The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-21
RESIDENTS OF BITTER ROOT ARE
ANXIOUS TO HAVE SENATE
BILL NO. 1S KILLED.
MASS MEETING IS HELD
At Request Of Senator Miles Romney,
People of Hamilton and Vicinity
Gather and Discuss Merits OF Pro-
posed Act-UnaiterabIe Opposition
to Such a Law Is Developed.
Special to The Daily Missoulian.


Hamilton, Feb. 2o.-There was an
other mass meeting held here tonight
for the discussion Of Senate Bill 1S,
which has aroused so much interest
in the valley this week and which is
opposed by great majority OF the
people of the Bitter Root. This meet
ing was called by Senator Miles Rom
ney, who returned home from Helena
last night, and who today circulated
handbills, requesting the people OF
Hamilton and vicinity to meet tonight
and explain to him wherein the pro-
posed irrigation district law is obJec-
tionable. The call brought out large
crowd, and there was unabated inter-
est manifested in the question.
Senator Romney presided at the
meeting; he stated that he had
learned of the opposition which had
developed in the valley relative to
Senate Bill IS, and he had asked the
people to come together that the OBJ
sections might be presented; he eX-
planned that the bill had been care
fully considered by the best posted
men in the legislature, and that 1t is
modelled after laws that are in effect
in other states; it had been explained
as meritorious measure, and he mad
SO regarded it; he wished to know
wherein it is wrong.
Responding to the request of Sena-
tor Romney, County Attorney McCul-
loch, Attorney Wagner and Represen-
tative Crutchfield spoke. They set
forth the objections which the valley
people have to the proposed law which
had already been discussed at for
mer meeting. These objections were
in brief that the bill is confiscatory
in that it gives too much control tc
possible irrigation company; that
it would make it possible for the con-
structors of big ditch to compel
the payment of ditch construction
cost by owners of land who were not
interested in the ditch and whose
lands were not irrigated by the ditch
but were in the district; that it makes
it possible to assess these non-inter-
ested lands for taxes against the
ditch; that it deprives man of his
water right without a possible chance
for him to protest. The ground was
thoroughly gone over, as it had beer
at the previous meeting.
Attorney Wagner then challenged
Attorney O'Hara to present logica
defense of the bill. Mr.. O'Hara re.
piled and stated that Senate Bill Is
is really but a re-enactment of thu
Whiteside irrigation district law al
ready in effect, except that it has
been amended to meet the require
ments which experience has developed
as not covered by the law enacted tive
years ago. 1t is a measure, he said
that has been practically tried in Other
states and found successful.
At the conclusion of Mr.. O'Hara's
talk, Mr.. Crutchfield read a telegram
from Representative Goff, who was
presiding at a similar meeting at Ste.
vensville. in which Mr.. Golf said ht
is opposed to the measure and will
vote against 1t.
A motion was then made and car
ried unanimously that the representa-
tives of Ravalli county be urged t.
use all honorable means to defeat the
bill.
There will be delegation Of abou
40 from the valley to Helena Monday
Mr.. Crutchfield will go back to Hell
ena If it is possible but the condition
of his wife is such that it may be i'm
possible for him to leave home. Mrs
Crutchfield has been seriously i'll fol
several weeks, and her condition i:
regarded as critical