The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-03-20
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20. 1907.
chOuJEAu COUNTY MEMBERS.

have cause for satisfaction regarding
the record made by their Legislative
dele0 alton in the tenth assembly. No
county in Montana had a representa-.
ton that rendered o faithful SER
vice, or participated in the enactment
of legislation that promises to be OF
great benefit to the people generally.
The tenth assembly, it is believed,
did more work than any preceding
legislature in the history of Montana.
During the session some $50 bills were
introduced in the two houses, and
about one.half of them became laws.
The rejection Of 80 per cent. of the
bills introduced means that they were
given careful consideration and found
to be undesirable or unnecessary at
this time, while those that became laws
were OF superior merit. 1t was no
easy or pleasant task to go through
this mass Of bills, some of which were
OF comparatively little personal in
terest to many Of the members, and to
form an opinion as to the propriety
or necessity OF enacting them into law.
1t is not the kind OF work that would
appeal to many citizens-especially
those who would be compelled to ne.
glect their own priv ate business to en-.
gage in it.
Among the twenty.seven members OF
the state senate, Hon. T. NJ. Everett,
OF Chouteau county, was prominent as
one OF the hardest workers Of that
body. He did effective service in the
enactment of the more important laws
of the session. 1t was largely due to
MIR. Everett's efforts that the railroad
commission bill became a law in its
present shape; he did excellent work
in perfecting the anti.gambling law:
he was the originator of the new law
tina. is aimed at fraudulent voting at
elections: he introduced q bill requir.
ing better transportation service for
livestock shipments-a measure that
failed to pass-and as q member of
important senate committees assisted
in framing or perfecting legislation
that will make the tenth assembly
memorable in Montana history. In
all the matters that came up for ac-
tion in the state senate, Mr.. Everett's
vote-so far as the River Press was
able to discern-was on the side of
right and justice to all interests af-
fected.
The representation of Chouteau
county in .the house was relatively
smaller than in the state senate, but
Messrs. Cummings and GOtf held up
their end .of the business in good
shape. Although both of them were
new members ,.and labored under the
difficulties and embarrassment that
attach to a%iirst Legislative term, they
did excellent work for their con.
stituents. AS a member Of the live.
stock committee of the house, Mr..
Cummings took part 10 originating
some of the more important bills that
were intended to benefit Montana
stockmen, and which became laws.
Mr.. Golf, also, performed good work
in proposing new legislation and sug.
gesting amendments to several meas.
ures that were under consideration.
Throughout the session the two rep.
resentatives from Ch0uteau county
worked earnestly and faithfully on be-
half OF what they believed to be for
the public welfare, and in 20 instance
was the vote OF either cast In a man.
ner that will call for apology or ex.
PLANTATION.
Ia view of the inadequate compen-
sation received by members of the
state legislature, the people Of Mon
lana owe a debt of gratitude to their
fellow citizens who devote two months
OF their time at each session to earn
est effort toward the bettermeut of the
public att airs of this commonwealth.
There was no delegation in the tenth
assembly that was more deserving of
commenda alton than that from Chou
teau county, and the River Press be.
lieves it voices the sentiments of this
legislative district in thus expressing
appreci alton of the public services
rendered by our state senator and two
members of the house.
rnDnJN r ~ s ---
Olympia, q member OF the Washing.