Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-04-17
TIE NEW MAYOR.
Inaugural Address Delivered Thursday
Evening.

cred the following address:
Gentlemen of the city Council:
assume the position of Mayor of Hell
ena with profound sense of the grave re-
sponsibilities which are connected with
that office.
In these early days of our corporate ex-
istence many highly important measures
demand our constant attention. OF these
some of the most desirable, and III truth
some that are most necessary to our future
health, growth and prosperity are beyond
our present means to accomplish.
1t will not, however, be the part of wis
dom for US to decline consideration of that
which is not Immediately attainable. On
the contrary, the more difficult the accom-
plishment of any needed measure the more
promptly, carefully and constantly should
we investigate and study and devise ways
and means to carry out that measure. II
we take only the first steps towards secur-
ing an improvement for the advantage of
our young city, and can do no more, then
we discharge our duty in that behalf and
leave so much less to be done by those
who shall succeed us.
There is much to be accomplished, but
in order to accomplish the most and the
best, there are some things to he studiously
avoided.
We must be careful not to burden our
corporation with debt, and with consequent
high taxation.
High taxation will prevent the invest
ment of outside capital within our city
limits, and at the same time will put our
merchants and other citizens at a disad-
vantage as compared with those who live
in communities where taxes are less bur
denSOme.
We should be careful not to create or
maintain an unnecessary number of sala-
ried officers. Let us use our best endea-
vors to secure efficient, honest and indus
triOus men to fill the several offices neces-
sary to the proper conduct of our affairs,
and pay them fair compensation for their
services; but let us have no sinecures.
They are luxury which we cannot afford.
We should avoid hasty legislation. Each
ordinance should before its passage, be eX-
amined by a committee and, except III
rare instances where immediate action is
evidently necessary, no ordinance should
be passed at the meeting of its introduc-
ton.
1t is very desirable that sidewalks should
be laid on all streets in general use; but
citizens should not be compelled at great
expense to construct and lay sidewalks on
streets whose grades are not established,
unless it shall be determined that such
grades will not be established at an early
day. 1t is not just to require a sidewalk
to be laid to-day and taken up and re-laid
tomorrow. If there is necessity for the
laying of sidewalk prior to the establish
ment of grade, let the work be done by the
property owner; and then if change of
grade shall soon require the relaying OF the
sidewalk, let such relaying be made with
out expense to the property owner
We must have police force sufficient to
preserve good order within our city limits,
but we should not make the number of pO-
licemen so large as that there shall be any
temptation to make arrests for frivolous or
purely technical violations of our city laws.
Unless it shall be managed with discretion,
the police force may be the means of OPP
preston and persecution, rather than the
instrumentality for preserving the peace.
Among the important measures which l
shall recommend for your consideration are
the following:
THE REVISION OF OUR ORDINANCES.
Our ordinances should be revised and
printed Some of our ordinances, hastily
prepared and passed, are, / am informed,
very defective. Some have been declared
by the courts to be without authority of
law and many matters yet reman with
reference to which ordinances should be
passed.
Our laws relating to elections, revenue,
nuisances, good order and morals, ObStruc-
tions of streets, process and execution of
sentence, concerning domestic animals run
ming at large, grades of streets and alleys,
health, weighing and measurement of hay,
coal and wood, eminent dOmain-each and
all should have early and thorough revis-
ion and amendment. Our city charter also
needs many and highly important amend
ments. At an early day special commit
tee should be appointed to prepare and pre-
sent to the next Legislative Assembly for
enactment such amendments to the char
ter as will make it more suitable to our ne
ceSSitleS.
SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE.
One of the most pressing and important
improvements now demanded for Helena
is a system Of sewerage and drainage, and
our citizens are unit in the desire that
this measure shall have immediate atten-
ton Being without any estimate of the
cost of this improvement, it is not possible
for me now to say whether you can at once
enter upon this work. My fear is that the
expense will be so great as to put the early
prosecution of the work beyond our
power; and my opinion is that you should,
if practicable, obtain from one or more ex-
perts detailed statement of estimates OF
cost with plant and specifications for the
entire work. If you shall then find, as
you probably will, that the work can not
be accomplished with your present means,
YOU will have necessary data to present to
the Legislature and ask for an enabling act
in that behalf.
WATER WORKS.
OF first importance also is the necessity
of securing an adequate water supply for
our city This, | am assured, cannot be
without an enabling act
but it is confidently believed that a suit
able system of works belonging to and
controlled by the city could be made to re-
turn such revenue in the way OF water
rates as would at once pay the interest
upon an Indebtedness requisite tor the es-
tabIishment of the water works pay all
contingent expenses of the system; pro-
vide a sinking fund for the early payment
of the debt, and prove a permanent source
of revenue to the city.
1t seems to me- however, that in this
matter also it will be necessary to obtain
plans, and specifications from
experts. In any measure we may adopt IN
this direction we should be careful to do