The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-17
D0INGS OF LEGISLATURE.
Joint Committee Authorized To Draft
Direct Primary Bill.

Joint Committee Authorized To Draft
Direct Primary Bill.
HELENA, Feb. 9.-After being re-
ported back to the house with the re-
commend alton that it be mot con-
Cured in" buffeted by speech and
counter speech, the Donlan anti-p pool.
room bill has finally landed in the
hands of the judiciary committee with
the understanding that Il be held there
uatil after the SEM ate has taken action
GA the house substitute for the two
ling anti.poolroom bill which has
a'ready a passed the house.
The senate this afternoon rejected
the Clayberg direct primary bill,
known as House bill 26, which last
night passed the house by..a strict
party vote. Strict party lines were
maintained during its consideration
in the senate this afternoon, aIand the
bill was not read in the upper house
except by title.
The Clayberg bill was up in the
senate on first and second readings
and was read by title only. Donlan,
after the first reading, moved that the
measure be rejected and!the motion
was carried by a strict party vote.
At this time Senator Long of Flat
head county was absent from the
room, but upon his return he raised a
point of order, saying that no bill
could be rejected on its first reading,
and that it was against the rules of
the senate and the constitution of
the state to reject bill without read
ing it.
Long then gave notice that he will
at some subsequent time introduce in
the senate bill to provide for the
selection of United States senator
by the direct vote of the people.
The following bills were introduced
in the sen ate:
Annin-Annual reports of school
trustees.
Tooley--Election of school trus-
tees.
Cockrell-Provides that in voting
on the question whether local option
shall prevail in county, separate
vote may he had in incorporated cities
in the county.
Cardwell-Admissio of children at
deaf and dumb asylum.
Sanders-Primary election measure
differing from tn at of Donlan, in that
it provides that the candidate that re-
ceives the greater number of votes in
the state shall have the nomin alton.
Long-Asking congress to pass the
Glacier park bill introduced by Car
ter.
This afternoon the house by a vote
of 33 to 32 killed Edwards bill pro.
viding for the appointment Of speci al
counsel and detectives in criminal
cases. It is possible motion will be
made later to reconsider the matter,
which is said to be chiefly in the in
terests of the stockmen.
Six bills were killed, the most i'm
portant that offered by Crouch to
make pool selling a local option mat.
ter in every way. A great number of
committee reports were made, and
many bills were recommended for
passage. One by Berkin is to permit
the use of slot machines: another by
Pierson creates migratory stock
fund and provides for the method of
assessing livestock.
HELENA, Feb. 1O.-Now that the
democrats in the house have killed
the republican direct primary bill,
and the republicans in the senate have
killed the democratic primary election
bill, there is feeling in both parties
that they should get together and draft
a bill that will conform to the wishes
of the people of the state.
Harbert, republican from Flathead
county, this afternoon introduced in
the house q resolution providing for
the appointment of q democrat and
republican from the house and q dem
ocrat and republican from the senate
to form committee to draft such a
bill. The house adopted the resolu-
tion after q little debate.
With Croft of Ravalli, in the chair
the house in committee of the whole
killed Meyers bill No. 2l, relating to
the reversal OF judgments in criminal
cases.
The senate committee recommended
for passage Norton's bill creating
Columbus day, and Werner's bill.
making a legal holiday of Lincoln's
birthday.
In spite of the opposition. senate
bill No. p, Sanders bill, compelling
the railroads to equip engines with
headlights of not less than 1900 can.
die power, without refectors, was rec.