The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-01-25
THE LEGISLATIVE MILL.
Twelfth Assembly Takes Action On
Several Measures.

Twelfth Assembly Takes Action On
Several Measures.
HELENA, Jan. 17.-There' was no
material change in the ballot for
United States senator today. Gov
ernor Norris transmitted to the leg.
islature the report OF the commission
on conserv alton of natural resources,
which in turn submits four proposed
laws for the consideration Of the So
Ions. These bills touch upon unsur-
veyed school lands and lieu selections;
another deals with the prevention and
ex,inguishment of forest fires; still
another defines the duties of the state
forester, and the fourth and more i'm.
portant. perhaps, touches upon the
appropriation of water for power pur.
poses. The letter of transmission OF
the governor heartily endorses all
four bills, and makes q strong plea
in favor of their adoption.
After q somewhat protracted debate,
the senate today by a vote of Z to 10,
favorably reported the Meyer bill re.
lating to reversal of judgments in
criminal cases, generally known as
the technicality measure. Cockrill
and Duncan led the fight against the
measure, which was supported by
Meyer, Everett and George.
The sen ate today also showed that
it is decidedly averse to the granting
of free railroad transportation, for it
not only approved report indefinite.
ly postponing the Donlan bill author
izing its issuance to certain state Off.
cials, but also approved the report of
the committee recommending for pas
sage the Edwards bill which prohibits
the granting of passes to any and all
persons except railroad employees and
the members of the railroad commits
sion when travelling on official bust.
ness.
New bills introduced in the senate
today were:
S. B. IS, Everett, relating to capitol
employees and fixing q schedule OF
wages.
66, Meyer, to regulate the operation
of coal companies in Montana aud to
provide for the codifcation of coal
laws.
81, Burlingame, relating to confes.
sions in criminal cases, the purpose
being to indicate to the jury all the
circumstances in connection with its
procurement.
Among the bills introduced in the
house we're:
H. B. 124, Reser, to create county
of Blaine and to alter the bound aries
of Chouteau county to conform.
125, Schwartz, to create county Of
Hill and alter bounds aries of Choutesu
county to conform.
The house concurred in senate joint
resolution No. 2, providing for an in
vestigation of the financial aft airs of
the livestock commission, and Messrs.
Ashbridge of Fergus, Brady OF Park,
McMurray of Ravalli, and Murray of
Beaverhead, were named to represent
the popular branch, so.called, in the
investig alton.
HELENA, Jan. 19.-In the senatorial
contest there was no very significant
change today. The two incidents OF
most interest were the net gain of one
lx,M H. "o1o oh t;0r
offered by Senator Whiteside rel We
to the election of Henry Cabot Lodge
of Massachusetts as sen ator from tha,
state by q mixed vote.
The session of the senate was mark
ed by several features-the killing o1
Burlingame's bill relating to confes
sions in criminal cases; the adoption
of favorable report on the bill Great
ing Musselshell county; the approva
in committee of the whole of measure
annexing the Centennial valley dis
trict OF Madison to Beaverhead coun
ty and by q brief though indefinite
consider alton of the Edwards bill per-
mitting first and second class cities tc
avail themselves of the commission
form OF government.
The following bills were introduced
in the senate this morning:
S. B. 73, fixing salary of assistant
state treasurer and deputies.
8. B. "a, bank guaranty law.
S. B. IS, respecting the summonine
of jurors.
The following bills were introduced
in the house:
H. B. LA, giving cities the powe,
to levy special taxes for lighting sys
tens.
H. B. las, empowering cities te
erect on streets and avenues specia
systems of lighting.
H. b. LAG, to regulate common car
riers.