Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-06-11
$500 PER YEAR.
Meeting II The City Cssscil.

Meeting II The City Cssacll.
Mayor Flint convened the city counc;.
last night In special session 10 consider
and take action in the matter Of making
an Appropriation from the city treasury
towards defraying the expenses of the
Fourth of July celebration.
Aldermen Conehay, Hicks, Hugles,
Kelleher, Miller, Spangenberg and Sell
vidge responded to Their names st roll
call and the mayor explained the object
and reason for calling the meeting, which
were that upon the unanimous sense OF
the council expressed on the subject ~
the last meeting, 1t was gwen ont
to the public that the council would ap.
propriate $500 towards Fourth Of July
celebration providing the citizens Y onld
raise like sum, but as there had been
no actual appropriation it was desired
now to take definite action 80 that the
citizens might act understandingly in the
matter of soliciting funds and incurrine
obligations.
Mr.. Kelleher addressed the council 1t
considerable length during the course Of
which he SAID that he at first had some
doubts as to the legality of such an ar
preparation but upon the opinion OF the
city attorney he had waived such doubts
and had supported the proposition at the
last meeting and would still do SO.
Mr.. Conehay said he had voted for the
proposition at the last meeting but upon
further investigation he did not think
the finances of the city would justify the
appropriation, and that he had ascer-
tanned from conversation with the peor lc
on the subject, some Of them prominent
taxpayers, that there was feeling against
the appropriation that ought to be res
pected by the council, and he should now
vote against it.
Mr.. Kelleher stated that he was res
ponsible to but one and that one was his
God. lie was taxpayer and paid his
proportion of the taxes of the city. He
SAID his observation was that there we're
kickers everywhere and against every
thing, and he believed the kickers against
this appropriation were principally those
who pay no taxes. jamestown could mol
afford now after making great srlutter
about ; celebration 10 take q back seat as
she would If the council refused to vote
this appropriation for the people would
not contribute the money necessary
Mr.. Conehay stated that while ne
should now, if the question was present.
ed, vote against the appropriation he
should not do so if the matter was lcf,
undecided to the end of the month anu
after tho people contributed at their
money and Incurred obligations depend.
ing upon the city for the amount Of $500
He thought it might and ought to be
settled now when no harm would be done
which ever way it might 60.
MIR. Miller then introduced the follow
ing resolutions:
BE it resolved by the city council OF the
city of Jamestown, to.wit: That the
sum of five hundred dollars, $780,, be
and the same Is hereby appropriated out
of the current funds in the city treasury,
and that the same be paid over on the
order of the city clerk to A. A. Allen
treasurer of the executive committee ON
celebrations, to be used in defraying the
necessary expenses of celebration IN
this city for July 4tb, 1885, to be nsea
and appropriated by the said Allen us
such treasurer only upon the deposlte in
his hands by the citizens of jamestown
of like sum of money for the same pur-
pose on or before June 20, 1885, Other
wise to be returned to the city treasury
Mr.. Kelleher moved the adoption O.
the foregoing resolution which was sec
onded by Mr.. Miller.
The question was then stated to the
council by the mayor who invited q free
and full discussion of its merits, and In
vited citizens and taxpayers present TO
give their views upon it.
Mr.. B. S. Russell who had just come in
being requested to give his views stated
that he had not thought much upon the
subject but the proposition struck him as
one Of bad policy. He had seen train
Of evils follow such policy in Duluth
some years ago and he did not think 1t
was good policy for the city council 10
open the doors of the treasury in such
manner as it was difficult to close the
doors after once opened. He thought
The precedent would be bad, that 1t would
be urged upon future councils for similar
appropriations and there was no stopping
place when once started.
Attorney S. L. Glaspell being called
upon for his views said that he did not
desire to enter into q discussion Of the
question, but generally he would say that
he concurred in the sentiments expressed
by Mr. Russell. He had not examined
The legal points involved IN the matter
but he had always supposed that it was
beyond the legal power of municipal
to appropriate the public
funds for such purpose. There might,
however, be in our city charter some
provision that would admit Of it. He
lad not mad occasion to examine the
charter with reference to that point.
MIR. Hicks stated that he supposed fr M
The vote given on the proposition at the
asst meeting that the council was unan
mous for the appropriation, but %
some of the members were now opposed
10 it he did not think 1t prudent to make
It with divided council. While he was
in favor OF the appropriation he was net
disposed to support it against the oppo-
,it,on of other members of the council.
Mr.. Hughes stated that he was opposed