar
emily no other purpose than to defea
legislation calculated to change tn
existing method of caring for the in
sane. 1t is equally as we'll know
that for some reason the contractor
seem to have some special infuenc
over legislatures that causes them t
be considered superior to the othe
mortals with whom the state transact
business and that to disturb existin
conditions would be little short {
vandalism. Two years ago responsible
parties submitted bids for the care
the insane, but they received no col
sideration. The power of their inf,
ence and the "pull' they possesse
lacked the potency of that manipula
ed by the gentlemen of Warm Spring
and the contract was awarded as b
fore. Realizing that it is useless
enter into competition with parties
powerful as to make legislature aft
legislature subjective to their will al
influence nobody cares to undertal
the trouble of submitting bids at VIII
is supposed to be open competitio
but which in reality seems to be on
a matter of going through a for
adopted and perfected years ago al
which age has so sanctified that OPT
sition to it is regarded in certain qua
tiers as sacrilege.
OPPOSITION TO CROW TREATY.
The Congressional Record of l,
Monday contains the remarks made