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The River Press. Terms of Subscription: payable in advance. One year $2 00 Six months 1 00 All letters and communications containing mat ter intended for publication in this paper should It addressed to " The River Press," and the nam Of the writer must be given to insure attention. Local advertisements will be inserted in these alumns at the rate of ten cents per linefrom transient and five cents per linefrom regular ad vertisers. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 1903. THE BF.EF COMBINE. Although the big meat packing in terests are doing business under an injunction which is supposed to re* strain them from entering into a com bine to control prices, the producer of livestock is unable to discover any improvement in the situation. In a suit brought in a federal court under the anti-trust law, it was proved to the satisfaction of the court that the packers had an agreement that elimi nated competition, and a restraining order was issued by which such agree ment was declared unlawful and against the public interest. The situation, however, does not appear to have been changed by the injunction that is in effect. The expe rience of livestock shippers during the past season has confirmed the suspi cion that the beef combine is still in existence, and that it is able to con trol prices under any conditions that may arise. With the cattle supply not largely in excess of that of last year, prices have been smashed by the packers and many of those who sold at the lower prices experienced a seri ous loss in consequence. Shipments from the western ranges have not suf fered so severely as those from the eastern feed lots, but in each case there has been a remarkable and ap parently an unnecessarily heavy de cline from the quotations of a year ago. It also appears that the prices paid by meat consumers have not fal len in proportion to the decline in market values—a feature of the situ ation that explains itself. It has been alleged that complaints of a combine among the packing inter ests come from shippers who failed to get the prices expected, and that quo tations are regulated entirely by sup ply and demand. These allegations, however, are not supported by the course of the market, and the inexcus able action of the combine during the past season lias had such a disastrous effect as to call for rebuke from some of the leading live stock journals of the country. There is probably no newspaper in the country that is better acquainted with market conditions than the Chi cago Drover's Journal, and when criticism comes from that source it may be assumed that it is well found ed. In a recent issue of that publica tion appears this reference to the way in which live stock prices have been hammered by interests that were evi dently working together: "If reason and equity are to be con sulted by the packing interests of this country, it is high time to call "liait" upon the forces that are raiding the markets for cattle and hogs. The prices at which meats are selling and the broad and generous demand for „them by the American public call for HO such clubbing of the market as has beeu in evidence hero the last mouth. There is a day of reckoning, and as eure as the forces that regulate the outlet for fat cattle auil all classes of food animals continue their present policy, just so sure will they briug •down disaster and ruin upon many m the branches of industry that have af forded for the packing interests the foundation upon which their business has risen to its present enormous size and power. "Reason should be employed in all situations, and the present situation jn the live stock trade is one that de mands it. This boomerang will surely strike back upon packing interests and be deftly turned by them upou the public, which will be compelled to bear another meat famine as the pen alty of the discouraging drubbing that the middle men have inllicted upon the industrious feeders who supply the raw material." It appears from these remarks by a recognized market authority that it is within the power of a packing com bine to regulate prices, thus corrobor ating the charge made by live stock producers that such power lias been exercised to their disadvantage and loss on many occasions. BLACKLISTING Till: cot IM s If the change of judge bill passed by the house of representatives re ceives the approval of the state sen ate, litigants in civil suits will be able to make charges of prejudice or bias against two-thirds of the district judges in Montana. Under the terms of the measure passed by the house, each party to the suit may, by making affidavit, secure the disqualifica tion of five judges before whom it is proposed that the ease be tried, aud if this right be exercised by each litigant ten out of a total of fifteen district judges in Montana will be blacklisted in that particular case. That appears to be the possible effect of the pro posed law, as published in the news papers. District judges throughout Mon tana will be subject to humiliation and embarrassment under the provis ions of this measure. Elected by the people of their district, and regarded as men of honor and integrity, they become targets for affidavit men who may make allegations of bias and prejudice in cases upon which they may be called upon to act. Those ac cused of such prejudice, even if the charges are unfounded, would natu rally become objects of suspicion and distrust, and to some extent lose the confidence and respect of their con stituents. While the ends of justice require that a prejudiced court shall not have opportunity to extend favors to any litigant, the proposed law appears to permit entirely too many changes of judge—so many, in fact, that litiga tion may become unduly protracted and expensive. It is suggested that the provisions of the law may seldom be enforced, but their presence in the statutes conveys the assumption that, among fifteen district judges in Mon tana, there may be ten who are so bi ased or prejudiced in certain cases that they should be disqualified from presiding over the court in which such litigation is tried. * * * * The change of judge measure is dis cussed in a partisan spirit by the Butte Miner, which criticises the re publican members of the legislature for favoring such a bill. The defects or objectionable features of such a bill are the subject of these remarks: There appears to be a disposition on the part of some to grant to liti gants more leeway in the matter of changing judges than a proper respect for our judiciary as a whole will per mit. Litigants in the federal court are entitled to three peremptory chal lenges each, to remove from a jury of twelve men those deemed biased against them and in favor of the op position, and must take their chances with the balance of the venire. But there are some members of the legis lature who would grant to litigants in the district court the power to chal lenge five or more judges on the grounds of bias, placing the gentle* meu on the bench on a lower average in the matter of dispensing justice than the jurors in the box. A big corporation, when sued by an individual with a well established grievance, should not—through a change of five or six judges—be able to wear out the lighting capacity of the plaintiff, to exhaust his finances and practically destroy his case. In stances of this kind might never occur; and then, again, they might—in which event the wealthy litigant would have the best of the argument, regardless of the actual merits of the cause in issue. Only a reasonable number ofchanges of venue should be granted, to the end that the geography of litigation may not at times be more effectual in de termining the outcome than the merits of the case. Changes of venue that will euable a distressed litigaul to get away from the rulings of a biased judge, without being thrown into the lap of another biased judge, ought to fully cover the scope of a fair trial bill,«.without granting the privilege of placing a lawsuit on wheels and cart ing it all over the state. Uriel" and Pertinent. Philadelphia Ledger: A pair of shoes, it seems, was made in Lynn in thirteen minutes. We believe it, as the kind you buy for boys wear out almost as quickly. New York Press: When two men want to marry the same girl she oau have lots of fun fooling each about the other, while she is getting ready to marry somebody else. Kansas City Times: In Prance the death rate in the last year has exceed ed the birth rate by 25,988. There will be some justification now if President Loubet should take up the peril of race suicide. Exchange: Mr. Carnegie says the United States should be annexed to Great Britain, but he rather srot the cart before the horse. It reminds one of the tramp who asked to have a shirt sewed on Iiis buttou. ltcodlcrs ('lend Utiilty. Grand Rapids , Mich., Dec. 5.— Five of the officials charged by Sals bury in his confession to the prose cuting attorney with accepting bribes from him for supporting the project to supply the city with water from Lak Michigan, were heard in the superior court today and pleaded guilty before Judge Newhatn. They are Cory t Bissell, ex-member of the board of public works, and Alderman John T. Donovan, Clerk E. Slooutn, John Mo Laehlan and Royner Stonehouse. Bissell was charged with receiving $200 and the aldermen with receiving $250 each. Sentence was deferred un til uext week to give the judge time to give each of the men a private exam ination. The penalty provided by the statutes is imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed a year or a fine not to exceed $2,000. UNDER MARTIAL LAW. Armed Men Patrol Streets and Several Persons Are Arrested. Cripple Creek , Colo., Dec. 5.— The declaration of martial law has para lyzed all business in this city. Heav ily armed pickets of the national guard are statjoned on all street corners and many residents of the city do not ven ture upon the streets. Provost Mar shal Thomas E. McClelland is occupy ing the mayor's office and has caused the arrest of several persons. The Western Federation of Miners is pre paring through its attorneys today to make a vigorous fight against martial law and in favor of, its members who are now confined in the different jails and bull pens. Tonight a proclamation was issued by Col. Edward Verdeckberg, com manding the troops in the Cripple Creek district, for the guidance of the people during the prevalence of mar tial law. All persons possessing arms or other munitions of war are requested to surrender them to the military. The assertion is made that "there exist in Teller county one or more organizations controlled by desperate men, who are intimidating the civil authorities and who are setting at defiance the constitution and laws of the state of Colorado," and the order is given that "all per sons who may heretofore have given aid and solicitation to any of the heretofore mentioued organizations, or have been in their service, who shall, return to peaceful occupation and preserve quiet and order, holding no further correspondence or giving aid or comfort to the heretofore men tioned organizations, will not be dis turbed, either in person or property." In consequence of Governor Pea body's order placing Teller county un der martial law, a committee of the women's auxiliary of the labor unions in this city, numbering 70l) members, has sent a telegram to President Roosevelt, appealing to him "for pro tection against the unjast rulings of the governor of the state." To Arbitrate Lahor Disputes. Chicago , Dec. 5. —The creation of a national arbitration tribunal named by the president, to which shall be submitted all disputes between capital and labor, is the aim of Volney W. Foster. He has drawn up a bill, cop ies of which have been sent to leading business men, manufacturers and lab or leaders with a request that they suggest such amendments as they deem necessary to make the bill, if enacted iuto law, as effective as possible. The bill provides for a commission of six members at a salary of $8,000 a year each, with the secretary of com merce and labor as an ex officio mem ber and chairman. The members are not to accept perquisites aside from their salaries, under a penalty of a fine of $5,0J0, or two years' imprison ment, or both. The headquarters of the tribunal are to be in Washington The proposed bill provides that the tribunal determine all cases, either the affirmative or negative, ou the claims of both parties. it ulso pro vides that there shall be no strike or lockout pending the investigation, and both parties to the controversy are to resume and continue their former rela tions. This condition is to remain until a decision has been rendered. When you wake up with a bad taste in your mouth, go at once to D. C Lockwooil's drug store and get a free sample of Chamberlain's Stomach aud Liver Tablets. One or two doses will make you well. They also cure bil iousness, sick headache and constipa tion . . The Love of Eating, IS THE AMERICAN BECOM ING A GOURMAND ? JU In our largest cen ters of population. such as New York and Chicago, we daily see more attention given to the inner man. Cafes and lunch-rooms are filled with men and women who seem to give all their time and attention to thoughts of properly or improperly feeding their stomachs. "It is of course best to eat slowly, but not too much," says Dr. Pierce, chief consulting physician to the Invalids' Hotel and Sur gical Institute, of HuiTalo, N. Y. In this 20th century people devote so much time to head work that their brain is fagged and there isn't sufficient blood left to properly take care of the other organs of the body. The stomach must be assisted in its hard work—the liver started into action—by the use of a good stomach tonic, which should be entirely of vegetable ingredients and without alcohol. After years of experience in an active practice, Dr. Pierce discovered a remedy that suited these conditions in a blood-maker and tissue-builder. He called it Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery —an alterative extract that assists in the digestion and assimilation of the food in the stomach—so that the blood gets what it needs for food and oxidation, the liver is at the same time started into activity and there is perfect elimination of waste mat ter. When the blood is pure and rich, all the organs work without effort, and the body is like a perfect machine. Free ! Dr. Pierce's Common Sense Medica l Adviser is sent free on receipt of stamps to pay expense of mailing only. Send 21 one-cent stamps for the book in paper covers, or 31 stamps for the cloth bound volume. Address Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. difficult Digestion That is dyspepsia. It makes life miserable. Its sufferers eat not because they want to, • but simply because they must. They know they are irritable and fretful; but they cannot be otherwise. They complain of a bad taste In the mouth, a tenderness at the pit of the stom ach, an uneasy feeling of puffy fulness, he;idache, heartburn and what not. The effectual remedy, proved by perma nent cures of thousands of severe cases, is Hood's Sarsaparilla H ood's P ills are the best cathartic. Selling Out... The Boston Store is going to quit business here at a very early date. Special Inducements in LADIES' COATS, CAPES AND SUITS. In order to get rid of them quick we offer them at 40 per cent, below the price, which means A $5 Garment for $3 A $10 Garment for $6 and so on. You will bear in mind that all of our Cloaks were just received last month, consequently they are of the latest styles. EARLY BUYER GETS BEST SELECTION. ...THE... Boston Store FORT BENTON. The New Overland HOTEL, ■J NO. T. SN EAT II, Prop'r. First-class service. Central location. Hot and eold baths. Furnace heat. Electric lights. feS" Rates : S 1 .25 and $1.50 per day. S7.00 per week. FRONT STREET, FORT BENTON Tel, S m. 1'. C). Box lfiT. ^^ALTER B. DEAN, Jr. O PTO M ETRIST. Scientific Fitting of Glasses a Specialty At Lockwooil's Dru«; Store. JERE SULLIVAN, U. S. Commissioner and Notary Public. Land Filings and Proofs. fort benton, - - montana QHAS. H. BOYLE, United States Commissioner. F OUT BENTON, mont Uuul filings and proofs. Abstract of land Illing« and proofs kept. J®** Soldiers' Land Scrip for saleandlocated. p E. STRANAHAN, Aitorney-at-Law. FOKT HEN TON, - MONTANA, (l.ate of the Helena bar.) Q E. FARNUM, A. B., Surveyor and Irrigation Engineer. Heservoirs, Oood Locationsfor Stock Kanches Etc., Etc. HARLEM, - - MONTANA. LLOYD ü. SMITH, Surveyor anil Civil Engineer. Trices reasonable, and good work guaranteed. Reservoir Work a Specialty. CHINOOK, : : MONTANA. The Weekly River Press is a good newspaper to send away toyour friends in the east. It will save von the trou ble of writing letters. ESTABLISHED 1894. FALIS . G RE. AT FULLS. DAY SCHOOL MONTANA. »"4. NIGHT SCHOOL A School Fitting Students for Business Positions. o , pwpils may enter at any time, there being no term divisions or entrance examinations. School of Book Keeping, shorthand an t Typewriting, English Department, Penmanship, Business Practice, Corresp ndence, Business Arithmetic, German. We assist our students to positions. School all year. Instructions, private and class. Lessons by mail. Now is a good time to betrin the study of Music, Piano, Cornet, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Violin. Call at ottice or write for catalogue. S. H.Baumaxn , Pres. F. C. Preston . Vice-Pros. o. E. Draper , Sec. J-JAVINQ REOPENED my Drug Business in Fort Benton, I would respectfully solicit a share of your patronage FRESH DRUGS AND MODERATE PRICES GUARANTEED. W. J. MINAR, FORT BENTON, Opposite Grand Union Hotel 1 MONT. Grand Union Hotel... Fort Benton, Msnt. Only First Class Hotel in the City Steam Heat. # » " *''' ' .s k " . tl 00 " 1 ' Singly oven Suite, electric lights.. XlSfelsSfcj a Baths und Closets on each Floor. ilÇ R ates: $1-50, $2.00 and $2.50 per day . i;' ; ' I fct&t — kl • ' ye s 0 UM M 01)10 V S SA M F LE R 00 M S. jÄjjjjF M /A JO ' 1REEN, Proprietor. fil BOYS FOR GIRLS (M SCHOOLSHOES STRONG, DURABLE, SENSIBLE Ask your dealer to show you the Mayer trade-mark on the sole. L F. Mayer Boot i \ ®. Shoe Co. Ji Vv MILWAUKEE, WIS. // TntY WEAR LIKE IRON För Sale by C. W. AYRES, Fort Benton. How to Get Interest. We issue time certificates, payable at certain fixed tlates, and tor any period of time not shorter than six nor longer than twelve months, at a fair rate of interest from date of deposit until due. Fire or the burglar are liable to visit your home or ottice at any time. We have a tiiv-proof safe and vault, and carry insurance against daylight hold-ups and burglary at night. Call on or write us concerning our methods of receiving deposits. ..THE FIRST STATE BANK.. riALTA, MONTANA. The New HC DGE MOWER, Hay Rake and Special Alfalfa Rake Manufactured by the Acme Manufacturing Co., Peoria, Illinois. Call and Examine Before Purchasing. t: ÏX8 •** ' ^1 J M A t— s IJ i -ii EBMOIOK. The beat: wind .nachine on earth. All steel der rick. Both wheel and cîerrick galvanize c and therefore indestructible. W. 0. DEXTER. Agent, Fort Benton, Kent, yy Correspondence solicited Send for catalogue and prices