The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-09-21
THE REPUBLICAN, RECORD.

THE REPUBLICAN RECORD.
An interesting story of republican
achievement was related by E. Il.
Cooney, temporary chairman of the
republican state convention at Mis-.
souls, in his address to the assembled
delegates. The narrative included q
long list legislation enacted by con-
gress, the following being Of special
Importance to residents OF Montana
and other western state:
The session Of congress just closed
produced more m%eritorious legislation
for the good Of the country at large
than any session of congress since the
Civil war.
At the head OF the list appears the
railroad rate bill, which gives the in.
terstate commerce commission power
over interstate transportation which
the people have long demanded.
A bill was passed providing for the
establishment OF . system of postal
savings banks intended for the &C.
commod alton of people Of en- all means
and to encourage thrift.
An enabling act was passed which
authorized the admission Of the terri.
tories Of New Mexico and Arizona.
A bureau OF mines and mining WAS
established, having for its purpose
the diffusion OF knowledge, the main.
ten ance Of rescue stations, and the re-
duction of accidents and loss OF life
in mines.
Supplemental to the en- actment of the
bureau of mines, an appropriation OF
S3l0, 900 was made for the establish
ment of mine rescue stations in vari.
Gus parts of the country where mining
operations are carried ~.
A tariff board was provided for, to
be composed of experts whose special
duty it shall be to Investigate and re-
port to the president upon the cost Of
production here and abroad, and to
get all OF the facts and statistics
necessary to an Intelligent understand
ing of our tariff schedules.
OF special interest to the inter-moun.
tain states is the bill providing for the
addition of go, 000, 900 from the gener.
al fund OF the treasury to the reclama-
ton fund to aid in the prompt com.
pletion of existing reclaim alton pro.
jects heretofore begun.
Montana has Jared pretty we'll. OF
the most direct benefit to the incom.
ing settlers is the ample provision
made for the survey of public lands.
In addition to the s400, 900 appropri-
ated for the general surveys OF public
lands in all Of the western states, OF
which Montana's share will be, approx.
imately $4,000, a special appropri-
alton of $780, 600 was made to meet the
urgent necessity for immediate survey
Of lands in Montana.
Another matter of great Importance
to Montana was the act segregating
the surface title to coal lands for agri.
cultural entry, which will open to set.
Element in Montana approximately
twenty million acres of land heretofore
withdrawn from agricultural entry on
account Of its supposed coal charac.
ter. Under the new law, anyone who
has heretofore fled on may hereafter
file upon agricultural land, will be in
no sense hindered from perfectlng title
subject to the reservation of the coal
by the government.
In the matter of the improvement OF
water ways, an appropriation of $3.50,
600 was secured for the betterment OF
the upper Missouri river; So, 900 for the
improvement of Poison hsrbor at the
foot Of FIathead lake: and a special
appropriation of $3.50, 600 was made
for continuing the work of irrigation
on the Flsthead Indian reserv alton,
and 500, 900 "a appropriated fol
continuing the work of irrigation Of
lands on the Blackfeet reserv alton.
This session of congress also sppro'
priated for the permanent water sup.
ply Of Fort Assinniboine $1,000, and
csc, 900 at Fort Harrison. and $40, O0C
for the building of q water system .,
Fort Missoula.
Complying with the demand in nor.
them Montana for additional facilities
for the increasing number Of settlers
in that section OF the state, . new
land district with headquarters .,
Havre, Mont, vas established.
Over 100 new postotices have been
established in Montana during the 6s.
cal year, and large areas Of agricul'
tural land previously Withdrawn from
settlement in central Montana have
been restored to entry.
GLENDIvE, Sept. l4.-An attempt &c
arrest two men at q local red light re.