Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-11-26
A CHANCE FOR REFORM.

that there should be a short session
n which some old laws should be
repealed and a very few new ones
enacted. For a number of sessions
back the greater portion OF the time
has been taken up with senatorial
elections and fractional party rangles.
At the coming session there should
be nothing in the way to prevent the
passage of needed legislation unless
the agents of the mining kings mo.
nopolize the time in s%crapping.
Much has been written about the
expense of clerical help attached to
former sessions and there Is a demand
for retrenchment in this regard.
Strange to say that in order to ele-
vate the morals of our Legislature il
has been suggested that no women
be employed upon the clerical force.
While the clerical force might be re.
duced without hindrance to business
1t Is at least an unpleasant reflection
upon the women Of Montana that Sc
lections from their number would i'm
pair the morals OF that body. Possibly
If the members were looking for eff
cheney and character there would be
no grounds for this charge.
The River Press, which seems to
be familiar with the moral atmosphere
of our state capital during a legisla-
tive session, writes intelligently upon
the question. In a recent editorial it
expressed itself as follows:
The Press is in hearty sympathy
with the movement to reduce the ex.
penses Of the legislature of this state.
1t is in sympathy with any movement
to this end that will not impair the
efficiency of the Legislature. 1t is in
sympathy. moreover, with any move
ment to raise the moral standard of
the legislative session and lessen the
scandal that too frequently attaches
to a state legislature.
There is a movement on foot to de.
part from the custom of employing
women as clerks. or in any other ca.
pacity in connection with the legisla'
tive session. With this movement the
Press Is in full sympathy. 1t Is a no
~torious fact that in the past some
women whose reputation was none OF
the best have been employed as com
is an equally notorious fact that some
women have entered such employ,
ment with good regulations and have
lost them.
II has been the rule that far too
many clerks have been employed
about the legislature of Montana. II
is a fact that some clerks have drawn
pay for sixty days work when they
have not so much as workeI seven
days in the sixty. II is a fact that
members Of the Legislature have Sc.
cured good places for women abso.
lutely incompetent to do the work for
which they are paid. And everyone
knows that 81 a day for a small boy
is TOO much.
Some Democrats are sneering at the
proposal OF Republicans elected to
reduce expenses. 1t will be time
enough to sneer when these Repub-
licans show that they are not sincere.
The Press wishes to see the incoming
Legislature do the most good work at
the least expense to the taxpayers.
The Press does not believe in Dem.
ocratic extravaganza; It will not op.
pose Republican economy.
The taxpayers of Montana are no
more fond of Democratic than Repub-
lican extravaganza. They will en-
dorse Republican economy as heart
fly as they would Democratic econ
omy. No party has a copyright on
either economy or extravaganza. II
DIR. G. b. Miller. of the Lewis and
Clarke delegation, can induce the
members of the house to reduce ex-
penses and refuse to employ women
clerks he will have the support. In
that direction, Of most of the people
OF the state.