Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-03-06
An OLD MAIDS HOME.
The ''Ihird House, VIII Consider the Bill
Taxing Bachelors for Its Support.

lGreat Fails Tribune.l
Some time ago, in an interview in
The Tribune, "A prominent citizen OF
Great Falls advocated thetnactment
oil a law imposing a tax upon bache-
Tors, and he aud Others made deter
mined efforts to get such a bill
through the legislature; but the
movement has thus far failed. The
prime mover has advocated his ideas
and has prepared a bill embodying
the best features, but he will not in
troduce it in either Of the regularly
organized houses. lie prefers the
third house, and the bill, to be num-
bered 90, will be introduced by the
committee on public morals OF that
body. Its passage will be asked for
10y n mammoth petition, and several
citizens have gone to Helena tolobby
for the measure. Theblll, as drafted,
reads as follows:
"A bill for mn act entitled: An act
TO encourage mutrimuny aud To cs-
tnhlish n home for unmarried wom-
en-; To make 1t legal To tax bachelors
to provide for means To build the in
stitutiOn; authorizing the governor
To appoint Il cOmmissiOntp erect and
manage The Institution, the commits
sion To appoint II clerk: the county
treasurer to publish n list Of the
bachelors who have paid special
taxes.
BE ii enacted by the Seventh legis-
lUtiye assembly OF theslatcuf Mon
tana:
"Section l.. That special tax OF
III per annum shall be imposed ana
collected from all unmarried men,
und men who assume ~ he unmur-
ricd, residents of the state, between
the ngcs Of SO and Sugars. Such tax
shall be paid IN twelve monthly puy-
mcnts of 81 each, on the first day ui
each month in the year; provided,
however, that any bachelor shall lie
exempt from such tax ii he can fur
nlsh satisfactory evidence that It Is
through no fault Of his that he is IL
bachelor, but such proof must he fur
nisled by One OF the opposite sex,
who Is unmarried, and such proof
shall he furnished in affidavit form,
together with n list ui taxpayers ms
provided for in section . OF this act.
"Sec. .. II shall he the duty of the
several county treasurprs ufthe state
To collect such tax ms provided for In
sections > ana ! Of this net. topublish
Il list Of the anne al those who pay
monthly In a daily paperpublished in
the county where such taxes are paid.
and to provide II fund to be known
as The Old Maids Home Fund in
To which all muneyssucollected must
be placed and kept until withdrawn
az provided for In sections > and / of
this act.
See. 3. 1t shall be the duty Of the
several county treasurcrs Of this state
To transmit the said money Of The
Old Maids Home Fund to the state
treasurer as other moneys are trans
United. The state treasurer shall
then set usidc such moneys to the
credit of'rheOl j Maids Home Fund
whercitshall be kept until theamnunt
reGches the sum Ui $4,000. at which
time provisions shall be made tn use
the funds az provided for in section 4
al this act.
"Sec. 1. The governor Is hereby
authorized. and by this act empow-
cred, by and with the consent of the
senate, to appoint n commissioners
sisting OF five citizens OF the state,
each To be not less than 60 years of
uge and at the head of n family, who
shall serve for n term OF four years,
or until his successor is appointed,
without pay. The commission shall
have power and is hereby authorized
to elect "A clerk, whose duty 1t shall
be To serve the commission in its off
cial capacity during its pleasure,
without pay: provided, however,
said clerk may be furnished his board
and lodging while doing duty at the
institution, 1t shall he the further
duty vi said commission to select n
suitable site, and have constructed
suitable buildings thereon. ont OF
such moneys In The Old Maids Home
Fund as are necessary tOprOcure the
premises md imprOvements whenever
said fund reaches the sum of $50. 900:
to purchase supplies and superintend
ana manage said institution until its
term expires. when Ii shall he the
duty of the governor to appoint a
new commission.
"Sec. .. All acts and parts of acts
consistent with this act nre hereby
%rcpenlpd.
"Sec. 6. This act shall take effect
on ana aftcr its passage and APPROX
nj by the governor"
Educate Your Bowels with Cascarets.