The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-03

MONTANA LAW FACTORY.
Measures Of More or Less Public
Interest Are Discussed.
HELENA, Jan. 26.-The movement
begun In Butte several weeks ago by
Harry Rodda, the well.known blind
miner of that city, to establish an In.
dustrial home for blind persons there,
came to . head in the Legislature this
morning when Representative Norton
OF Silver Bow county introduced a
bill appropriating s15, 900 to create
the home under state auspices. OF
the other bills introduced, one was for
the creation of Musselshell county,
which It is proposed to carve out Of
the Judith basin. Notice of . bill to
create Shaw county from the eastern
half OF Valley county was given by
Representative Arnett.
In message to the house this morn
ing Governor Norris stated that he
has received from the federal govern
ment S61, ,541.46 as Montana's Is per
cent of the revenues derived from the
forest reserves in this state. The law
provides that this money be divided
between the school and road funds in
those counties In which forest re-.
serves are located, and in proportion
to the area of reserves in them. It
must be done, however, by legislative
action. A similar message was sent
to the senate by the governor.
In the senate, the Donlan prima ary
election bill was among the measures
considered and it caused considerable
debate, the speakers being Sen ator
Meyer in favor and Senator Long in
opposition. It was recommended for
passage. Other bills favorably acted
upon we're: No. 6, relating to the
election and terms of Office of senator's
and representatives; No. q, providing
for electric headlights on locomotives:
No. 30. detaching Teton from the
Eleventh judicial. district and adding
1t to the Eighth; No. "a, prohibiting
the marriage of black and white per.
sons or the marriage of whites and
Japanese or Chinese.
The following bills were introduced
in the house:
Committee of Insurance-Concer
ing duration and renewal of life in
surance corporations and number of
directors thereof.
Werner-To improve sanitary condi.
tions in quartz mines.
Werner-Relating to county print.
ing.
Gray-Relating to licenses of re-
tail liquor dealers.
Smith-Relating to the burial of
bodies.
Smith-Rel ating to the registr alton
of deaths and births.
Cummings-Relating to the distri-
button of revised codes and session
laws.
Woodv-Appropriating money for
the payment of the deficiency claims
of the state university. This bill ap-
propriates $1,000.
Whaley-Regulating the taxation
of .aortgaged debts and mortg gagged
property.
Safely-Relating to qualifications of
teachers and the grade of teachers
certificates and relating to the grades
OF graduates of the State Normal
school.
HELENA, Jan. 27.-The state lands
investigation is assuming immense
proportions in the house proceedings.
Bogart's motion of yesterday to en-
power the investigate committee to
employ an attorney. came up as a
special order of business when the
house convened. A report was sub
mitted by the investig ating committee
reciting the work which they have
accomplished, comprising the pre-.
liminaries to the actual investig alton.
The report says that the com.
mittee has decided to call as witnesses
all officers and employees of the land
Office and board and also the nine
principal Witnesses who testified at
Kalispell.
The committee will endeavor to de-
termine whether the state has received
an adequate price for lands and tim.
Der sold; whether it will be advisa able ,
20 return purchase money for same; ,
whether there has been any improper I
official conduct, and what changes
should be made in the present bust.
less methods of the land department.. I
The Werner bill creating Lincoln c
lay, February IL, as legal holiday I
throughout the state, was passed on
bird reading, with only one dissent. U
ng vote. O