The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-03-01

The bill is now known as substitute
for house bills II, 43, So and 152.
The present indie ations are that the
railroad commission bill will 20 to
the governor with the names of c. j.
Mcnamara, Of Big Sandy; NJ. l..
Davidson, of Dillon, and Nathan
Godfrey. of Two Dot, as commission.
ers.
In accordance with their caucus
agreement last night the fusionists of
the house today notified Chairman
Maddox of the republican joint eau.
Gus that they had selected Mr.. McNa a.
mara as the candidate to fill the blank
left in the bill by the republicans,
Chairman Maddox having notified
both the democrats and the fusionists
that that were expected to recommend
a candid ate for the place. The demo.
Gratis OF the senate caucused and agreed
to refuse to name candidate and to
ask the republicans to amend the bill
so as to enable the governor to ap.
point the commissioners. Chairman
O'Connor of the house democrats, de-
clares that he will not call caucus on
the measure.
Chairman Maddox stated this after.
noon as the recommend alton of the
fusion forces of the house was the only
response of the minority to his request
to lame commissioner, the name of
Mr.. Mcnamara would be submitted to
the republican caucus and in all prob
ability would be embodied in the bill.
HELENA, Feb. 23.-The senate judi.
ciary committee this afternoon report.
ed favorably Donlan's initiative and
referendum bill with the amendment
that it does not apply to apportion.
ment and representation in the legis-
lature. Ten per cent in one third of
the counties is required to refer law
and the limit for filing petitions is
raised to ninety days. Fifteen per
cent of the legal voters in a majority
of the counties is required to suspend
law pending its determin alton at a
general election.
The railroad commission bill was
favorably reported with amendments
by the judiciary committee. These
amendments make the salaries of the
commissioners 50, 900 per annum each,
and the salary of the secretary S2,.
600.
Senate bill 70, Waite's primary
election law, was also recommended
for passage, after heing amended
slightly.
House bill III, fixing the salaries of
supreme court justices at $4,000 and
district judges at $4,000, effective
January l,1909, was recommended for
concurrence, as was the substitute for
House bill IL, relating to bounties on
animals.
The house got down to business tC.
day and disposed of more business
than on any previous day of the ses-
sion. There was practically 40 de-.
bate on anything and the work went
on swiftly. BY vote of 36 to %.
House bill l52, prohibiting the sale of
intoxicating liquors on credit, was
killed.
The house voted to concur in the
senate amendment to House bill l2O,
providing that but one member of a
hunting party need have a guide
license. The house also concurred in
senate amendment to House bill! lS9,
reducing the term of Imprisonment for
the giving of false information to a
newspaper from one year to six
months.
Representative Leiper introduced in
behalf of the committee on privileges
and election, bill providing for di.
rect legislation. This is the latest of
the initiative and referendum bills in.
troduced in the house. 1t provides
for an 5 per cent. initiative and ) per
cent. referendum, the petition vote to
Der of counties of the state.
Murray introduced bill providing
for two additional justices for the su-
preme court.
Walker introduced a bill relating to
the number of assistants allowed
treasurers of counties of the first
class, and Everett a measure relating
to the public schools.
HELENA, Feb. 24.-In the senate to.
day House bill l29. relating to the in.
spection of highways and bridges, was
adversely reported by the roads com.
mittee. The remainder OF the morn.
ing session was devoted to the intro
duction of and the reading of house
bills and committee reports.
The senate upon reassembling con-
Cured in house amendments to Sen
ate bill 80, relating to the powers and
l,,, ~ /;