The new North-west., 1888-04-20
INCORPORATION.
A Matter to Which Deer Lodge Should Give
Immediate Attention.

any considerable importance has incorpora-
ted or is about to incorporate. Notwith-
standing laws hitherto somewhat defective
and special, we have not known of any city
or town dislncorPorating, OF wishing to do SO,
except to reincorporate under the new, and
better, general law. This is an evidence in
favor of incorporation under less perfect
laws than we now have, and the desirabllity
of town government on general principles is
just as great in proportion as is National,
State or County government. Deer Lodge
has not heretofore incorporated for several
reasons. The old general act was impractical
BILE. Special acts involved many difficulties
and were rarely economically devised. Our
town was small, and Of late years the District
has had a considerable debt. We have
awaited general incorporation act that
would enable an economical government
Such a law is now on the Statute books, and
is distributed. 1t is we'll that we should in
vestigate it., and if it commends itself, as we
believe it will, proceed at once to incorpo-
rate. 1t is not necessary here to speak in
detail of the advantages Of incorporation
They are obvious to all. As to the methods
A town seeking incorporation must have
porate, 100 or more qualified electors, resi-
dents thereof, petition the County Comrnis-
sioners, describing the limits of the proposed
town or city, and the wards. This petition
and map is fled with the County Clerk and
open for inspection to all. At their next
regular or special meeting the County Com
missioners appoint some person to take
census, which is also filed with the County
Clerk. The County Commissioners then or
der an election by the qualified electors, who
shall be freeholders, and notice of the same
shall be given thirty days they also appoint
judges and clerks who shall report the result
to the Commissioners, whe canvas the re-
turns aud publish the result, stating whether
it is a city of the first or second class, or a
town. Thereupon the Incorporation is COM
plete. If the place has over 300 and less than
1 500 inhabitants, it is town; if more than
l 500 and less than 5000, a city of the second
class !; if over 5000, city Of the first class.
The Commissioners then order an election
of officers, giving thirty days notice. These
hold till the next general election. At this
election all electors qualified by the general
election laws of the Territory, and who have
resided in the tewn three months, may vote.
If for a city, Mayor, Police Magistrate
and two Aldermen for each ward shall be
elected if for town, Mayor and six Al
dermen shall be elected. The Commissioners
appoint judges and clerks and canvass the
vote as before. The City Council thus cleo
ted shall elect lin city of the second class)
Treasurer, Clerk, City Attorney, City Sur
veyor, and any other officer whose office is
established by ordinance. This completes
the organization.
The Mayor and Aldermen of cities of the
second class receive no compensation. The
other officers receive such fees or salary IS
| the Council may determine, under certain
limitations. A poll tax not exceeding So per
| head may be Levied. The Council also
makes the tax levy for the city, which shall
| not exceed one per cent, except to pay a
| Judgment. No debt shall be incurred ex-
ceeding per cent. of the assessed valuation
of the city property. This is an outline OF
the law, which would occupy nearly page
of this paper, and which is published in the
compiled Statutes.
We believe it very desirable to incorporate,
and trust our citizens will at once take an
active interest in the matter, talk it over.
present the required petition to the Commis'
sioners and get incorporated as speedily as
possible, if it is deemed desirable. And, we
trust, there will he no politics in this mat
| ter. Let US do this thing for the general
good, as neighbors and friends interested in
| the welfare and property of our town, and
| leave politics for the county, Territorial ane
National campaigns. ~mma. m1 Al.