The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-16
CHANGING The SYSTEM
Shall the City or the Property Owners
Pay for Local Improvements.
Mayor Walton Favors the Proposed
Ordinance and Thinks II High
Time the City Adopted
His Plan.

BY the Standards Special Wire.
BUTTE, May 15.-Probably no city ordi.
nance that has been introduced in many
months is OF as much general moment as
the n introduced last night, and re.
ferred to the judiciary committee. The
ordinanc will be acted upon at the next
meeting and prior To that time should he
carefully considered by property owners
and the aldermen. The matter is worthy of
discussion, being on the question whether
street improvements shall hereafter he
taxed to the property benefited or to the
whole city.
For years these improvements have
been taxed to the entire city, but Mayor
Walton has proposed "a change and the
ordinance is in accordance with his sug-
g%estions. The argument used i'm OPPOSE
ton is that IL Is unjust for property own
ers who have shared the expense of inn
proving other parts OF the city now To be
compelled TO stand the entire expense of
improving their own part. Mayor Vail
ton said to-day:
no excuse why il should continue
wrong. The best thing is to get on the
right track as soon as possible. l believe
the ordinance will pass and / believe il
will commend itself to the good sense of
the great majority of citizens"
In order that the citizens may fully
understand the proposed ordinance, its
text in full is given below:
J., The city council may cause any street or
any part Of any street to be graded, paved, ma
cldamized or otherwise improved, or any side
walk or gutter TO be- built upon the same, being
ordered 10y u two-thirds vote OF the city council.
.: For the purpose of 80 improving any street
or building or repairing any sidewalk or gutter
lected upon the lots, tracts or parcels OF ground
ON part OF street improved or on the side
thereof where such sidewalk or gutter is built,
and upon the owners thereof q tax sufficient
10 pay the expenses Of constructing such i'm
prorement as ordered opposite such property TO
the center OF the street, or such proportion
assessable To such property, II they shall think
the whole ought not to be assessed, In. which
ease the remainder shall be paid from the city
for the entire cost Of the repairs In front Of the
property assessed. IL any tax levied under this
section shall prove insufficient Ia pay the cost or
proportion thereof assessed 10 such property, the
city council may levy AN additional tax thereon
10 make good slch deficiency.
J. Immediately upon the completion Of any i'm
p%Toyements or repairs upon any street or a part
thereof AS provided IN the preceding sections Of
this ordinance, the city council shall by ordin.
ance assess and levy the cost thereof as provided
In section 2, making in such ordinance a list q (
the property levied upon, 10 which shall be de
scrlbed every lot or parcel Of land levied upon with
the name OF the owners thereof set opposite. Al
any time within ~ days after the passage Of such
ordinance any party liable may pay. such Tax TO
the city treasurer. At the end OF said
period Of ~ days all sand taxes
remaining unpaid shall be certified
by the city clerk 10 the county clerk, and such
taxes be placed upon the general assessment
roll Of the county against the persons liable and
shall he collected 10y the county treasurer with
other taxes, and all such taxes and assessments
shall be "A lien upon the property upon which
they are assessed.
4. Whenever the city council shall order any
Improvement made upon any street, or part
thereof, they shall cause the work 10 he done
under contract In writing, and To that end shall
advertise for bids upon such specifications as
may be- filed In the office Of the city clerk,
from persons desiring Ia contract with the
city, Such bids shall be filed with the city
clerk, and shall he opened and inspected at a
meeting Of the council, and the contract shall lie
awarded 10 the lowest responsible bidder, who
shall give bonds Ia be- approved 10y the mayor
and city attorney, conditioned for the faithful
performance OF all work contracted To lie per-
formed and TO indemnify and save harmless the
city In any suit for damages arising by the act,
direct or Indirect, Of such contractor IN the per-
formance OF his contracts.
). Any person owning property where i'm
proyemcnts are Ia he made, rs herein before
mentioned, may make such improvements re-
pnired 10y the city council within 10 days after
the same are ordered. II done and performed In
accordance with the ordinances Of the city and
the orders and directions Of the street commits
sipnpr.