The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-03-14
MASS MEETING.
A Meeting in Which the City Hall Matter
was Warmly Discussed Pro and Con.

A Meeting in Which the City Hall Matter
was Warmly Discussed Pro and Con.
On Monday night last large crowd
of citizens gathered at the city hall and
listened to the discussions regarding the
city hall now in course of erection.
All the councilmen were present and
promptly at half past seven the mayor
called the meeting to order. He stated
that the special meeting had been called
at the request of taxpayers, committee
| of whom would make a pro ,osition to
| the council regarding the legality of the
5000 bonds soon to be issued. He
said that the council had never sat with
closed doors and every citizen had been
invited to come to the meetings of the
council. The councilmen were all in
terested in the city's welfare and the
matter Of city hall had occupied their
| time and attention for the past year.
The councilmen were simply servants of
the people and would it have been more
than right for those who felt aggrieved
over this matter to have attended the
meetings of the council and there stated
their grievances. The mayor then pro-
ceeded to give a full history of city
building from its inception up to the
present time.
Nelson Story said as one of the citizens
he did not come to critise the city coun.
Gil. Said he was in favor of the city hall
and the site ; but wanted to come to an
agreed understanding of the interpreta-
ton of the law. He thought that the
congressional law under which this mat.
ter came had not been understood, the
territorial law was as crude as the city
ordinances. The territorial law said that
the bonded Indebtedness should not be
over per cent, consequently the bonds
had Deen illegally voted as the amount
was $9,OO0 over . per cent. And under
the congressional act the city was in
debt more than the law allowed. Story
said there were three questions he want
ed to see decided before the bonds were
offered for sale. First, had the congress.
sional law been fulfilled? Second, had
the charter been followed? And thirdly,
had the last law regarding municipal
elections been followed?
F. X. Armstrong said that he would
speak in behalf of certain citizens who
had asked him TO do so. He did not
come to express legal opinion regarding
the question. Mr.. Armstrong then
| quoted the laws referred to and thought
that II an error had been made a good
time to correct it would be at the pre-
sent time.
D. c. Campbell. the city attorney, then
gave his Interpretation of the law and
said that he had given great deal of
study to the matter and thought that
the council had proceeded under his adj
vice in legal manner, giving his rea
sons at at length for such an opinion
Mr.. Armstrong said he mead no reflec.
tions to make on the city council or con.
gress. He thought that the council
should make assurance doubly sure in
this instance; but if they were sure they
were right then, go ahead.
Aid. Hoffman said that the council
had deliberated on the matter and he
thought It would be poor policy 10
"squawk" now. Parties who buy bonds
have the best lawyers and they make no
mistakes. He said that the time. would
soon be here when the bonds would be
offered for sale and if they were refused
no harm would be done on the other
hand if they waited until decision from
the courts was rendered the work would
be delayed. He was in favor of going
ahead.
Story said he was bond buyer and + e
would like TO see the case submitted to
the courts.
| Aid. Highsmith said that the council
had acted on the best light they had and
he for one was satisfied that they were
right. He for one had no compromise
to make.
Aid. Hite moved to adjourn. Lost.
Aid. Anderson said that the council
should not act SO obstinate. He for one
did not know whether he was right or
not and would like to see an agreed case
submitted to the courts.
Mr.. Tilton said that Mr.. Story wanted
the council to have the matter decided
for his benefit.
Aid. Hoffman said that thoss who
were dissatisfied could get an opioion by
serving an injunction on the work.
Aid. Meadow said that the council
could get any number of opinions like
Mr.. Story's. They had the opinion of
their attorney and he for one proposed
to abide by it.
After several other wordy tilts at the
close of which the crowd applaude,l
every one who spoke in favor Of going
ahead with the building as had been
done, and observed a death-like silence
when it was argued that the best thing
to do would be to submit the matter to
the courts for adjudication, Aid. Hoff.
man moved that the following motion
be acted upon: "Shall the Council join
with the committee Of citizens and sub
nit this case to the courts" The pro-
position was voted down. Aid. Anderson
being the only one voting for it.
| A Sheepman Speaks.
The CHRONICLE asked large sheel
owner the other day if he was dissatis