Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-02-18
Notes by the Way.

the state board OF education.
Notes by the Way.
A bill of more than ordidary inter.
est is that dividing the counties into
commissioners districts. IL passed the
present board will at their June ses.
sion divide their county into districts
numbers one, two and three, each to
contain as near as possible the same
area and the first to include the coun-
ty seat. At the next election Of com.
missioners there is to be elected one
commissioner from each district and
the voters of each district only vote on
the candidates nominated to represent
that district. A readjustment of dis
tricts must be made by the commits.
sioners upon the petition of fifty quail
fed electors. At the first election the
six year term is given to district num-
Der one, four year term to number two
and the two year term to number three,
after which each commissioner chosen
is elected for six years.
Division of Choteau county is still
agitating members. A new combina-
ton has been formed, this time by the
residents of Fort Benton, Harlem and
Chinook. The project is the forma-
ton of Bearpaw county with Harlem
as the county seat. Havre people are
fighting hard as it would leave them
close to the division line with no show
whatever for county seat honors.
The change of venue bill now in the
senate provides that when litigant
believes the trial Judge to be prejudic-
ed and cannot obtain change of venue
from such judge, the supreme court
may, on proper showing, detail another
judge to sit in the case. 1t is especially
desired in Silver Bow county. A SINH
lar bill was passed by the last assem-,
bly, but vetoed by the governor.
The gamblers have very little pull
with the present legislature and it is
safe to say that they will have to strug.
gle along without any change in the
present Jaws, graft or no graft.
DIR. Miller Friday introduced a gen.
uine freak bill taxing bachelors SIC
per quarter and old maids the same.
Considerable fun is likely to occur
when the measure is reached.
The substitute initiative and referen-
dunn bill is modified embodiment OF
the demands of the socialists, etc.
Tersely stated it provides that law
may be adopted by the people by first
obtaining the endorsement of ten pei
cent of the people of each county to q
petition for submission of the question
and then by majority vote of the
people of the entire state; secondly
the referendum, which may be de-
manded by five per cent of the voters
in each county, when law previously
passed by the legislature mot includ
ing appropriation measures or other
imperative bills) may be submitted tc
vote for acceptance or rejection. But
unless ten per cent of the voters OF
each county shall demand such sub
mission the law shall be operative
pending its submission. The bill pro
vides for the submission of the pro
posed amendment to the constitution
at the next election and on separat,
ballot.
After many consultations by tn,
stock men, the committees of the sen
ate and house have agreed upon |
bounty bill which the members be
lieve will meet with the approval ol
the men who are taxed to pay th'
bounties. The bill will take the plac,
of the two bounty bills already intro
duced in the house, and has been sen
to the printing committee. 1t will
probably be on general orders b.
Tuesday, and it will be given goo,
show by the steering committee. Th'
bill provides for a bounty Of $5 OIL
grown wolves, and of % on wolf an,
coyote pups and coyotes The bill
provides for a three and one-half mil
levy for the bounty fund. There is
bounty of 81 on bears and mountain
lions.
A Thousand Dollars Thrown Away.