The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-02-08
CREATING NEW COUNTIES.

One of the measures under consider
alton by the twelfth assembly provides
for . method of creating new counties
which delegates the task to the voters
of the districts affected. Heretofore it
has devolved upon the state legisla-
ture TO form new counties, but the pro-
posed new law places the proposition
in the hands of those moot familiar
with the local conditions, and who are
given az opportunity to use their best
judgment in the matter.
The measure was introduced in the
senate, and Is known as Senate Bill
No. IS, by Senator Leighton, Of JET.
ferson county. 1t has been amended
in some respects by the committee to
which it was referred, but its essential
features are about as follows:
The bill provides, among other
things, that no new county may te
created which will leave any old coun.
ty from which 1t is taken with less
than 1000 population. 1t provides
that the question must be submitted to
. vote of the people in the territory 1t
is proposed to seggregste, after not
less than so per cent Of the people of
that section have petitioned the county
commissioners for such an election.
If the proposed county is to be taken
from more than one county then the
petitions must be circulated In each Sec
ton aud sent TO the commissioners of
ell the counties affected.
1t becomes the duty of the board Of
the county from which it is proposed
to take the most territory to call the
special election, provided that so per
cent or o of the people desire the
new county. Before such an election
may be held the commissioners must
be satisfied that the territory to be
segregated contains not less than 3d.
600 population and has a taxable va.
luation OF not less than 81, 900, 600. aud
that the new county, If created will not
leave any old county from which ter
ritory is taken by it with less than g..
600, 600 taxable wealth, 1000 popula.
tion on 800 square miles of territory.
When it is found that all these re.
quirements have been met and that no
less than 65 per cent of the people liv-
Ing within the territory it is proposed
to seggregate favor the new county,
then the commissioners declare the
e county Is q fact and take steps to
spportion its part of the indebtedness
OF the old counties. The bill tells how
the county seat Is to be designated and
new officers elected.
Should the residents of a section
contiguous to the boundary of the pro-
posed new county object to being in.
cluded in the new division. the petit
tion of a majority OF them to that ef.
feet will require the commissioners to
exclude them from the new county.
Under no circumstances car a bound
ary line OF a new county come closer
than ten miles to the county seat Of
an old county.
The above ia q rough outline of the
Leighton bill in its present form, but
1t is understood that several changes
in its provisions are contemplated by
members representing counties that
have division plans In view. It is
agreed, however, that the matter OF
creating nav c0nntiea nv mcmillan vota
is preferable to the present method OF
leaving it to members OF the legisla.
tive assembly who are not familiar
with the conditions. and whose action
may be Influenced by various con
siderations.