The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-02-01
MONTANA LAW MAKERS.
A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF WORK
OF THE NINTH LE0lSLA.
TIVE ASSEMBLY.
Some Of the Measures that Will be Added
to Montana Statutes.

HELENA, Jan. 24-The house this
morning awarded the seat of Repre-
sentative NJ. A. Wellman Of Lewis
and Clarke, to j. w. Richardson, his
republican opponent. The action,
which did not occasion q word of dis.
cussion or ripple of excitement, was
taken on the report of the committee
on privileges and elections, which
was to the effect that count of the
votes had shown that Rich ardson had
received 1914 votes, while Wellman
had received bat 1864. The commit
tee accordingly recommended that
Richardson be seated.
In the senate this afternoon resolu-
tions on the death of the late Senator
Buford of Madison county were
adopted. The following bills were
introduced:
Senate Bill Is, by Maddox-Author
izing officers of corporations to take
oath of Office.
Senate Bill p, by White--Amend.
ing the code providing for punishment
for making of false reports by state
banks.
Senate Bill %, by Brennen-Pro.
viding for the protection of voters
while casting ballots.
A resolution was introduced by
Mahon providing for memorial to
congress asking for the opening of
the Fort Peck Indian reserv alton.
Two bills were passed by the house
today. One was Sanden's measure
for the reduction of mileage of sheriffs
in the transportation of prisoners and
insane persons from 10 to cents a
mile. There were Is votes against
the bill, several of these being from
Silver Bow county. The other bill
passed was that of Dempster of Silver
Bow, providing for the recommenda.
ton of street railway cars so as to
provide better protection for conduct
ors and motormen against inclement
weather. The vote for this was prac.
tically unanimous.
A petition signed by large mum.
ber of stockmen of the state and pre-
sented by Representative Bennett of
Madison, asking for the enactment of
law requiring the strict quarantine
of diseased cattle shipped into the
state was read and referred to the
committee. Bills were introduced as
follows:
House Bill 81, by Patten-For the
esta ablishment of q geological survey
of Montana.
House Bill 90, by Mumbrue-Pro.
viding for the making of quarterly re-
ports by the state treasurer.
House Bill 93, by Huntiugton-Pro-
viding for the purchase by counties
of blank books and stationery.
HELENA, Jan. 25.-Whipple's Sen.
ate Joint Memorial No. ,, petitioning
congress for the establishment of the
parcels post, was killed in the senate
this afternoon. The committee on fed.
eral relations recommended that the
memorial do not pass, and the report
was adopted.
n communication was received from
the Montana Federation of Labor,
asking for the passage of house bill
No. l. as the ideal initiative and ref
erendum measure, as printed. Two
new bills were read, as follows:
Senate bill No. 20, by Donlan. reg.
ulating common carriers and creating
railway commission. Referred to
committee on corporations other than
municipal. The bill provides for
three commissioners to be named in
the bill who are to receive salaries yet
to be fixed and serve until the next
general election when their success sors
will be chosen. The commission is to
have secretary at salary of s. 600
year.
Senate bill No. 30, by Albright, to
amend section 1000 of the civil code,
giving electric power companies the
same rights as to the erection OF pole
lines along the public highway as are
enjoyed by telegraph and telephone
companies. Referred to committee on
roads, highways and bridges.
The first battle over the initiative
ard referendum took place in the
house this afternoon. The committee
on privileges and elections reported
in favor of a substitute for House Bill
No l. introduced by Lanstrum. The
latter bill permits initiative on the
petition of per cent of the voters,
while the substitute makes the percent.
age 10 per cent aud requires that the
10 per cent must be obtained in each
of a majority of the counties OF the
state. a minority of the committee
report in favor of the Lanstrum bill.
The minority report was adopted by a