MONTANA. 



Sanders, Grubb, Powers, Goddard. Henry, C. R. 

 Leonard, Hedges. Carney, and L. A. Luce. 



On Jan. 9 a resolution was passed providing 

 for a joint committee to investigate charges oi 

 bribery in connection with the senatorial con- 

 test against members of the Legislature and 

 lobbyists. The next day the committee reported 

 to a' joint session that evidence had been found 

 upon which to base an indictment before a grand 

 jury, and asked that the matter be referred to 

 the district attorney with that purpose, State 

 Senator YYhiteside made a speech in which he said 

 that, in order to get a case against the corrup- 

 tionists. he had taken Jjtf.OOO from John B. Well- 

 come, acting for W. A. dark, with the under- 

 standing that he was to get more if he should 

 m-'otiate successfully for the purchase of other 

 IcifUlators. and that 'he received $25,000 for three 

 others Messrs. Myers, (lark, and Garr who 

 also went into the 'scheme for the purpose of ex- 

 posing the attempt at bribery. This money ($30,- 

 (MM)) was turned over to the committee, and from 

 them to the joint session, and the three mem- 

 IMTS made statements concerning it. The Legis- 

 lature accepted the report, resolved to ask for 

 a grand jury investigation, and continued the 

 committee. 'The money was intrusted to the 

 State Treasurer. A grand jury was called Jan. 

 11, and on Jan. 20 reported that 44 witnesses had 

 been examined, and that, " while there has been 

 some evidence which tends to show that money 

 has l>een used in connection with the election of 

 a United States Senator, it has been contradicted 

 and explained in such a w r ay that all the evidence 

 introduced before us, taken together, would not, 

 in our judgment, warrant a conviction by a trial 

 jury." 



A contest for the seat held by Mr. Whiteside 

 was decided against him that day, and it was 

 given to his opponent, a Republican, Mr. Geiger, 

 by the votes of all the Republicans and 9 Demo- 

 crats. 



On the seventeenth ballot (Jan. 28) Mr. Clark 

 was elected, several Republicans voting for him. 

 There were 54 votes for Clark, 27 for Conrad, 

 4 for Marshall, and 4 scattering. 



In the summer disbarment proceedings were 

 instituted against John B. Wellcome for alleged 

 bribery in connection with the contest; the Su- 

 preme Court decided that he must plead to the 

 charge, and Nov. 6 was fixed as the time for 

 Ix-ginning the hearing. The principal witnesses 

 were those who gave testimony before the in- 

 vestigating committee of the Legislature and the 

 grand jury; Mr. Wellcome did not appear in 

 person or make a direct denial, but his counsel 

 made answer under oath upon information and 

 belief. The decision of the court was against 

 him, and he was disbarred. 



Several of the State officers signed a protest 

 against the seating of Mr. Clark, which was sent 

 to the United States Senate, and an investigation 

 was begun in January, 1900, before the Senate 

 Committee on Privileges and Elections. 



A bill that was passed over the Governor's veto 

 referred to the disposal or mortgaging of the 

 property of mining corporations. Jn his message 

 the Governor said the bill was an attempt to re- 

 verse the decision of the Supreme Court, which 

 declared invalid the sale of the property of the 

 Boston and Montana Copper and Silver Mining 

 Company to a New York corporation, compelling 

 its stockholders to accept stock in that corpora- 

 tion instead of that which they held in the home 

 company; that the bill was in the interest of a 

 great copper trust about to be formed ; and that 

 it allows private property to be taken for pri- 



vate use by the provision that if any stockholder 

 dissents from the action of the majority in com- 

 bining with other corporation or trading for the 

 stock of another corporation a commission is 

 appointed to appraise the value of his stock, 

 which is his individual property, and sell it out. 

 at public auction or to the grantee of the cor- 

 poration. 



Foreign surety companies may do business in 

 the State under certain restrictions, and they 

 may be accepted on bonds given for the perform- 

 ance of any duty. Fire companies may insure 

 property in the State only through resident 

 agents, and companies authorized to do business, 

 in the State must not reinsure risks in unauthor- 

 ized companies. 



Acts were passed permitting the Arid Land 

 Grant Commission to construct water systems 

 for irrigation and other purposes; allowing the 

 exercise of eminent domain for aqueducts sup- 

 plying mills, mines, and smelters with water; 

 fixing a standard for measuring water rights; 

 substituting the cubic for the miner's inch; and 

 providing that a commissioner may be appointed 

 to distribute water from streams to those entitled 

 to it by decrees of court. 



The tax levy for stock inspection was fixed at 

 li mill on the assessed valuation of stock (for- 

 merly the law required only that it should not 

 exceed that amount), and horses before removal 

 from the State must be inspected by a sheriff 

 or stock inspector. 



The privileges of the State Soldiers' Home were 

 extended to soldiers and sailors of the Mexican 

 and Spanish wars. 



Provision was made for division of counties 

 into road districts by county commissioners. 

 The act of the preceding Legislature abolishing 

 the office of road supervisor was repealed, and 

 provision was made for the election of such of- 

 ficers. This act the Attorney-General held to be 

 unconstitutional, as it interfered with the rights 

 of county surveyors, depriving them of their 

 duties and their" fees; but the Supreme Court 

 declared it valid. 



The creation of a State board of horticulture 

 was provided for. The State is to be divided into 

 five districts, each to be represented by a mem- 

 ber of the board, appointed by the Governor, and 

 these five are to select a sixth. None of them 

 may be interested directly or indirectly in the 

 fruit or tree business. They are to inspect nurs- 

 ery stock and destroy any found to be infested 

 with dangerous insects or otherwise diseased. 

 The term of office is four years. 



The offices of deputies to the Treasurer, the 

 Secretary of State, the Auditor, and the Land 

 Register were created. 



The office of Supreme Court Reporter was abol- 

 ished, and justices of the court are to report their 

 own decisions and receive each $1,500 additional 

 salary. 



Other session acts were: 



Providing for liens on lumber or other timber 

 in favor of those who work upon it and -the owner 

 of the land on which the timber is cut. 



Providing that a bishop, priest, or elder of a 

 church or society may be a sole corporation and 

 hold property in trust. 



Prescribing 4 per cent, interest for State Treas- 

 urer's warrants not paid for lack of funds, instead 

 of 6 per cent., and for county warrants 6 per 

 cent, instead of 7. 



Reducing the legal rate of interest from 10 to 

 8 per cent. 



Fixing the bounty on wolves at $5, that on 

 coyotes at $2, and on wolf puppies at $2. 



