The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-11-21
WEDNESDAY, NOV. II. 1906.
A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

y large Tcpu uoJOIlty Az VIC
tenth legislative assembly. According
to returns from the several counties,
the state senate will have eighteen re.
publican and nine democratic MEM
bers: the house fifty-seven republicans
and sixteen democrats. Dn joint bal.
lot, there will be a republican MAORI.
ty OF fifty.
A big republican margin ia the next
state legisl AZURE means the election OF
q republican to succeed United States
Senator w. a. Clark, whose term ex-
pires next March, and this will be one
of the first matters that will be given
attention q few days after the assem-.
bly, conyenes. AS to which of the sev.
eral aspirants has the greatest claim
to the senatorial toga. it is o. at
present timely to discuss: there are
many good Montana republicans who
are worthy of the honor, and it goes
without saying that the republican
members of the tenth assembly will
endeavor to make a selection that
represents, to the best of their knowl-
edge or belief, ~theschoice of their con.
stituents.
In this connection, the River Press
would again express it's conviction
that the better way to choose a United
States senator from Montana is to
secur an expression of the will of the
people through the ballot box. This
10 done in Illinois and several other
states. and, while not binding upon
the legislative assembly, it instructs
the members as to the wishes Of q
majority o: the electors of their party,
and relieves them of personal respon-
sibility In q senatorial fight. The
domination of a candida ate for the
United States ena at at the party
primaries 10 without question the
proper way to dispose Of the matter,
the successful candidate at the polls
to be the choice OF his party members
in the Legislature.
II is not expected that the sen atorial
controversy will occupy much of the
time OF the tenth legislative assembly,
the majority membership of which is
pledged to enact certain important
legislation demanded by the people.
These pledges will be kept. A plat.
form promise Is q debt which the party
members are in honor bound to re-
epect: a pledge given to the people be.
fore election cannot be hOnorably re-
pudiated after the votes are cast and
the result declared.
One Of the pledges made by Mon
tana republicans at their state con.
ventiOn was the Ell actment of 4 rail-
road commission law, u measure that
is demanded by shippers throughout
the state. There Is no difference of
opinion as to the necessity for such
legislation: there should be none as to
the essential features of the proposed
law. \ square deal for both the ship.
pers and the railroads, a fair price
for the services rendered aud the sup
ply OF adequate facilities for the bust.
ness to be handled, should constitute
the framework of a Montana railroad
commission law.
Another republican platform prom
ise related to profits upon public
funds-a matter that has been ne.
elected by many former legislative as
semblies. Montana is one of the few
states in which there has been no in.
terest credited to the people upon de-
posts of their own money. 1t is u
most satisfactory method Of manag-
ing the public finances, Il method pro.
duc,ive of suspicion as to graft prac-
ticed by public officials, and should
be no longer tolerated. The tenth
Legislative assembly will certainly en-.
act a law that will better conform to
modern business methods.
Changes in some Of the existing
laws are also demanded of the next
state legislature. The direct primary
law, enacted by the ninth Legislative
assembly, contains defects that call
for careful consideration, and the
framing of provisions that will en-.
courage q full and fair expression of
the will of the voters Of each political
party. A revision of excessive mile.
age fees and proper restraint upon the
railroad pass evil is also q subject
shat should receive legislative atten.
ton. A new water right law and
other measures affecting the welfare
of Montana citizens will also furnish
occupation for the tenth assembly
during the sixty days session, and it
is hoped the result of its labors will
justify the popular confidence ex.
pressed in the republican party by
electing SO many OF its candidate to
the legislature.