The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-22

enlivened by somewhat spirited de-
bate over the adoption of the report
of the committee on corpor ations other
than municipal in recommending for
indefinite postponement Georges bill
relating to the regulation and control
of public utility orporations. The
Yellowstone senator made q spirited
fight in it's behalf, but the report was
adopted by vote of Is to l3. The
Mufly racing bill was the subject OF
two reports, one for its passage and
the other for indefinite postpone.
ment, with the outcome that it was re.
ferred to the committee on fairs and
expositions. The senate trans acted
it's usual volume of routine business.
HELENA, Feb. 16.-The most impor.
tant action of the house today was the
recommend alton in committee of the
whole that late bill number one, the
reapportionment measure, be passed.
The bill was amended by house com.
mittee but in committee of the whole
today all these amendments we're
stricken out and the bill as it is rec.
commended is just as it passed the sen.
ate.
Eliel of Beaverhead, offered an
amendment m aking the basis of repre-
sentation 4,3OO instead of 4,80O.
Speaking in favor of his amendment,
Mr.. Eliel explained that it fixed the
basis of representation near the actu al
population of the smaller counties of
the state, and prevented them from
having an "over representation" "
The aim of the amendment, he con-
tinued, was to secure an increased
representation for the mining coun.
ties as we'll as for the agricultural
districts.
Donohue objected to the amendment
contending that even on the basis OF
4, 800 people to every representative.
in few years, because of emigratio q
the reapportionment will be grossly
unjust to eastern Montana counties.
The amendment, he declared, did not
extend representation in the growing
portions of the state, but only to those
portions that are either at standstill
or else are retrograding. ~ don''
see why," he declared, ''if these coun'
ties don't increase in population, they
| ~ ho 70 II
representation by juggling of fig
ures."
; The feature of the days session 0
the senate was the recall of q bill from
the house, reconsider alton of th
vote by which it was passed.; discus
; sion as to it's merits following will
; the outcome that it was again places
on third reading, passed and trans
mitted to the house. The bill in ques
ton was that relating to the summon
ing of grand juries. In addition, tn
sen ate passed several other bills o.
third reading, including that creating
law department at the state univer
sity; two bounty measures and th
bill to prevent carrying concealed
weapons in cities.
The senate this morning on thir
reading passed the following bills:
H. B. Al, bounties for killing will
amin ais.
H. B. 3S. placing tax on livestoc
to provide bounty money.
i H. B. 50, for law department 6
the state univerity.
e Il. B. 2l3, making the carrying {
:, concealed weapons a felony.
i S. B. l4l, providing that a gran
Y jury shall be called once year i
q counties.
d HELENA, Feb. 1.-THE session {
y the senate today was characterized b
:, the slaughter OF two important meas
= ures-one being a so.called resourc
= conservation measure wherein tt
~ state asserts ownership OF the beds {
all streams in the state, and the othe
< the measure presented by the commi
= sion to frame an employers compel
satiOn act.
IL At the conclusion of the usual morl
ing prayer and roll call, a commun
~ cation from the Helena Trades an
Labor assembly requesting an inve
IL tigation into the provisions of tt
v contract between the state and Gagno
& Co., the capitol contractors, WI
u ing committee. The communica ATTIC
AYERS that unorg anized labor Is bein
le employed, and also that the firm
whom the heating contract was let
'e nonresident in Montana, and that
~ too, should be abrogated.
Attorney General Galen transmit,
ss to the senate for its information
N copy of a telegram received by hi
a. | $noc, M to rrb {oh <ho ~