Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-02-11
Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Tuesday, Feb. 3.
The smoke nuisance in the region of
the smelters occupied attention from
the senators today and after a long
debate the Kohrs bill to regulate the
trouble received good majority. Very
promptly the senate passed the bill to
reimburse H. L. Frank on the capitol
building and it was sent to the gov.
ernor, Johnson's two bills, one extend.
} ing the period of residence within the
county required for voting from 80 to
80 days and the other providing that a
person may be registered before TAX.
ing out his final papers and vote upon
presenting them at the polls, were ia.
vorably reported.
The house had another jungle over
the junketing trip to the state institu.
tions and finally decided that the com.
mittee heretofore named should visit
all institutions asking for special ap-
propriations. King was named by the
speaker as one of a committee of three
to take a census of committee clerks.
The following bills were read a
third time and passed:
No. Is, repeating the law compelling
inmates of the soldiers nome to assign
portion of their pensions to the
state board.
No. 81, authorizing county commits
sioners to establish public scales.
No. rs, providing a punishment for
dumping refuse in streams.
Among bills introduced today was
one by Hilger designed to protect the
owners of real estate and claimants
under any of the land laws of the
United States and lessees of state laws
from tresspass and depreciation or in
jury from live stock held in herd. The
first section of the bill provides that
it shall be unlawful for any person or
person to drive, cause to be driven or
permit any live stock held in herd to
invade or enter any field, rancn prop
erty or valid claim under process OF
title under any of the land laws of the
United States or under lease from the
state of Montana, whether the same
be fenced OF not; provided, that any
lands so owned or in process of title
or under lease and not fenced shall
b clearly defined by suitable mounds
or stakes and pillow burrows, with print.
ed or written notices indicating the
lands so held
For any violation under the provis-
ions of this act, under section 2, such
stock SO driven or herder or permitted
to enter upon the property referred
to in section l shall upon complaint
before any magistrate or court Of rec.
ord of the owner of claimant under
any of the land laws OF the United
States be subject to the payment of
penalty of $50 day and all costs OF
proceedings; provided, however, that
in case of land so claimed or held be
ing unfenced, one days notice shall
be given to any such trespasser
The remaining sections of the act
provide that the fines collected under
it shall be converted into the school
funds of the county in which the ac
ton is brought. II shall not apply Ia
stock on range not held in herd or not
in charge of herder. and its hall be
come effective upon its passage and
approval.
"A law along the lines suggested in
the bill is a much needed measure,
said Mr.. Hilger today. THE bill IL
designed to protect residents Of thii
state from the nomadic sheepmen who
come from Wyoming, eat off the
ranges, and never pay cent into q
county or state treasury. In the east
ern part of Fergus are old citizens
who own their lands. or having leases
and who have bought the land or
which water holes are located, paying
Sc and 81 an acre for il. These Wyom
ing people come in with their sheep
take possession of the lands, and o
the water, and then by a show Of
force prevent the men who are entitl
ed to possession from having theil
rights. The situation is not confined
to Fergus county, but have been told
by residents OF Other counties that the
same conditions prevail in their sec
tions. The measure Is designed tc
meet a condition that is a serious one
to many people and In many sections
OF the state"
Wednesday, Feb. 4.
In an exceedingly high handed man
| a. A.