The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-01-06
PROVIDES FOR INITIATIVE AND
REFERENDUM LEGISLATION.
FOUR BILLS IN the HOUSE
Members From Cow Counties Favor
Increasing Bounty on Wolves
and Coyotes.

Helena, Jan. 5.-(Special.5 5-Today's
session of the legislature was brief
and absolutely devoid of features
Each house held a session in the after
noon and then adjourned until tomor-
row afternoon at 2 o'clock. But lit
tie was accomplished, it being evident
that everyone is waiting for the an
nouncement of the committees, which
| it is not expected will be made before
Monday Judging from appearances,
it seems as if practically nothing will
be done until after the senatorial ques-
ton is disposed of. The balloting for
senator will begin next week and it
| is thought that it will be speedily dis
posed Of Carter's friends are conf
dent that he will be elected on the
first ballot and if not then not later
than the fifth
One of the laws which will prob
ably be passed and which will be OF
considerable interest to eastern Mon,
| tana is is one relating to the bounty
on coyotes and wolves. An expression
of opinion obtained by The Gazette
from various members OF both
branches of the legislature from
stock growing counties, indicates that
| some legislation more effective than
that now in existence is desired. Dur
ing the past two years, it is stated,
coyotes and wolves have greatly in
creased in various parts of the state,
and cattle and sheepmen are greatly
bothered. Under the old laws it was
an object for hunter or trapper to
spend his time doing nothing but
seeking out these animals and he
made a good living out OF it. When
the bounty was reduced, however,
many of the old hands went out of the
business and as a result the pests
have increased considerably.
! Conversation with a representative
from Park county indicated that he
favored increasing the bounty on coy
otes and taking it off altogether on
some animals There will be several
bills introduced of great interest tc
stockmen
The game laws may also be revised
before the session is over.
Four Bills introduced.
Doctor o. M. Lanstrum, representa-
tive from Lewis and Clarke county,
has the honor of introducing the first
bill in the house. When the proper
order of business was reached yester-
day both Laustrum and Dempster
the speaker. Lanstrum was recog-
nized and House Bill No. l" was
placed upon his measure. 1t provides
for the submission of an initiative AMI
referendum amendment Dempster's
bill was numbered 2. Representative
Williams's bill relating to amending
the law relative to the coal mine in.
spector is No. 3, and No. is that by
Mcdonald, relating to the liability OF
railway companies for stock killed.
House bills No. and were read and
will be referred when the committees
are appointed by Speaker Hedges.
Contests Filed.
There have been four contests filed
for seats held in the legislature with
the secretary OF state They are:
Rotwitt against Bembrick of Broad
water county; MCGOWAN against
Schoonover, Granite; Richardson
against Williams, Park; Mccullough
against Harrington, Carbon. There
is only one contest in the senate, that
of Bielenberg against Kohrs, of Deer
Lodge county. The latter two men
are brothers.in-law.
In the house yesterday notices CT
several new measures were given as
follows:
BY Mulroney-Relating to ballots
used in all election except school cleo
tion and prohibiting candidates
name from appearing more than once
thereon.
BY Shannon-Providing for the
semi-monthly payment of employees
of corporations.
BY Rosa fellow servant law.
BY Observation-Disclosures for the es