The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-02-08
MONTANA LAW MAKERS.
A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF WORK
OF THE NINTH LE0lSLA.
TIVE ASSEMBLY.
Some Of the Measures that viii be Added
to Montana Statutes.

10 montana Sv0tUteS.
HELENA, Jan. 3l.-The senate this
afternoon went on record against the
Ralston 5 per cent. initiative and ref
erendum bill. The judiciary committee
presented two reports on this bill, the
majority report being that the bill do
not pass. Four senator's were absent
and by straight party vote of IA to
the report OF the majority was
adopted. Every democrat present
voted for the Ralston measure.
The senate concurred in Representa-
tive O'Connor's measure providing
for the eradication of scabies and
also the house bill relating TO plead.
ings in civil action.
Waite introduced senate bill No. 80,
to punish desecration of the flag of the
United States.
The house passed number of bills
today, as follows: Senator Brennen's
bill relating to the compens alton of
administrators: Representative Ian.
strum's for establishing state and
county boards of health: Represents.
tive Everett's prohibiting the sale of
liquor to confirmed druukards; Rep
resentative Hillman's providing for a
chaplain for the soldiers home; Rep.
resentative Williams relating to the
Office of coal mine inspector: Hill.
mans relating to employing inmates
of the soldiers home. The following
bills were introduced:
House bill No. 12S, by Murray,
making an appropriation of $500 to
pay Lizzie Murphy for services rend.
cred in the Office of the state superin.
tendent of public instruction.
House bill No. 12O, by Sales, amend.
ing the law relating to the inspection
OF highways and brigdes.
House bill No. 130, by Meunier, fix.
ing a minimum rate for the transport
tation Of passengers on railroad
trains In Montana.
House bill No. 13l, by Macdonald,
to prevent adulteration of food pro-
ducts and prevent the sale of adulter-
ated foods.
A little humor was interjected in
the house by the introduction of bill
by Wilson, of Great Falls, for the
maintenance of old maids in the state
of Montana, more especially those EN-.
ployed on the engrossing committee
of the Ninth legislative assembly.
One member moved to refer the bill to
the committee on irrigation, another
to the fish and game committee and
still another to various other com.
mittees, but the bill was finally re-.
jected.
HELENA, Feb. LIN the senate this
afternoon DOMAINS direct legislation
bill was recommended favorably in
committee of the whole, after being
amended so as to require not less
than eight per cent of the registered
legal voters in each county for the
initiative, and not less than ten per
cent of the legal voters in each county
in the state for the referendum.
By unanimous consent Senator
Sherlock, without previous notice,
introduced bill increasing the mem.
bership of the supreme court from
three to five. The bill contemplates
appointment of two addition al justices
by the governor, one to hold Office un-
til January /, 1909, and the other un-
til January l, 1911, after which the
election is to be by the people. The
bill was referred to the committee on
judiciary.
Senator Maddox introduced bill,
No. 80, relating to the powers of
guardians. Referred to the committee
on judiciary.
For four hours the house had under
consideration the initiative and refer
endum bills, and during that time
there were lively discussions and par.
liamentary battles. AS the result the
bill known as the Oregon law failed to
it got 46 as against % in opposition.
But the bill proposes the submission
OF constitutional amendment, and
such measures require for their pas.
sage the vote of two-thirds of the
members elected. A motion for recon-
sideration is now tending, and will
come up tomorrow, The advocates of
the bill believe they can get the neecs.
sary two.thirds tomorrow, but its op
ponents say it reached the high water
mark of support in the house today.
The republicans made their fight on
the introduction of substitute, which
provided that majority OF the coun.
ties must petition before law could
be initiated or referred. The opposi.