The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-07-22

why h New Town Goveynment 10 Net
Popular.

ONA eAHs AAssShs 0tAtyO |
at a fair average of public opinion by COM
pairing and striking ! balances among . great
number OF individual expressions on the |
This was our plan. 1t was no.
Necessary 10 Garry y ON, because the opinion
a. expressed WIS everywhere the same. Al
most without exception we found the sub
stantial citizens Of Butte in favor Of a charter
lin favor of town government through
municipal Incorporation. We say in favor
Of a charter, but when it comes to the partic-
ulsr charter whose blessings we have of late
enjoyed, only one Of all whom We Interviewed
at all approved either of that instrument or
the government administered under it. As
for the others, they all seemed 10 helm very
much the position of the man who is greatly
displeased with the plan of his dwelling
house. To raze it to the ground and rebuild
1T from the foundation up would be too radi-
cal a measure only because he thinks it pos
sible at a smaller outlay of labor and expense
SO to modify it that it would hereafter answer
the purposes for which it was designed. But
Ending such notifications impracticable, Then
he would hesitate snota ome in pulling
down the edifce rather than longer submit
to its lnconveniences. So with our town
government. The petition for repeal was
intended to- serve as q vote of censure on the
existing order Of things, not because repeal
was expected to be brought about by that
petition. But if repeal was not desired it was
not on account. of approval Of, or admiration
for, the manner in which our municipal
affairs have lately been conducted. A real
effort to bring about repeal, one ct ell likely
to succeed, would have been opposed only
because it is generally believed that an inn
provement can be brought about in the order
of things complained Of. We're it not for
this expectation-if it were conceded that we
must submit to existing arrangements for a
whole year, that relief was only to be ex-
pected in the annual change Of city officers,
then not a shred not a vestage of our charter
or any of the institutions brought into being
through its operation would be left by the
storm of opposition that would arise. assEH
We believed in town government for a
town like Butte, and we believe in it yet.
We favored the adoption of the charter, and
may possibly have had some influence on the
vote by which it was accepted. For this rea-
son we consider ourselves partly responsible
to the people il things do not run as smoothly
as they ought, and by way of acquitting our
selves of this responsibility we propose to
make audible the voice Of any intelligent
complaint. And that the people complain is
not to be questioned. Leaving out the un-
fair suffrage qualification, Condemned on all
sides, they object to the charter because it
makes no provision for raising the revenue
necessary to keep Our streets and alleys clean
and in repair. If nc license tax can be i'm
posed under the charter, then no adequate
revenue can be raised, and if revenue sufi-
cient to 8 us the cleanliness and order
of an incorporated town cannot be secured
then there is 10 use Incorporating. This is
the sum and substance of the objections made
against the charter itself. As for the town
government, it may be divided into the ex.
ecutive branch, including the Mayor and Al.
dermen, and the administrative, in which are
enumerated the officers of Police Magistrate,
City Marshal, Attorney, etc. Against the
executive branch only one complaint i
heard but since our own opinion tallies ex'
actly with that hereafter to be expressed, w
may as well assume full responsibility fol
the following The Board of Aldermen ART
charged with having made poor selections II
filling the city Offices, q charge quite apt tt
stick. as they themselves will probably ad
nit. Further, if they will reflect upon tn,
matter they viii; very likely perceive that i
each member Of the board had employed hi
best Judgment in approving or rejecting tn
nominations Of the Mayor, some of the OF
fees would not be filled with the present in
cumbents. For an Alderman to announc
Ia advance that he will vote to confirm an,
nomination made by the Mayor for a certain
Office is an easy way Of Sinking responsible
ity; bnt 1t was not exactly with a view o
having its functions performed in that man
ner that the Board was organized. No on
doubts the good intentions Of our Mayor. /
integrity, II honesty of purpose were alon
required, our present Mayor might fill all tn
offices by his individual appointment, an,
every one would be- satisfied. But somcthin
else besides honesty-judgment-is demands
In making nominations for office, and sine
the judgment Of the wlsest man on earth
fallible, mistakes from this cause are Away