The River Press from Fort Benton, Montana • Page 1

HE RIVER RESS. Vol. VII. Fort Benton, Montana, Wednesday, February 23, 1887. No.

18. THE LEGISLATURE, pctcial to the River Press. COUNCIL. HIELr.F.A, February of bills Waters, providing for the taxing of railroads in Montana; by Packard, relating to solicitations for books or pictures, requiring a bond from that class. Kennedy introduced C.

B. 38, providing that marriage licenses must be issued by the county clerk; fees consent of parents necessary to obtain the license. (:. B. 18, regulating the fees of assessors, passed.

HOUSE. A petition was presented from Silver asking for a lien law. A petition was presented from citizens of (aiiatin county protesting against a division of the county; also, reqiuestiJg the legislature to memorialize congress, asking that the Fort Ellis buildings and sixty-four acres of land be donated to the territory for an insane asylumn and setting forth a precedent in the case of Fort Stellacoom, which was doiated to Washingtotn territory for similar of bills-By Taylor, to insure the better education of dentists, and to, regulate the practice of dentistry; by Page, to amend sec. 355, chap. 3, first divikion revised statutes; by Marshall, to repeal sections 181 to 185, inclusive, second division; by Scobey, to amend sec.

106, fifth division. Marshall moved to adjourn sine die on February 28. Lost. Marshall nmoved that all standing commnirteea be re(itircd to report all bills back within two days after receiving them. wvere introiuced as follows: By 'T'aylor--1I.

B. 66, regulating the practice of denttistry. By Marshaill-H. B. 67, relating to alienation of miining property by corporationrs.

By Blake--II. B. 68, to provide for orgauiization of railroad corporations and to regulate the operation thereof. By Thompson-HI. B.

69, to repeal article 2, fifth division, revised statutes; does away with the office of keeper of the arsenal, etc. By Blake-Il. B. 70-to establish a board of educaNion; also, to amend section 161, first division, revised statutes. The connlcl amendment to H.

B. 13, the variety theater bill, was concurred in and now goes to the governor. The amendment simply provides that no intoxicants can be sold or disposed of where women or minors are employed. Bills passed-II. B.

23, protecting miners; B. 43, the fence law; H. B. 33, concerning the fees of jurors in civil cases. COUNCIL.

HELENA, February petition was presented from eyventy-five small stockmen of the Judith asking the repeal of the law creating the board of stock commissioners. Bills were introduced as follows: By Rickard--C. B. 39, requiring that all solicitors who demand money in advance for books or pictures shall furnish $500 bonds or be worth $1,500 in unencumbered property. By Waters-C.

B. 40, providing that all railroads in Montana shall pay a 2 per cent. tax on the gross earnings in lieu of all other taxes for two years, and 3 per cent. thereafter. By Sutherlin-C.

B. 41, providing that all counties shall set apart 160 acres of land for poor house and farm. By Collins-C. B. 42, creating the office of attorney general, with a salary of $1,500.

H. J. M. 8 was indefinitely postponed. 11.

B. 37 was passed; also, C. B. 6, reconsidered and passed. HOUSE.

H. J. M. concerning the Fort Ellis military reservation, was read a third time and passed by a unanimous vote. C.

J. 1. 5, providing the governor's message, was lost by a vote of 1 to 12, Gorham, Johnson, Mantle and Scobey voting in the affirmative. C. L.

23, to punish the crime of seduction, was lost by a vote of 14 to 5, Mantie, Scobey, Thompson, Toole and White voting in favor of the passage of the bill. C. J. M. 3, relative to the pibneer settlers of the Yellowstone National park, passed.

Xotice of bills-By Scobey, to provide for the disposition of tresspassing swine; by lIofftman, to amend-the game law. The following bills were introduced: By Scobey--I. B. 72, to amend sections 106 and 110, 5th division, revised stattutes, relating to the recording of 1 brands, the recording to be done I by the secretary of the board of stock commissioners at the seat of territorial government, and to be published at the I expense of the territory. By Blake-H.

B. 73, authorizing the 1 employment of stenographers by the dis- a trict courts. By Armstrong--H. B. 74, to encourage a the construction of canals in the territory.

It exempts all ditches carrying 1,000 inch- es of water or more from txatodteR for ten years from the passage of the act. By Marshall-H. B. 75, to create the office of attorney general, with a salary of $2,500. H.

51 and 61 were passed. Mantle gave notice that he would move to reconsider the vote by which H. B. 51 was passed. COUNCIL.

HELENA, February were introduced as follows: By Rickard-C. B. 43, providing for a battalion drill day once a year for the territorial militia; exempts them from jury duty, poll and road tax. By Cardwell-C. B.

44, appropriating $5,000 for the benefit of the charitable institutions which had the care of the public orphan children up to February 1st, 1887. Bills passed-H. B. 31, relating to trustees of religious corporations; C. B.

2. relating to the adoption of children. HOUSE. A petition was presented from citizens of Townsend and the Missouri valley asking for a new county, named Missouria, senlding in a bill defining the boundaries, which is the same bill as was introdluced by Mr. Fisk, of Jefferson, at the last session as Vailey county.

Notices of bills-By Johnson, to prevent the poisoning of dogs and defining the punishment for the same; by Marshall, to amend an act creating the office of county attorney. HI. B. 35 was reported back by the special committee with a substitute. A substitute for C.

B. 11 was reported by the special committee of Gallatin county members and was passed and sent to the council, where it will probably pass, as all differences have been agreed upon by interested parties. This bill creates tihe county of Park. II. B.

20, the insane hospital bill, was in committee of the whole yesterday afternoon and amended in some minor matters, and was this morning favorably reported upon. This is a most excellent measure and should and probably will become a law. Bills were introduced as follows: By Hoffman-H. B. 76, to amend the game law.

It provides that no one shall kill any animals mentioned in section 1 for speculative purposes, or for head or hide, or for market or sale, and imposes a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $200. It also amends section 5 so as to prevent the killing of birds named therein for sale or speculative purposes, and that these shall not be killed at all between the 15th dlay of November and the 15th day of August. By Thompson--H. B. 77, to prevent double taxation.

It provides that the holders of mortgages be taxed for the amount of the mortgage and the same amount to be deducted from the assessed value of the mortgaged property. IH. R. 2, for the relief of J. X.

Biedler, took up considerable time as it was up for final action. Mantle, Alderson and Page championed the bill warmly, the first two making several strong appeals. Marshall, Armstrong and Kanouse opposed it on the ground that the legislature had no right to vote away the money of the territory, and that it would be setting a dangerous precedent. The bill was lost by a vote of 10 to 12. Hf.

B. 46, to prevent rams running at large, was passed unanimously. Mr. Taylor has not yet completed his new county bill, and for some reason the Great Falls bill is not yet in sight. It is certain, however, that both bills will show up now since the Park county bill has passed.

COUNCIL. HELENA, February introduced C. B. 45, a very long bill concerning municipal corporations, which has been in preparation for some time by himself and others. It was read first and second time by title and ordered printed.

Bills introduced as follows: C. B. 45, by Rickards provides for the I establishment of graded schools. C. B.

47, by Sutherlin to prevent spread of contagious diseases among sheep. Bill passed-C. B. 34, education of deaf mutes; H. B.

6, amending gag law; H. B. 25, relating to compensation of county officers; C. B. 25, gives King Ashe contract to build penitentiary.

This bill will meet'with determined opposition in the house. Adjourned until Wednesday 2 p. m. HOUSE. In accordance with the joint resolution for the appointment of a joint committee to visit the penitentiary and insane asylurm, the speaker appointed Buskett, Scobey, Thompson, Hotlman and Page.

The speaker appointed for the Dakota commission, Johnson, Harwood and Titman. A concurrent resolution to adjourn from 12 o'clock Saturday until Wednesday next at 2 p. was adopted. H. B.

47, to prevent the abandoome tof sheep, was read a third timoe and; lot. H. B. 73, concerning obscene Irter was passed by a iilatouss vote. c.

B. 14, tent ef-'pilRE having property stolen in other countries, was passed. Scobey gave notice that he would to-day move to reconsider the vote by which H. J. R.

2, for the relief of Biedler, was lost. The house went into committee of the whole, Mantle in the chair. H. B. 56, amending the act creating Yellowstone county, was recommended for passage.

HT. B. 90, to establish a territorial board of education, was reported back without recommendation. H. B.

58, concerning the Lord's day, was amended and distorted in various ways so it will probably suit nobody, and recommended for passage. C. B. 21, the arbitration bill, was amended by providing for paying the arbitrators $5 per day while on duty and by striking out the requirement that one of the arbitrators should be a member of a labor organization. As amended the bill was recommended for passage.

i. B. 55, providing for a building and loan association, was considered and its passage recomnerndedA. The governor approved H. B.

13, the variety theater bill, and H. B. 37, which allows treasurers a deputy at $100 per month in counties where the assessment foots up $7,000,000. Notices of bills-By Gorham, to create the county of Cascade (Great Falls); by Taylor, to create the county of Teton. The council gave notice that it would not recede from its amendment to H.

B. 3, thus killing the bill. This bill relates to the sale of liquor to indigent poor. Bills passed-H. R.

34, bounty for killing certain animals: Bear $3, lion $3, wolf $2, cayote $1, prairie dog 10 cents and ground squirrel 5 cents. No bountios to be paid on two last named except in lots of ten skins or more. By permission following notices of bills were given: By Holt to prevent diseased animals running at large on the range. By Taylor to amend law protecting live stock interests of territory. The reconsideration of Beidler relief bill set for Thursday.

Adjourned until Wednesday 2 p. m. THE BLACKFOOT TREATY. The Indian CommiansioeaBiturns to Civilization T1hefr Labors With the Plegaiis. Special to the River Press.

FORT SIHAw, February Indian commission arrived at Sun River at five o'clock last evening. Their journey to the Blackfoot agency was long and tedious. They consumed seven days going from Choteau to the agency, experiencing extremely severe weather and almost impassable roads. Their treaty with the Blackfeet indians concludes their labors in northern Montana, and-they leave by first coach for Helena. The commission was successful in negotiating with the Blackfeet, and in less than two hours from the time of their arrival the last name was signed to the agreement and it was on its way by special messenger to Fort Shaw.

The boundaries of the reservation retained by the Indians are the same on the north and west as heretofore. The east line is the Cut Bank from its mouth north twenty miles along the creek, thence due north to the international boundary line. The south line remains as before, except that the north fork of Birch creek is substituted for the south fork, which throws out a large belt of timber not needed by the Indians. In consideration $150,000 is to be paid per annum for ten years. Congress has ample time to ratify this treaty before its dlose, unless our eastern sentimentalists protest, as has been done in other similar treaties.

Villainous Vest. Special to the River Press. HELENA, February Independent publishes the Congressional Record account of the episode that occurred in the senate on the 13th when Senator Vest raised his objection to the consideration of the Manitoba right of way bill. It closes by saying: "To object to the consideration of the bill at a time when the session was dangerously near the close can only be construed into an evidence of hostility, even had the objection not been presented so lamely and awkwardly as to be transparent for the mere purpose of making a captious and dilatory objection; and to cap the climax, Senator Sabin says he never authorized Vest to use his name. When next Senator Vest poses as the friend of Montana there will be an incredulous smile, not to say a sneer, upon the faces of those who will remember his action on the Manitoba right of way bill.

Bank Failures. DEADWOOD, February Merthants Nat onal Bank did not open this Smornitng. The branches at Central City, Sturgis and Sandance are also closed, but the Sheriff branch remains open. No statement of the present condition of the banks is attainable but at the last statemeat published, Deeber 18th, its liaIlites exceeded With the resouirm about the s.a isro tiought ei -beill pay-dradltar ed ar. MONTANA MATTERS.

Interesting News From Various Parts of the Territory, WVired From the Capital. Special to the River Press. IIELgNA, February W. C. Andrews, who was appointed to take Mr.

Larabee's place on the Indian commission, is still lhere and will await its arrival here. The Helena East Side water company has sold out to a St. Louis company, represented by A. Lambeth. There will be an entire change of control, the only one of the oldhi company retaining an interest being T.

C. Power. The new company has purchased all the water rights of the old company, including those on Ten Mile. The old court house was discovered to be on tire last night at 8:20 o'clock. The fire originated in the second story in a room adjacent to the court room, and is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary; in fact it is almost certain that this is the case, as there has not been a lamp lighted inl the upper story since court adjourn'd.

A circumstance strongly pointing to this fact is that the nearest hose station was robbed of all spanners and hiydrant wrenches. At Butte, yesterday, Benjamin Hall attempted to shoot Mr. Trebilcock, shift boss of the Alice mine. Hall was drunk. He was- put under $2,000 bonds to keep the peace.

The gilneers are at work on the Drummond Philipsburg railroad, having been retarded by the weather. The line is already located to the mouth of the Boulder. Marcus Daly was in Helena yesterday. He says work will be resumed at the Anaconda smelters as soon as the snow disappears suffciently to insure the regular running of ithe trains. There is not coal enough il sight to keep the furnaces hot.

The Park county bill passed the council yesterday and now only awaits the action of the governor to become a law. The Catholic cathedral was entered on on the night of the 15th and an unsuccessfull attempt made to carry away the castiron contribution box. It was securely fastened to the post and the thieves failed. Strange to say they did not disturb any of the valuable articles on the altar. The fact was discovered unt-i yesterday morning.

The niIT.er day after was blockaded several hours on the 1illan divide. The Pacific express waited at Helena until the blockade was raised. HELENA, February Abbott English opera company arrived this morning on time and will play three nights. All the seats are sold for the season and John Maguire is the happiest man in town. The Indian commissioners arrived last night at 8 o'clock and are domiiled at the Grand Central.

Your correspondent has not been able to see them yet. W. O. Dexter arrivd Saturday night from Benton, six days on the way. He and W.

S. Wetzel left tor the east yesterday afternoon. Montana Regent has been sold to James Murphy for unknown parties. Price, $8,500. On Saturday J.

H. Duffy, of the firm of Campbell Duffy, Butte, appeared before Governor Leslie on behalf of the condemned man, Harding, and asked for anadditional reprieve, the first reprieve expiring on the 25th inst. They asked for the first reprieve for the purpose of appealing to the U. S. supreme court, but found the appeal would not stand.

They now propose to ask for a writ of habeas corpus and certiorari. Gov. Leslie granted the respite until Friday, March 23d, in order to give the attorneys time to forward the documents to Washington. On the morning of the 19th inst. Ed.

Sweeney, night watchman of the St. Lawrence mine, was shot through the right arm by an unknown person while on his way home. Three shots were fired. Sweeney saw no one and has no idea who his assailant was. The variety theater bill is a law and goes into effect here to-day and at Butte some six or sevan days later, as the bill in its effect travels at the rate of fifteen miles a day.

Considerable talk is indulged in by parties antagonized, but the variety bill is solid and will stick. The Independent, in speaking of county division schemes, says of the Cascade and Teton bills: "This makes a sort of rectangular fight. Sun River will strenuously fight against both projects, as in the event of the success of either it will be left out on the cold borderland, where it can neyer hope to be a county seat. Fort Benton will at least fight Ihe Teton scheme and may also oppose her weight against the other. A difficulty occurred in the lobby of the Gratnd Central hotel Saturday night between M.

E. Downs, of the Jay Gould mines, and J. C. Happer, who had been running a boarding house at the mine. In the melee flapper attempted to draw a pistol but was slezed by Hugh Kirkendall and another gentleman, who took the gun away from him.

i A new addttion is about -trbe added to i Helen.a, which will be called DeLacy addition. It is located north of the city. The new court house is fast approaching completion. The last stone on the tower has been laid and the inside work is being pushed as rapidly as the many workmen can do it. Lady Preuitt, a noted brood mare and one of the celebrities of the Montana turf, was sold' Saturday by her owners, Messrs.

Hundley Preuitt, for $2,500. Mr. Marcus Daly, of Butte, was the purchaser, and she will be foiwarded to California and placed for a time on Haggin Tevis' stud farm. R. Coburn, of White Sulphur Springs, yesterday purchased of T.

H. Carter the two-story frame dwelling on Lawrence street adjoining the residence of John Rohrbaugh. The building was originally erected by Henry Neill. Messrs. L.

H. and Aaron Hershfield and E. WA. Toole are preparing to build an extensive brick block on their ground on Main street adjoining the Grand Central hotel. This necessitates the tearing down of the old Masonic temple, corner of Main and Edwards streets, which site will be occupied by the new Merchants National bank, which is to be one of the finest buildings in Montana.

IIELENa, February joint committee of the Dakota legislature appointed to confer with a like committee from the Montana legislature, arrived in Helena last night accompanied by twenty-five or thirty ladie's and gentlemen, representative citizens of our adjoining territory. A delegation of Montana stock growers met them at the depot and escorted themn to the city. The committee consisted of Hons. Alexander Hughes and T. W.

Washabaugh, from the council, and Hons. J. H. Fletcher, John A. Ely and F.

Green, from the house of representatives. Ar a late hour last night they met informally with the Montana delegation at the Grand Central hotel parlor and arranged plans of action for to-day. O'ir committee consists of Hons. Thompson and Kennedy, from the council, and Hons. Johnson, Harwood and Titman, from the house of representatives.

The subjects will be gone through in detail and every effort made to devise just and satisfactory provisions tending to properly guard the interests of cattle and cattlemen I terrtories and to preyet so lfar attn trpower the by contagion or otherwise, of that dread epidemic, pleuro-pneumonia. Gov. Leslie hesitates to affix his signature to the Park county bill, not from any feeling of opposition to the measure, but from what he regards as a technical flaw in thi hill Tf is rnccahln that it r-rill hlrmo IU LltI UllI. lb 1b pubbIJlu LiUIL 1IW, wil 11iav to be returned to the legislature for passage again with the flaws remedied. Hon.

L. A. Brown is improving gradually and hopes to be able to again be in his seat before the session is over. The Anaconda company started fires in thirteen furnaces, one-half the full capacity, yesterday. They will start the concentrator on Wednesday or Thursday next, and the entire works at Anaconda will probably be running in full blast in a fortnight.

There are one thousand tons of coal now at the works, and the officers of the railroad guarantee that unless there be a repetition of the storms with augmented force, which is improbable, the supply of coal for the smelters shall not decrease. At ihe mines operations will be prosecuted with wonted vigor as soon as the smelters can haldle the ore. About one-half of the force of men are now at work. The Alice company, which closed down last Saturday for want of salt, started up the 10-stamp mill to-day and will resume operations in the other mills and in the mines in a few days. Two cars of salt arrived yesterday and an ample supply is to follow.

The G. A. R. reunion to come off in this city to-day will be strictly a reunion of old soldiers. No ladies are to be admitted.

The veterans will first meet in Fidelity hall, next to the opera house, and after the transaction of business will repair to Caplice hall, where a banquet will be spread. The Abbott English opera company, fifty strong, opened to a crowded house last night. Verdi's "La Trayiata" was the selection for the opening night, and a grand triumph was scored. This is Helena's first grand opera, and the citizens generally are determined that it shall be well patronized. The Indian commission, after resting a day or two, will proceed to Washington territory, where they have some work to do in the way of settling claims and adjusting Indian matters.

Mr. Larabee returns to Washington city from here and Mr. Andrews takes his place. The reports of the commission relative to their Montana work was promptly forwarded to Washington within a few hours after they were signed, and there is nothing to prevent congress from acting on the treaties so far as made before it adjourns. The Wool Sales.

LONDON, February attendance to-day was better and the prices firm. The competition was mostly in Cape of Cood Hope. early 34,000 1aleiT rmmain A COLORADO GALE. It Blows Trains From the Track and C(onlmits Other Fantastic Depredations. DENVER, February light wind storm set in over the entire east portion of Colorado at 10 o'clock last night.

Its velocity steadily increased until 4 o'clock this morning, when the gale reached sixty miles an hour and continued until two o'clock this afternoon. In Denver many buildings were unroofed, smokestacks, chimneys, telephone and telegraph poles leveled to the ground and plate glass windows broken, causing damages of several thoutand dollars. Outside of Denver the casualties reported are considerably greater than in this city. On the Rio Grande railway, four miles north of Colorado Springs, every north bound, on the salt Lake express, consisting of two sleepers, two passenger coaches baggage and mail car were blown from track about three o'clock this morning and the mail e.r, with its by fire. Had the accident happened while the train was on the high ermbak.mL.ent a short ways ahead the loss of life would have been great.

but fortunately the ground was pericctly level and ito one was injured. A freight train of twenty cars, side tracked near by waiting for the express to pass, was also derailed by the wind and the cars badly damaged. A passenger train of three coaches on the Denver South Park, which left trie Union depot for Morrison at eight o'clock, was lifted from the track by the terrific blast and hurled down an eight-foot embankment when about thirteen miles from this city. One passenger had his leg broken and several others were badly bruised. Near Como on the same road the Leadville express was blown over a bridge and nearly all the passengers and brakemen were seriously wounded and the coaches badly wrecked.

All incoming trains on the various roads were from five to ten hours late on account of the storm. Congressional. Special to the River Press. WASHINGTON. February senate has received a large number of petitionsfrom grand army posts of Ohio for the of the dependent pension bill tbe preaid nt's veto.

Laid on the table. The bill to incorporate the Maratime Canal company of Niearaugua, with principal office in New York, capital not more than one hundred or less than fifty million dollars, was passed; yeas 38 nays 5. Adjourned until to-morrow in respcct to Washington's birth day. In the house quite an animated discuSsion took place over the bill repealing the pre-emption, timber culture and desert land law. Cobb of Indiana, Stone of Missouri, Payson of Illinois, Symes of Colorado and others took part.

Finally Cobb moved that the house refuse to recede from its disagreement to the senate amendments and agree to a request for further conference. Pending the question Mr. Perkins moved that the house recede from its disagreement from section 8 of the bill and consent to the same with an amendment; rejected, 68 to 98. Mr. Cobb's motion was then agreed to and aI further conference was ordered.

It was ordered that the daily hour for the meeting of the house shall be 11 o'clock. Adjourned. Railroad Notes. Special to the River Press. HELENA, February The resignation of W.

Read, master mechanic of the Canadian Pacific at Winnipeg, is announced. He will accept a position under Superintendent Egan of the Manitoba roae. J. H. Vanseite has been appointed superintendent of the Medicine Hat division of the Canadian Pacific, vice superiiit: dent Shield, resigned.

Samuel Meadows, engineer of the Montana Central company, near Fort Benton, left for his headquarters Saturday. He has been in Helena for the past month, owing to the extreme cold weather. The War Cloud. PESTH, February lower house of the Hungarian diet by unanimous vote to-day passed the extra credit of $31,100,000 for the equipment of the Hungarian land Wehn. PARIs, February Gaulois permits an interview with a diplomat who confirms the statement that Prince Bismarck will demand the neutrality of France in the east.

VIENNA February Emperor presided to-day at the council of war. Arch Dukes Albrecht and Wilhelm, Count Bylandt, General Beck, Prince of Croy and Barons Satis and Pape were present. PARIS, February Freanll troops have been recalled from Madagascar except four companies, which are to remain at Delgo Susrey. The Montana Wool Grower. A monthly journal devoted to the -of MOutana wool growers.

price, per.