The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1879-11-04
(FrOm Sundays Daily.)
The City Charter.

The project of raising money TO test the
legality of the city charter has about disap-
peared. It was easy to talk, but when it came
to opening the pocket-book and taking out a
thousand dollars TO pay the expenses of the
trial, it was Il different thing. While the
MINER has not failed to speak out its mind
OH certain eccentricities of city officials and
of city acts, which policy it will continue
when occasion requires, nevertheless it be-
lieves the charter itself to be a good thing.
1t is true there are abuses connected with it
so there are with all good things. Bad men
get into county aud territorial offices and
even legislatures do foolish things at times.
Moreover our system is new, our officers are
inexperienced. They do not always under
stand the views of the public whom they
represent. Hence their liability to make mis-
takes n sometimes, being pulled up by
office, to perform arbitrary acts. But these
drawbacks will be remedied in time. Our
legal system was exceedingly rude, imperfect,
discriminating and unjust at first. 1t took
,ce nturies to bring it to Its present high state
vi pSi Seioh w W. hNiot " SHPSSo o"i Wv
system to reach perfection in a few months.
Moreover we are a nation of critics, or rather
of fault-inders. We are too often taught in
our schools to pick out faults rather than
virtues. And so it comes to pass that we
overlook the good things in our city govern
ment. There i. need of a public organiza-
ton. That Is evident. Leave public meas
ules to the people and sometimes they will be
attended to, more frequently not. Compare
this town with our ~neighboring city of Hell
ena. There they have an organization which
approXimates to a city government. This in
formal government engages watchmen, it
takes care of the streets, it does some of the
needful work which is performed by our
government. The tax is just as heavy but it
falls unequally on the taxpayers. Every cent
is paid by the business men on Main street.
Other men may have just as much property
protected as these men, but they are not
obliged to pay their share for the protection.
Here everyone who has any property must
pay his proportionate share. There anyone
can refuse to pay. Here all share alike.
There the burden falls on a few. Again,
there are probably more "roughs, as they are
often called, in Butte than in any city in the
Territory, but 1t is the universal testimony of
visitors to this place that there is less fighting,
less foul language, less thieving, less disturb
ance than in the older and longer settled town
of Helena. Whatever other faults our city
officers may have, and it doesn't always re-
Quire a microscope to see them, they at least
should have the credit of converting a new
mining camp into d peaceable, orderly town.
If the wrong men are in office, every year OF
two a chance is given to remove them. II
unfair measures are passed there is an oppoltu,
nifty to protest in unmistakable tones.
Among the New Goods Received by L. L,
Bonner d Co., are the following:
so pieces Sypurc, Tsrchion, Mechlin, Spanish
Naleciennes and other Laces from &c, to $l.75
per yard. W.,
20 Pieces Back and Colored Silks, Black Vel
vets 81. 90 to so pes yard.
Is doz fine Hosiery, 75c. to $3.50 per pair.
Lace Sets in Magnificent Styles, $40 each.
IS pieces Table Linens 200 doz. Towels, S2 To
&l2 per dox. ,
= Dnonnln III EnN rOlNnrl