The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-05-13
MAYOR LANGH0RAE.
HIS Speech DelIVed TO ihr City eoun-
ell ON May 9Th, 1855.

Gentlemen Of he City Council
have been selected TO preside over
your deliberations for the ensuing year
Fortunately under our charter the res
| possibility is neither great or onerous,
but such as it is | accept it in the full
faith that you will cooperate with me in
all measures for the public good. With
you must rest the greater responsibility.
You have fair and prosperous city for
which to legislate and you are solely
charged with the control Of the property
and finances of the city, and empowered
to enact its laws without executive in
reference but l am pleased to say that
the council is composed of wise and able
men, who are thoroughly Unidentified
! with the prosperity of Bozeman. Your
private interests alone should be suffi-
Gent guarantee that there viii be econ
omy in government and steady effort
made to reduce the public debt and keep
it within due bounds. ! find that the
present year starts in with an accunu-
lated debt of about three thousand five
hundred and seventy and 47-100.
How to keep it from increasing and
yet meet the actual requirements of
proper government has always been
perplexing problem, and will tax your
nh To In ttV 7
not counsel parsimony | would suggest
that until you have placed the city upon
solid financial basis that no appropri-
ations be made except those which pub
lie needs demand. Your predecessors
have wisely established system of side
walks and crossings which are not only
of great convenience but credit to the
city. These should be keIt in repair
and more added as may be required or
demanded for the convenience of the
citizens.
The sanitary condition of the city
should claim your earnest attention.
Disease can generally be traced to the
neglect of proper sanitary requirements.
My attention has been called to the fact
that dead carcasses have been found in
some of our streets and that refuse from
stables and yards has been promiscuous-
ly dumped out within the city limits.
trust that those to whom is entrusted
the execution of the laws and ordinances
passed by this body will see to it that
they are strictly enforced. l am in
formed that number of city ordinances
are dead letter. Proper respect for
constituted authority can only be main
tanned by strict enforcement of its de-
crees, and laws had better not be passed
if they are not enforced. In so far as
my efforts shall go in this direction every
ordinance passed by this body shall be
obeved, and call upon all good citizens
to inform themselves of the nature of all
ordinances and govern themselves &C
cordingIy, and above all let their en-
forcement be uniform and without fav-
oritism
Your are to be congratulated that at
last, after so many fruitless efforts by
the munifcence of the citizens, also aid
ed by the council, that proper material
has been procured for the extinguish-
ment of fires, lacking, however, sufficient
water supply in some localities, which,
under surrounding circumstances, can be
so easily and cheaply supplied would
suggest, therefore. that the council give
its aid and encouragement to the fire
department in all legitimate efforts to
supply all needful auxiliaries. | would
suggest that you make diligent inquiries
into your license laws to see that they |
are properly scaled and bear with exact |
justice upon all avocations. No city !
government can be maintained without /
exacting its burdens and it's legislation |
should be such as to return to the citi- |
zens the full value of protection and Sc
curity. Let it be your pride and boast |
that Bozeman shall not equal, but lead
her sister cities in government, in secur-
ity to person and to property, and in
obedience to law. 1t will be my duty
and pleasure from time to time to COM
municate to your honorable body such /
measures as in my judgment will be de-
In conclusion allow me to in
dulge in the hope that our relations may
be of the most pleasant and harmonious
character and that your administration
will rebound to the honor and benefit Of
the community.