MONTANA. 



501- 



situation was further complicated by reason of 

 a dispute over the seat of the member from ( h<>- 

 tean County, which arose out of the action of 

 the ei.unly can\aing hoard in throwing out 

 the returns from Box Hlder precinct. By this 

 action the hoard L r avo the election to the Demo- 

 cratic candidate, Hamilton; hut, on application 

 to the Supreme Court, an order was obtained 

 directing the board to reconvene and count 

 the rejected ballots, as a result of which the Re- 

 publicans obtained a majority of the votes cast, 

 and a certificate of election was issued to Leech, 

 the Republican candidate. Both Leech and 1 1 am- 

 ilton presented their certificates to the House at 

 the opening session demanding admission, where- 

 upon the matter was referred to a committee, 

 and both contestants were thereby prevented 

 from taking part in the organization*. With this 

 seat vacant, there remained 26 Democrats, 25 

 Republicans, and 3 Populists entitled to act in 

 the choice of a presiding officer. A temporary or- 

 ganization was effected on the first day by the Re- 

 publicans voting with the Populists for Thomas 

 Matthews, Populist, as temporary Speaker. Be- 

 fore permanent officers were chosen an agree- 

 ment was reached between the Democrats and 

 the Populists by which Matthews should remain 

 permanent presiding officer, and some minor 

 offices were to be given to the Democrats. This 

 arrangement was carried out on Jan. 3, the second 

 day of the session. On Jan. 10, by a vote of 27 

 to 26, the Republican contestant, Leech, was ad- 

 mitted to his seat as Representative from Choteau 

 County, the Populists voting with the Republi- 

 cans. The choice of a successor to United States 

 Senator Wilbur F. Sanders devolved upon this 

 Legislature. On the first joint ballot, taken on 

 Jan. 11, before a Democratic caucus had been 

 held, the vote stood : Sanders, Republican, 33 ; 

 William A. Clark, Democrat, 15 ; Samuel T. 

 Hauser, Democrat, 11 ; W. W. Dixon, Democrat, 

 8 ; Martin Maghmis, Democrat, 1 ; Samuel Mul- 

 ville, Populist, 2. On Jan. 13 the Democratic 

 caucus nominated William A. Clark on the first 

 ballot, but there were 8 absentees, followers of 

 Marcus Daly, who refused to recognize the cau- 

 cus or be bound by its action. Their candidate 

 was W. W. Dixon. On the second joint ballot, 

 on Jan. 13, after the Democratic caucus had ad- 

 journed, the vote stood : Sanders, 32 ; Clark, 25 ; 

 Dixon, 8 ; Mulville, 3. The Populists abandoned 

 Mulville after a few ballots and gave their sup- 

 port to Dixon. One ballot was taken each day 

 without substantial change in the standing of 

 the candidates until Feb. 10. On that day the 

 Republicans, following the decision of a caucus 

 held on the preceding day, transferred their votes 

 from Sanders to Lee Mantle, and the latter re- 

 ceived their support till the end of the session. 

 Strenuous efforts were made to heal the breach 

 in the Democratic ranks, but the supporters of 

 Dixon were obdurate, and. although the Demo- 

 crats had a clear majority on joint ballot, they 

 found themselves unable to elect a Senator. On 

 the forty-third ballot, taken on March 1, the 

 vote was: Mantle, 30; Clark, 24; Dixon, 11; 

 scattering, 2. On the forty-fourth and final bal- 

 lot, taken on March 2, the last day of the session, 

 6 Republicans and 2 anti-Clark Democrats came 

 over to the support of Clark, giving him 32 votes 

 to 25 for Mantle and 11 for Dixon. Soon after 



the close of the session Gov. Rickards appointed 

 the Republican candidate. Lee .Mantle, to the 

 \aeaiir\. But in tin- I'nited Stall- Si n ate, on 

 Aug. 28, a resolution was adopted, by a vote of 

 32 to 29, declaring Mantle not entitled to the 

 seat, and indirectly deciding that the Governor 

 had no authority under t lie < (institution to fill a 

 vacancy when the Legislature has failed to do 

 its duty. As Gov. Rickards refused to call an 

 extra session, the State was represented by only 

 one Senator during the year. 



Among the laws enacted was one designed 

 to carry into effect sections 41 to 44 of the .State 

 Constitution, by which penalties are provided 

 for bribery and attempted bribery of members 

 of the Legislature and other public officers, and 

 for solicitation of bribery between fellow-mem- 

 bers of the Legislature. An " antiscalper " law 

 requires every person selling transportation tick- 

 ets in the State to obtain from each company he 

 represents a certificate of his authority to sell, 

 and to present such certificate to the S'ecretary 

 of State and obtain from him a license to act as 

 ticket agent in the State. All persons who sell 

 tickets contrary to these provisions are made liable 

 to fine and imprisonment. The same act requires 

 railroad companies to redeem unused tickets pur- 

 chased by patrons. The introduction of hired 

 peace officers from other States was prohibited, 

 and a penalty was imposed on all persons who, 

 without due authority, attempt to exercise the 

 duties of peace officers. 



A State board of charities and reform was 

 created. There was also established a Stat% 

 bureau of agriculture, labor, and industry, to be 

 conducted by a commissioner appointed "by the 

 Governor. A comprehensive fish and game law 

 was enacted. 



The following State institutions were estab- 

 lished, and provision was made for their govern- 

 ment: An agricultural college at Bozeman, a 

 university at Missoula, a school of mines at 

 Butte City, a normal school at Dillon, a deaf 

 and dumb school at Boulder City, a reform school 

 at Miles City, a home for orphans, foundlings, 

 and destitute children at Twin Bridges, and a 

 second prison at Billings. Some of these insti- 

 tutions received grants of such public lands as 

 were held by the State from the Federal Gov- 

 ernment in 'trust for such institutions, but no 

 appropriation of public money immediately 

 available was made, except to the three institu- 

 tions last mentioned. For the reform school 

 $25.000 were appropriated; for the home at 

 Twin Bridges, $15.500; and for the Billings 

 State Prison, $72,000. 



The following new counties were created : 

 Flathead County, out of a portion of Missoula, 

 county seat Kalispel ; Valley County, out of a 

 portion of Dawson, county seat Glasgow; Teton 

 County, out of a portion of Choteau, county seat 

 Choteau ; Ravel li County, out of a portion of 

 Missoula, county seat Stevensville ; -Granite 

 County, out of portions of Deer Lodge and Mis- 

 soula, county seat Philipsburg. 



The sum of $20,000 was appropriated for 

 bounties on stock-destroying animals. The tax 

 rate for 1893 and 1894 was fixed at 2$ mills for 

 State purposes. Resolutions were adopted favor- 

 ing the election of United States Senators by 

 direct vote of the people. 



