Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-02-25

Helena, Feb. 23, Special to the Ar
gus.-One week from next Thursday,
at midnight, the session will close by
limitation, and members are now pro-
noting their pet measures, for 1t is
realized that in the final rush many
bills will be lost. Though steering
committees have been named, each
house is SO well up with its work that
these bosses" have not yet had to
take the ruuder.
The feature of the week was the
passage of the fair trial bllr' in the
senate, after two days of effective FL
clustering by Senators Kennedy,
Tewey and Sherlock. assisted by the
lieutenant governor.
Work is well up, large number of
bills have been pushed through and
appropriation bills are well advanced.
The daily proceedings follow:
Tuesday, Feb. II.
Contrary to the general expectation
at least one investigating commit
tee" of the present session is likely to
result in other that whitewash. The
committee some time ago appointed
to look into the affairs of the arid
land commission today reported to
the house that they had discovered a
misappropriation of 100000 and a de-
falcation of $4,000. Their request
that $500 be allowed them for the em-
ployment of lawyer and clerk was
granted.
The Miller bills to repeal the license
tax ON professional men and mercn-
ants were today defeated. In commit
tee of the whole Representative King
made a fight on the mine inspector
bill. He moved to strike out the en-
acting clause. IF the mine inspector
is appointed by the governor" he
said, land he proved incompetent and
not the right man, We can dispose OF
him at any time. But ii he is elected
We have to stand him for four years
unless we can impeach him. do
not believe this is a good bill" The
enacting clause was struck out and
on motion OF Rice the same thing
happened to the coal mine in
spector bill.
King also fought the Kelly bill, sent
over from the senate, which made the
wilful cutting of fence felony, say
ing the penalty was altogether too Sc.
we're. The bill was beaten as was al.
so the Mahon bill against the carry.
ing of concealed weapons, but notice
was given of reconsideration.
In the committee of the whole the
bill limiting the sessions of boards OF
county commissioners was favorably
passed upon If finally adopted its
effect in Fergus county will be to linn
il the commissioners to a regular ses
sion in March, June and September OF
five days each, one in December OF
eight days and not more than three
extra sessions each year, none OF
which shall extend over two days
Commissioners can meet oftener i
they wish, but cannot receive pay fol
more than twenty days year
Four bills were finally passed. one
being the labor committees fellow
servant bill and the other the Ander
son game law bill.
The senate got through its busines!
hurridly. passing the city bills. two
appropriation measures and one tax
ing away jurisdiction from police
courts in civil cases.
Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The feature of the day in legisla
tive circles was the fight made by thu
Heinze senators, Kennedy, Tewe!
and Sherlock, against the passage o
senate bill No. II, known as "the fai
trial BILL" and which Heinze fear
will result in the slipping of his pres
ent cinch on litigation in Silver Bow
county. The bill provides that whel
a litigant believes the presiding judg
10 be biased against him, that upol
a proper showing to the suprem
court that body shall name anothe
judge who shall go into the distric
and conduct the case at bar.
Notwithstanding the bill was wei
up on general orders, by some mean
it got displaced and was at the foo
of the calendar when the senate re
solved itself into committee of tn
whole. Kennedy led the fight, talkin
half an hour on every conceiyabl