The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-03-05
The Mayor Addresses the Council.

Gil Gentlemen - respectfully advise
You that l decline to legalize. or to At
tempt to legalize, BY my signature, the
action of the special meeting by which it
was decided to. remove the City Hall and
public offices to the Anderson building.
My reason are, lst-That meeting was
illegal; and 2nd-Its actions was conse-
quently illegal and 1 have no right to
approve illegal action and particularly
when it takes $3.50 per year from the city
treasury.
That there may be no misunderstand-
ing, detail the history Of this matter:
Said meeting was called to consider fire
prevention, and other matters properly
coming before it. This matter was in
troduced and was passed, Alderman Nc
Adow alone voting against it and Messrs.
Rouse and Davis not being present.
The next day Alderman Rouse filed
written protest, alleging that he had not
been notified of said meeting and de-
handing reconsideration in the premises.
I call your attention to the fact that on
this account the action of the special
meeting was irregular, illegal and of no
account.
Alderman Davis also protested. upon
the ground that sickness in his family
had prevented his attendance, and that
such action should not be had at spec
cial meeting not fully attended.
City Magistrate Dawes and City Mar
shall Oakwood also protested, upon the
ground that removal to an extreme end
of Main Street would prove detrimental
in many ways, Is it would add greatly to
the labors of our small police force and
remove the police court far from the jail
and the centre Of the city.
Many citizens also protested, and for
the reasons given. Discovering then, the
illegality Of said meetings action, and
being more than ever impressed with the
belief that it was ill-advised, called on
the 18th, by written notice to each alder
man, the special meeting Of the 23rd,
stating distinctly in the notice that fire
matters and reconsideration of the re-
moval action were the subjects to be
considered.
At that meeting Messrs. Rouse, Nc
Adow and Davis were present, and Mes
srs. Cooper, Koch, Story, Tracy and Al
derson were absent (Mr. Cooper not BE-
ing as 1t proved, in town. The absen-
tees were sent for, and, declining to at.
tend, the following notice was sent them
by the marshal:
CRY HALL, Bozeman, Feb. q, 1884,
Jacob lakewood, Esq,
City Marshal.-You will please
notify Aldermen Koch, Story, Tracy, Al
lerson, that the board waits for them
hat a committee from the Hook and
Ladder Co., awaits their attendance, and
hat petition from citizens demands at
ention. You will find them and bring
hem here.
J. v. BosERr, Mayor.
They declined to comply, Mr.. Alder
on in the meantime having gone home.
Finding it impossible to secure attend
nee, the Hook and Ladder Committee
lied its proof of organization, and retir.
d with the apology of the council pre-
ent; the protest of Alderman Rouse was
lied; and the protest of a large number
+ citizens, Taxpayers, against the re-
aoval was deposited with the city clerk.
his protest, being signed by citizens re-
iding at both extremes of the city, and
the ideas in this matter of the
olice authorities, it was entitled to at
ention and at that time.
Personally l do not care where the
ity hall is located, but l do claim that it
lould be near the Jail, as near the bust
ess centre Of the incorporation as pos
BILE, and with due regard to comfort
nd adaptability) where the rental will
. the least. In view then, of the ma
rity refusal to meet to reconsider, and .
the reasons foregoing, and of the fact
lat the removal action was illegal, and
i'll unnecessarily cost the city $50 per I
ar and much inconvenience, I res :,
,ctfully disapprove said action, and
ain recommend reconsideration.
Very Respectfully,
J. V. BooERr, Mayor .