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SIXTEENTH LEGISLATURE. Forty-third l)ay--February 26. Council. HORNING SESSION. Council came to order at 10 o'clock, pur suant to adjournment. President in the chair. Roll call. Quorum present. Prayer by chaplain. Journal of past three days read and approved. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. Kennedy, from committee on enrollment, report C. B. No. 7, H. B. No's. 9, 12, 6 and 10 correctly enrolled. Collins, from committee on printing, re ported C. B- No's. 41 and 42 correctly printed. C. B. No. 41 referred to committee on judiciary. C. B. No. 42 referred to committee on ways and means. REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES. Kennedy, from joint committee appointed to examine the books of the Territorial Auditor and treasury, made report. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. Kennedy introduced C. B. No. 44, a bill for an act to prohibit gambling. Read first and second times and referred to printing committee. GENERAL ORDERS. The Council then went into committee of the whole, with Hatch in the chair. The first consideration was H. B. 18, the registration bill, which was taken up be ginning with section 9. Some few amend ments were made in this section and on motion of Brown was adopted as amended. Kennedy offered an amendment and pro viso to Section 10, which caused some dis cussion on the part of Bickford, Middleton, Brown and Kennedy, who spoke in favor of the amendment, and President Cole and Thompson, of Deer Lodge, in opposition, who thought the amendment did not throw strong enough safeguards around the bill. Fioal'y, on motion of Thompson, of Deer Lodge, the section as amended was adopted. To section 11 an amendment was offered by Thompson, of Deer Lodge, in line five after the word certificate, by inserting "under the seal and signature of the Registry Agentry," which was carried, and on motion of Brown the section as ameded was adopted. In five, section 12, the word "and" was stricken out and section adopted on motion of Brown. In section 13 discussion ensued relating to the compensation of registry agents, on the part of Bickford, Middleton and Ken nedy. The first named introduced an amend ment so as to throw a stronger safeguard aiound the bill, wmch on ob ection was , , , , '■ . J . „ amended by inserting a proviso in line five after word "dollars," but on objection he | stated with permission he would withdraw ! his amendments and make a motion to i pass section temporarily until afternoon session, when he would introduce a care fully drawn up amendment or substitute to the section. Conrad moved committee arise, report progress and ask leave to sit again. Car ried. Council resumed, the president in the chair. Hatch, chairman ot the committee of the whole, made his report, which was re ceived and leave granted to sit again. On motion of Conrad the Council took a recess until 2 o'clock. Bickford, from committee on federal re lations, to whom was seferred C. B. No. 14, providing for the appointment and to pre scribe the duties of public examiner, re ported the bill back without recommenda tion. tion. Thompson, of Silver Bow, from select committee, to whom was referred H. B. No 2, an act to prohibit gambling, reported it back with recommendation that it be in definitely postponed. Kennedy introduced C. J. R. No.J12, an act to defray expenses of the joint com mittee appointed to visit and examine the penitentiary and insane asylum. It al lows each member of the joint committee 20 cents per mile for 200 miles. Read first and second times and referred to general orders. Council went into committee of the whole, Hatch in the chair. The registration bil) was again taken up at section 13. Bickford's ammendents to this section were, after some discussion, adopted. Sec tions 14 and 15 were adopted with no very important amendments and the two fol lowing without anv amendment. Section 18 was passed for the present on motion of Middleton, and Section 19 was amended by Thompson, of Deer Lodge, who moved the following be inserted after the word "practicable" in line five: "here by made the duty of county attorneys in their respective counties to immediately notify in writing the registry agent of his appointment." Thompson, of Deer Lodge, moved when committee arise the bill be reported back with the recommendation that it be re ferred to a select committee of three, as amended, for further consideration, and to act with a like committee from the House. Carried Council resumed. Hatch, chairman of the committee of the whole, made his report, which on motion was received and amendments adopted. The President appointed as a special committee to consider H. B. 18, Messrs. Thompson, of Deer Lodge, Brown and Middleton. Bickford moved C. B. No. 28, which was on general orders, be referred to the com mittee on grazing and stock raising. Car ried. A communication from J. J. Ingalls, president of the United States Senate, acknowledging the receipt of C. C. R. No. 8 and had been (referred to committee on territories. C. J. R. No. 7, relating to sale of mineral lands to aliens, was referred to committee on public lands. House. MORNING SESSION, The proceedings of the House were pro saic and entirely without exciting interest. The members seemed rather fagged after their day of sport, and were not inclined to harraugue. Little else was done beyond the hearing of reports from committees and the quick adoption of the same. Two new bills were introduced and the committee of the whole sat and considered two bills, which were adopted by sections without considerable amendment. The chaplaiu pronounced prayer, and immediately thereafter Garrett, Congdon and Swiggett asked to be excused. The printing committee reported cor rectly printed the following bills, which were referred to the following committees:' H. B. 34 to committee on mines and minerals. H. B. 38 to committee on towns, counties and highways. H. Bs. 39 and 47, to committee on judiciary. H. B. 29, to committee on in corporations. The judiciary committee reported back H. B. No. 1 with amendments. Placed on general orders. Also C. B. 32, with recom mendation that it be indefinitely postponed. Placed on general orders. Committee on ways and means reported H. B. 27 with amendments and recom mended that the same do pass as amended. Ordered engrossed. Also H. B. 12, which was referred to judiciary committee. Also reported on a portion of H. B. 26, that por tion of the report being received. Report of the committee of the whole, which had sat agaiffon H. B. No. 26, was received. i I On motion of Hunt H. B. No. 26 and all amendments were referred to a select com mittee. The speaker appointed Hunt and Haskell. Blakely presented a petition from Galla tin county signed by 358 names requesting that the Sunday bill do not pass. Blakely gave notice of a bill relating to the construction and purchase by counties of bridges. The House concurred in Council amend ments to H. B. 35. C. B. 21 read twice and referred to the judiciary committee. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. H. B. 48, introduced by Moore, a bill for an act to regulate the practice of dentistry in Montana. Read twice by title and on motion of Haskell referred to committee on military affairs. This is said to have the effect of killing the bill. H. B. 49, introduced by judiciary com mittee, tor an act in relation to assignments of estates of debtors for the benefit of cred itors. The House then resolved itself into committee of the whole for the considera tion of general orders, Rea in the chair. C. B. 22, relating to cemeteries was the first bill considered. Haskell rose to make an objection on the score of grammar in the first section, the bill being under consideration by sections. Section 2 was under consideration when Moore stated that the people in Missoula county had recently dug into some Indian remains and that they had turned them up. Under this bill they would be guilty of a crime if they penetrated a hole where a defunct Flathead had been laid. Haskell took occasion to indulge in a josh on this point'and said that the bill provided that the gentleman could get permission to remove his relatives. The section then passed without amendment. Sections 3 and 4 were adopted without amendment. Moore then moved that when the com mittee arise it report the bill back to the House with recommendation that it do pass. Carried. H. B. 20, to protect owners of syphons and boxes owned by dealers in non-intoxi eating beverages. The bill was taken up section by section. As in the previous bill, so also in this, Moore was vigilant that the word "Territory" should be stricken out whenever it occurred, and the word "Mon tana" inserted in its place. This motion, as a matter of course, was never combatted. The section was adopted without further opposition. Section 2 was then read with amend ments already made and so adopted. Section 3 was adopted as read. Sections 4, 5 and 6 were adopted as read. Davis then moved that the committee , . , ... , , , ... .. arise and report the bill back with the "*7. „ Al _ „ | ! i recommendation that the bill do pass as amended. The Speaker then took the chair and heard an appeal from Rea as chairman of the committee of the whole for further time to make his report. On motion of Davis the House then took a recess till 2 o'clock. As soon as the House reconvened the Speaker announced that he would sign C. B. No. 7, the free bridge bill; H. B. 12. en abling towns to incur indebtedness; H. B. 9, for protection of game and fish, and H. B. 6, the medical bill. Rea, of the committee of the whole, then made his report, which was in accord ance with the proceedings of the committee, as given in yesterday's Herald. The House then went into committee of the whole and H. B. 11, to create a ter ritorial board ef examiners, came up. The committee decided to report the bill back to the House and recommend its passage. H. B. 19, to amend the civil procedure, act was recommended to be indefinitely post poned. poned. H. J. R. No. 6, to provide for an official map of Montana, recommended to be in definitely postponed. C. B. 35 was then taken up. It provides for the establishment of a series of text books to be used in public schools. Moore wanted the publishers to revise the map and geographical description of the Territory every two years, because he wanted to see the geographies kept up with the times. Haskell amended by making the term three years. Mantle wanted the old books exchanged for new ones at cost. Murray said it was necessary to reject Bancroft's readers which came in use four years ago. They were a detriment to every school in the Territory. Moore's amendment was adopted. The committee decided to report the bill back and recom mend its passage. Hunt, Murray and Haskell were ap pointed to confer with the Council on H. B. 18, relative to registration of votes. The House then adjourned. Forty-Fourth Day--February 27. Council. MORNING SESSION. Kennedy, from committee on enrollment, reported H. B. No. 25, an act .prohibiting minors from frequenting saloons and gambling houses, correctly enrolled; also that C. B. No. 7, a bill for an act to allow certain counties to build free bridges, had been presented to the Governorjfor his con sideration at 9:45 a. m., February 27. Brown, from committee on judiciary, to whom was referred C. B. No. 41, an act re lating to licenses, reported it back with recommendation that it do pass. General orders. Collins, from committee on printing, re ported C. B. No. 36, an act relating to town and village sites and fiats, correctly printed. Kennedy gave notice of the introduction of a bill in relation to the publication of notices required by law to be posted. Brown, without previous notice, intro duced C. B. No. 45, for an act in relation to irrigation and water rights. As me bill was a very long one it was moved the rules be suspended, bill read first and second time by title and referred to the printing committee. Carried. Middleton, having given previous notice, introduced C. B. No. 56, an act to amend i an act entitled an act to provide for the I levy of taxes and the assessment of property. Rules were suspended, bill read first and second time by title and referred to printing committee. Kennedy introduced C. J. R. No 13, to provide for the compensation of Frank Shaffer and J. B. Jerome, book experts, hired to aid in the inspection of the ac counts of the Territorial Auditor and Treasurer. Referred to the committee on ways and means. GENERAL ORDERS. Council went into committee of the whole, with Collins in the chair. Kennedy moved C. B. 8, the Australian measure be taken up. Brown stated as this was a long bill and would take some time in consideration, he moved C. B. No. 39, relative to probate practice act, be taken up, and said it would not take more than twenty minutes for its consideration. Kennedy withdrew his motion and Brown's motion was carried. Amendments offered by Bickford, Mid dleton and Mr. President were adopted. Brown moved when committee arise the bill be reported back with the recommen dation that it do pass as amended. Car ried. Conrad moved the committee arise, re port progress, and ask leave to sit again. Carried Council resumed, President in the chair. Collins, chairman of committee of the whole, made his report. On motion of Thompson, of Deer Lodge, the report was received and amendments to C. B. 39 adopted and as amended referred to the engrossing committee. Recess until 2 o'clock. House. Saxton was granted leave of absence for the day, but after he had gotten hi - over coat on to leave, he changed his mind and took his seat again. Swiggett presented a petition from 17 residents of Wickes, protesting against the passage of H. B. 3U, the liquor license bill. The judiciary committee reported favora bly on H. B. 39, the law library bill. Placed on general orders. Also H. B. 24, concern ing alimony and divorce, recommending the Council amendments be concurred in. Report adopted and referred to enrollment committee. Enrollment committee reported that H. B 's 6, 9, 10, 12 and 25 had been handed to the Governor for his signature. The following bills were reported cor rectly printed and referred to following committees : H. B. 40 to incorporation committee. H. B. 41 to ways and means committee. H. B. 42 to committee on territorial affairs. H. B. 43 to judiciary committee. H. B. 44 to judiciary committee. H. B. 45 to committee on education and labor. H. B. 46 to judiciary committee. A report of the committee of tie whole was received recommending that H. B. 21 pass. Referred to engrossing committee. H. B. 19, that it be indefinitely postponed, and H. J. R. 6 be indefinitely postponed. Davis moved that a portion of the report, relative to C. B. 35, be adopted. Moore amended Section 4 by placing among the enumeration of books Swinton's word book. Carried. Joslyn then made a number of amend ments, all of which were lost. Portion of the report moved by Davis adopted. The select joint committee appointed to exanrne the accounts of the Territorial Auditor and Territorial Treasurer reported that it had employed two experts and ex amined all the books connected with the said offices and found them correct. It was moved that the report be received, spread upon the journal and the committee bis discharged. Carried. Davis called out "No" in a loud voice. He said the work of the committee was not completed, as no provision had been made tor payment of the experts. Notice was given by Hunt of a bill to be introduced to amend the law relating to incorporated cities. Notice was given by Davis of the intro duction ot a bill for the amendment of sec tions of Fifth Division Compiled Statutes. Swiggett gave notice of a bill for filling vacancies in the office of county commis sioners. Haskell asked leave to introduce a bill without having given previous not.ee. Per mission granted. H. B 50, authorizing the Governor to employ a private secretary at $1,200 per year, introduced by Haskell, was read first and s cond times. Haskell pushed the bill through by moving the rules be sus pended, the bill be considered engrossed, read a third time and placed on final pas sgge. This was carried and the bill being ready for the final vote, Saxton wanted to know something about the condition of the law as it now stood, and what he was be ing called upon to vote for. Haskell said the bill was for providing the Governor with a clerk. If the Gover nor wanted to go out of his office during the day he had to close that office up. If he wanted to send a message to the House he either had to bring it up or had to em ploy some one to do it, and run the chance of the Legislature appropriating money to pay for the services. The great govern ment of the United States stingily refuses to appropriate anything for the expenses of the Governor's office except his bare sal ary, The stationery he uses must be fur nished by the Territory. It was a shame to place a man in this high position and then impose upon him the necessity of doing clerical work. clerical work. A WORDY WAR. Blakely said he didn't believe the Gov ernor was complaining of the hardships of his office. He hoped the bill would not pass. He didn't believe the Governor wanted it. Davis said he wanted to see the bill pass. He knew the salary allowed to the Governor was a menial one, and he could not afford to pay a clerk out of his own office. The office of Governor was a white elephant, a gieat big office with a pile of dignity and little pay, and uo assistance in doing the drudgery. Saxton said if the bill provided for such an office during the existence of the Ter ritory only, he would vote for it. If when we get to be a State if we followed the line of conduct of other States and elect a cheap man, it may be necessary to have a clerk to get any work done. Michigan pays her Governor $1,000 a year, $200 less than we propose to pay the secretary. If the Governor of the State got such a salary as $5,000 he would not be in favor of voting him a clerk. Hunt said the constitution provided that all laws in force in the Territory should become in force in the State, so if this bill became a law of the Territory, it wonld become a law of the State. The consti tution provided that the salary of the Governor should be $3,600 a year. He thought the bill ought to take its course in regular order and be printed. Murray then spoke in favor of the bill. Saxton said that if the government of the United States appointed officers they ought to provide for their expenses. Blakely then moved that the bill he re ferred to an appropriate committee. Haskell said the scope of this motion was to resign it to a committee and let it die. If the bill was a partisan measure now was the time to fight it out. The great Joseph K. Toole over his signature that said Montana was a Democratic State if this was true it would benefit the Dem ocrats. The member from Gallatin (Blak ley) said he was willing to vote for the bill if it was mads retroactive for two years. What did that mean? Wasn't that parti zanship?. He thought it was. The time to consider it was now. Haskell made a red hot speech and rattled away like a gat ling gun, discharging long dart—like sen tences without pause, and at the end of his speech it was evident that he had made an impression. The motion to commit was then put and carried by a vote of 11 to 5. Referred to committee on ways and means. The House then took up C. B. 35, the school book bill. Joelvn offered an amendment to the bill. It provides that the firm who furnishes the new books should take oway the old books. Moore said he was sorry to see this thing come up again, and spoke strongly against the amendment. Joslyu spoke in favor of the amendment. He said that the effect of the amendment was simply to keep the books in the stores instead of keeping them in stock in the school houses. It was favorable to all parties. Moore said that the amendment was legislation in favor of the school book dealers. Murray said the amendment amonnted to nothing and it didn't make any differ ence whether it passed or not. It wonld not do the bill any good or harm. It would remain simply a dead letter. The amendment was voted down. The bill was referred to the engrossing committee for engrossing the amendments. H. B. 3, to repeal certain sections of the Compiled Statutes relative to gambling signs, was read for the third time and placed on fiDal passage and unanimously carried. H. B. 16, mine inspector bill, was then placed on final passage. Whitney moved the House take a recess till 2 o'clock. Carried. HELENA AT GREAT FALLS. Hearty Welcome of Capital Excursion. Five coaches and one sleeper crowded with nearly 200 passengers, comprising citizens of Helena, the Montana Legisla ture and its guests, the Dakota Legisla ture, and many outsiders left the Montana Central depot Monday morning at 8:48 for the booming city on the Missouri, Great Falls. The excursion was tendered the Montana Legislators and their friends by Col. C. A. Broadwater, the accommodating President of that popular railroad. As the cry of "All aboard !" rang out upon the cold, crisp air from the lips of Conductor Leary, there was a general boarding of the train and promptly the train pulled out, bearing its cargo of people, all bound for Great Falls. The run to Silver or Marysville Junction was quickly made, and as the train en tered the canyon at Mitchell's the platforms were crowded with ladies and gentlemen watching the magnificent scenery, which, although covered with snow, was still very fine, and admiring the wonderful piece of engineering work down through the canyon. The train made only two stops on the way—at Silver and Craig. The run was quickly made, allowing for the sharp turns, numerous tunnels and cuts along the Missouri river. Great Falls was reached at 11:55, where a delegation of citizens and a brass band were in waiting. After stopping for a few minutes the train started for the smelter, where it remained for one hour to allow the Helena citizens and other visitors to see the smelter and falls. The party went into the smelter and saw the ore being crushed; thence on into another part where it was being roasted. Ten roasting furnaces and two blast furnaces were in operation and to many this was a new sight and an interesting one. Carriages were in waiting to convey the visitors from the smelter to the Rainbow falls and the Giant spring, and the pleasant hour spent here proved only too short to the excursionists. It was only after re peated warning whistles that the engineer succeeded in recalling his passengers to their places in the coaches. Returning to the city, a bounteous repast was in wait ing at the Park hotel and the visitors crowded the|large dining hall to its utmost capacity, while some went to restaurants in the vicinity. At 3 o'clock the train bearing 75 to 100 of the delegation started for Sand Coulee to visit the coal mines, where they arrived in time to see the oporations on the new 14 foot vein, which has been but lately discovered. The train returned about 5:30. While it had been absent the remainder of the party had enjoyed dancing in the open air on the porch of the hotel to music fur nished by Mr. G. W. Allerton, of Miles. This gentleman contributed largely to the pleasure of the excursionists by his sweet music ou the banjo, which moved even the staid and dignified legislators, lawyers and judges to cut fantastic figures while trip ping in the merry dance. On the return of the train the visitors repaired to the dinj ing hall where supper was waiting, having been ordered by Hon. Saxton, the Repre sentative from Choteau. Everybody en joyed the repast, and promptly at 6:25 the train began its return trip, but not before three cheers had been given for the citizens of Great Falls, Colonel C. A. Broadwater and Hon P. P. Shelby,who by his thought ful courtesy and kind attention to the com fort of the party merited and received their lasting remembrance. The return trip was enlivened by music, vocal and instru mental, by playing "sure thing games," by quiet chat and merrv repartee. of The writer cannot end without some praise to Conductor Leary and his gentle* manly crew, who did their utmost to make the affair an enjoyable and pleasant one, and to the engineer, whose watchful care prevented all accidents. Among those present were the following legislators: Council—President Cole, Councilmen Brown, Bickford, Hatch, Olds, Collins, Hoff man and Middleton and Chief Clerk Eard ley, Assistant Gilbert, Page Dickerson and Chaplain Webb. Representatives—Speaker Lee Mantle, Carver, Blakely, Willis, Johnson, Jones, Davis, Joslyn, Flowers, Roberts, Moore, Rea, Crowell, Garrett. Assistant Clerk Arkwright and Page Merriman. Mayor Fuller and Aldermen Harrison and Klein. The Dakota delegates A. P. Foster, Capt. E. H. Foster, J. B. Walbridge, O. F. Davis, Goodwin D. Yorkey and Dr. Read. GENTLEMEN GUESTS WERE: X Beidler, Phil Gibson, Sam Walker, Weinstein, D J Walsh, Luther, Davidson, Spencer, Cox, H H Davis, LaRepu, B W Ward, Ed S Walker. Tom Knight, Leopold, S Smith, George E Fisher, J Tourner, H J Lowry, Elias, J R Drew, W F Wheeler, J E Kennedy, Walter S Kelley, John J Pat enaude, J B Sanford, R A Luke, E C Babcock, Thos Goff, J R Parks, Jas B Wells, Dr Musser, L L Kennedy, Harry Walker, W C King, George B Child, J Kar atofsky, I L Israel, P P Shelby, L A Walker, Huntley, Rev Kelsey, A P Brown, A C Logan, Allerton, E H Johnson, W C Humbert, Robert L Fisk, T Walsh, Major Alderson, H O Collins, Theo Kleinschmidt, W H Trobridge, Ike Boyer, J L Jensen, L DeLestry, S Linden, P Knabe, J H Patter son, Eugene Picot, M McGuirk, George Stroble, W P Lowery, J R McGlauflin, F W Hill, S T Porter, M R Krigbaum, Henry A Meyer, Fred M Kuntz, Jessie Wilson, J S Keerl, Geo C Mahrt, W A Rumsey, C B Tate, E D Ferguson, ex Governor Carpenter, S G Murray, P B Champagne, J W Scully, George Eardly, J F Gibson, A B Davis, B Goodwin, Jr, Thomas C Marshall, L H Brooke, J G Sanders, Tooker, C M Atkins. Ig Miller, R Blackburn, M Reinig, W H Patterson, W E Norris, F A Henneberg, F S Lang, J F Kelley, George Walker, E 8 French. Ladies present were: Mesdames C K Cole, Jos Davis. W C Humbert,D H Weston, J R Drew, C Moore, Charles Rumley, J G Sanders L B Wy man, T P Fuller, R E Fisk, F D Kelsey, G W Allerton, A C Logan, E C Babcock, L G Phelps, George May, L Mollinelli, L B Rea, George Carleton, J Kelly, William Bickford and J Johnson; Misses Lumaghi, M R Southmayd, D Flowers, Van Der Vert, Emma Cochran, Lizzie Scott, Edith Lehman, Mary Hamil ton, Grace C Fisk, Carrie Lehman, Bessie Southmayd, Annie and Margaret Alderson, Bertha and Ada Kartofeky, Bosenbaum and Young. In the election held in the 4th Missouri district last week for a successor to Burns, deceased, the Democrats were successful by a plurality of about 500 in a district that Burns carried in November by near 3,200. Of the six counties in the district, Posegate, Republican, carried five, but the Democratic majority in Platte overcame all. In four years more Missouri will be a Republican State and will down her Vest. The President-elect and Mrs. Harrison, at the invitation of the President and Mrs. Cleveland, will dine at the White House this evening. CONVENTION DELEGATES. Section 3, of the admission bill, provides for the apportionment of the Territory and the election of delegates to the Constitu tional Convention. The Governor, Chief Justice and Secretary are the board au thorized to make the apportionment. There are to be 75 delegates chosen—three in each district. There must, therefore, be 25 districts. The word "counties" is only used once in the section and then in con nection with the word "districts," as if in tended to mean about the same thing, per haps iatçaded to signify that the election districts should, so far as possible, conform to county lines. But the only definite guide for action is the requirement to con stitute election districts of about equal population. As the election returns must be made to the clerks of the counties and be canvassed as in case of election of dele - gate to congress, it will be necessary to some extent to i egard county lines. The votes cast at the last election is the most reliable evidence ot population. There were 40,000 votes cast. This num ber divided by 75 would give the basis of apportionment, 533 to a'member, or 1.60U to a district. Several of the counties come very near this standard number for a district, as Beaver Head, Choteau, Custer, Cascade, Fergus, Gallatin, Madison, Meagher, Park. Dawson might go with Custer and wonld make but little in excess of a single district, or with Yellowstone would make a short district. Deer Lodge would make three districts with enough surplus for an additional delegate. Lewis and Clarke would make three full districts with enough surplus for two additional delegates. Silver Bow would make lour districts with surplus enough for another delegate. Missoula would made two dis tricts with nearly enough surplus for an other delegate. Jefferson would make a district, with nearly enough surplus for two more delegates. Yellowstone has little less than enough to be entitled to two dele gates. It will readily be seen that it is going to be a difficult matter to arrange some of these districts and pay regard to county lines. Districts can and must be formed in some cases comprising portions of two counties. counties. As each elector can vote for but two del egates, it gives the chance for the minority to elect one delegate in each district. To subdivide the larger counties into districts is going to be a difficult matter, because, as in this city, the vote was not taken by wards, and probably many voted in the city, who, under a registration law, would be enrolled and have to vote out side. The section of the bill under considera tion is clumsily drawn and affords some lair ground for differences of opinion. But on the whole considered together we think there can be little doubt that there must be twenty-five separate delegate districts, each electing three delegates, and to make these counties must be sub-divided, and in several cases districts must consist of portions of two counties. NEAR THE END. There are but three more legislative days for the present congress, and a vast amount of unfinished business. It is pos sible that all the regular appropriation bills may get through, but this is by no means certain. Tue limit of this congress and administration is 12 o'clock next Monday, but congress cannot con tinue to pass bills till the last moment. After being passed they must be enrolled and signed by the presiding officer of both houses before they can be presented to the President. We do not know whether Cleveland will go to the capital to sign bills, as some of his prede cessors have done, but if he does not it will take some time to carry them to the White House. A proclamation has been issued as usual convening the Senate in extra session for Monday at 12 o'clock.] The cabinet nominations will probably be con firmed on Tuesday next. As the present Senate has refused to confirm several hun dreds of nominations, there will be a vast amount of executive business that will take some time to clear away, besides which we are promised an avalanche of Democratic resignations to take effect im mediately upon the expiration of Cleve land's NEGRO BONDAGE. There seems to us a strange inconsist ency in the Southern whites who bewail the presence of the blacks and resort to any necessary degree of fraud or violence to prevent them from exercising their legal rights, but the moment the blacks begin to emigrate in any considerable num bers, as recently from North Caro lina and Mississippi, there is a still greater rumpus. The emigrant agents are threatened with every species of violence. The sum of the matter seems to be that the South prefers to keep the blacks rather than have their places sup plied by whites, but they want the blacks to work for little or nothing and let pol itics alone. The blacks must be kept in ignorance to submit to life on such terms. Cheap labor is always unproductive and unprofitable labor and prosperity will never come to the South on these terms. Free labor has already shown that it can raise more cotton than slave labor, and the freer it is made the more productive and profitable will it be. The sooner the South realizes that old things have passed away and accepts the situation, welcomes white immigrants without imposing upon the conditions of life that destroy self-respect, the sooner will it share in the general pros perity. It has been politically dethroned and the census of next year will emphasize this fact. In his forthcoming inaugural President Harrison will announce that under no cir cumstances will he be a candidate for a second term. Such comes from Indianapo lis as a circulating report. If Gen. Harri son so declares himself he will not take it back, as Clevelanddid. - of a a THE QUARTETTE. The simultaneous appearance of eight new Senators and five new Representatives at the opening of the Fifty-first Congress will mark a new era in the history of our Government. The influence of the new accession will be relatively greater in the Senate, where it will constitute one-tenth of the entire body. We shall cease to hear so much in certain Eastern papers of "the wild and woolly West," or "the rowdy West," as the New York Herald has been wont tocall it. Thenew Northwest will have enough voting strength to command re spect as well as to shape legislation to the development of the vast region beyond the Mississippi. The lour new States, with California, Oregon, Nevada and Col orado, with their interests common in so many respects, will constitute a strong force in securing attention to the much neglected interests of the Pacific slope and the vast interior with its mountains of precious and useful metals and its broad, arid plains waiting only irrigation to wave with rich harvests. We have lived to see the words of proph ecy verified, when nations shall be born in a day. Here are four new States, either one already superior in all the elements of greatness and power to a majority of the nations of the world, and henceforth to ex ercise a great influence in wielding the destinies ol this great nation. The East ern fogies who, Cassandra-like, are prophe sying disturbance and disaster, mast have no fear. The people who constitute these new political communities come from all the States in the Union and have forgotten none of the lessons learned in early life, nor have they for gotten or lost the attachment to the locali ties of their birth and the institutions un der which they were reared. Their ideas and principles are only broadened and mag nified by their new surroundings. Inter course with their old homes and early associates becomes constantly more inti mate and there is no chance for narrow, local antagonisms to spring up. The rail road, mails and telegraph keep up constant communication. The capital of the old States united to the vigor and op portunity of the great and new West will produce such rich returns that any aevan tage lost in one direction will be more than made in another. England has drawn the sources of her great life from her colonies, but the colonies planted by the older States in our own wide Western domain bring a hundred fold richer returns to the farm States. England's colonies as they grow will drop off and become independent nations, but every new State added to our Union adds strength and wealth to every part of the country and to every citizen in it. Growth and prosperi y in any portion of our country goes into a common stock and inures to all. Every year we become more of a nation and the States lose their relative importance. The admission of the northern tier of new States will make more difference with the South than with any other ^portion of the country. Its solidity and the methods by which it has been attained and main tained will now henceforth and forever dis appear. In the Senate where its strength has been greatest it will encounter its greatest obstacle. Without a motive or hope for continuance the solid South as an entity will go to pieces and henceforth de vote its energies to the proper developtm at of its own rich resources by rational methods. Mark our words, the admission of four intensely Northern States will prove a momentous era in the history of this coun try. It will prove more than an Appomat tox to the solid South. It will turn its ambition into other and more fruitful chan nels than bulldozing politics, and no por tion of the country will receive more last ing benefits from the change than the South, when the new takes the place of the old, and the old clothes -of slavery are buried out of sight. ; A CONFESSED FORGERY. Pigott has confessed his forgery of the letters on which the London Time» predi cated its charges against Parnell, for which it has been spending money like water and for months has kept the United Kingdom in perpetual turmoil. The sensation pro duced by the announcement could not have been greater if the present ministry had been defeated ou a test vote in Parlia ment and had resigned in consequence. It is by no means impossible that such a re sult may follow. Such ought to be the consequence, for the charges of the Times against Parnell were part and parcel ot the Tory compaign. The vindication of Parnell will be complete and glorious. He is to day the proudest and happiest man in the British Empire. Men who turned away from him as in collusion with crime and criminals will rally about him as an apostle of greater liberty for Ireland by constitutional methods. The consternation of the Tories is as profound as their defeat is overwhelming. The Time» staked its existence and reputation on the result of the trial, and its financial, moral and political bankruptcy is the necessary con sequence. But the discredit and ruin of the Times are small temporary matters compared with the permanent results that must follow. A cause that pursues its brutal way through such agencies as the Times and Balfour, with their bands of liveried and salaried ruffians and perjurers, ought to perish in this enlightened and Christian age. No battle that the | Irish ever fought in arms has ever brought them the advantage that will come from this utter defeat and discredit of the Time». There was a large sprinkling of war veterans among the Dakota visitors, the bronze G. A. R. button being worn by a majority of them. There are twenty-seven Grand Army men in the Legislature—up wards of one-third of the entire body. The legislative minority is composed of a single Democrat, whose wife (a Republican) de clares he is about converted by the good oompany he keeps in domestic and public life. OUR SCHOOL LANDS. Under the Organic Act of Montana, sec tions 16 and 36 in each township were re served from sale or entry for the purpose of being granted to the future State for the support of public schools. Under the act of admission approved February 22, 1889, that grant is made absolute to take effect upon our admission, which will be fully and finally complete in October next, when the result of the election is certified to the President and his proclamation issued. By section 2 of the admission act no part of this school land, after admission is com plete, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, shall be subject to preemption, homestead entry, or any other entry under the land laws of the United States. This language is broad enough and absolute enough to shut out entry under the mineral laws. Again, that same section provides that all the lands herein granted for educational purposes, and that includes not only the school lauds proper, but those also granted for universities,'normal schools, schools 'of mines, agricultural colleges, reform schools and those of the deaf and dumb, shall only be disposed of at public auction and at a pree not less than $10 per acre. We will suppose that our school j] lands ultimately, when the Indian titles are all extinguished, will amount to 5,000,000 acres. This if sold at the minimum price of $10 per acre, would produce a perma nent school fund of $50,000,000, a pretty handsome and substantial dowry for ou r public schools. At the same rate we shall have $460,000 for our university; $1,000,000 for) our schools of mines; $1,000,000 for normal schools; at lean $500,000 for an agricul ; tural college; as much more for reform schools and the same for deaf and dumb. We presume that a majority of our readers will at first glance declare that at such prices our school lands never can be sold and that we will virtually be deprived of all income therefrom. But we have thought over this subject a good deal, beginning as others do with the general opinion that J at least a portion of these lands should be sold as soon as possible at the best prices obtainable, but we have come to the conclusion that the wisest policy would be never to allow the sale of any portion of these lands at any price. If these lands are sold the money received therefor must be invested in something else, for only the interest can be used. But what more secure and prospectively valuable security can be found than the land itself. R ites of interest are constantly getting lower, while prices of land in this country will be constantly advancing When we have no more public land the general price will advance considerably, all of the unearned increase of land,.will belong to our school fund, and we shall ultimately have for Montana the largest and most prolific fund of any State in the Union. Thoughtful and far-seeing men all over the country recog nize the folly of having disposed of their school lands. They have been sold at prices ridiculously small compared with their present value. Much of the money has been poorly invested and lost. There are no possible investments allowable that could enhance in value like lands. Be longing to the State they would never be subject to taxation or any forced sale. The improvements would be taxable and sala ble for unpaid taxes. It will be seen that the law does not re quire that these lands shall be sold, but only in case we choose to sell the manner and limit of price are prescribed. We can for ourselves say and put it in our consti tution that these lands shall never be sold, and if we ars wise and considerate for future generations we shall so declare ana put the matter in the fundamental law be yond the possible raids of land speculators and grabbers. When lands can be sold for $10 per acre they can be leased for enough to pay inter est on that sum, and there are a (great many who would always prefer to pay rent and keep their capital to invest in stock and improvements that would be at once remunerative. There are two ways in which the school lands might be leased, one for an annual rental and another by a payment down for a lease of 21 years, or a longer term, such as would justify cue to erect permanent and substantial buildings. We shall refer to this subject again and meantime invite attention generally to the subject. _ The Mexicans object to the use of the waters of the Rio Grande for irrigating purposes in the United States. It reminds us of a case we once heard of concerning the owner of a small water craft on the Arkansas river, who set up a notice on the river bank warning owners of stock not to let their horses or cattle drink out of th e stream, as it imperilled the navigation of the Mary Ann, (the name of his craft). There is no doubt that the use of waters of a stream will have the primary effect to diminish the volume of the channel, and if carried to general use will destroy them for navigation, and the use of the waters by those living above will diminish the supply for those living J lower down on the same stream. There are some who claim that the interruption will be only temporary; that no water is lost, that if spread out over land where it evaporates or percolates through the soil, it ultimately reaches the channel of the river through rains or springs. On one point there will be no disagreement—if the surplus of flood time can be stored against the time of need and for irrigating purposes, every body would be benefitted. This surplus, or what might be stored when noonejneeds it for irrigation, should be the stock to ap propriate. The misinformation of our esteemed contemporary, the Independent , was again shown in its issue of yesterday, wherein the statement is made that Kennedy's Australian bill had "not been heard from since being referred to a committee." The bill was reported back and is at the time of this writing on general orders, awaiting consideration by the Council.