The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-01-05
TOWN TATTLE IN BUTTE
How the City Proposes to License the
Houses of Il -Fame.
The rirst Proposition Would Have In
creased the CITY Attorneys Fees by
About 100000 - Hear-Ths
Marie Rtgel Case.
Special Correspondence Of the standard.

Special Correspondence Of the Standard.
BUTTE, Jan. At seems to be- the im-
preston Of quite "a number of people in
Butte that il is the intention of the city
council in the ordinance that has been
drawn up for its consideration to drive
from the city the houses of ill-fame and
their inmates. This is far from being the
case. The object of the city council is
purely mcrcenary and the object is not to
diminish or restrict the social evil, hut
So far as known, vice will continue in the
same open form as heretofore, but the
deni.ens of Galena street will
privilege OF Conducting their nefa-
rious traffic. So far as known, there
these women tn prevent them from rob-
bling foolish visitors and there will not
many of shisc class who are charged with
robbery. Doubtless one-tenth of the
cases where men are relieved OF their
concert halls are never brought to the
notice of the police. There is little or no
complaint is made. In the instances
where complaints have been made and
arrests followed; the Prosecution almost
the man usually being backed by no wit
nesses. Marie Rigel is the only one
against whom an Indictment. of this ma
ture stands, aud but for the fact that the
amount she stole ran mp into the thous-
ands, she would likely have escaped with
the rest. She is not yet convicted, al
though four months have passed since the
robbery was committed, nor has Jubaih-
willie recovered his money.
The prostitutes of Butte will not he
licensed directly, but Indirectly. They
will be fined each month. The original
plan was tn have each of them arrested,
arraigned in police court, and fined So and
costs il they pleaded guilty. This plan
would have given the city attorney attor-
ney am income nearly equal To that of the
president of the United States. There are
estimated 70 be SOD of the class OF women
the city attorneys fee IL 81 for every con-
viction, the tot ii amount of the revenue
60 the city attorney would be S4s,ooo. from
this class of criminals alone, while the
revenue to the city from the same class ut
IS Il ne each would he $4,000.
The city fathers have been quietly con-
sidcring this matter aud have decided not
TO make the arrests unless necessary. The
plan now d. that the city marshal shall
each mouth visit each of the women and
demand $40 for each house of Ili-famc and
fused. arrests will be made aud the
women will have to pay the costs as well
upwaris to- the various city officials. 1,
is likely. therefore, that the a~dvisability OF
paying the fines without the arrest will DE
seen by those Immediately concerned.
In consequence of the new city orii-
nance, there are prospects of an increase
in the number of rpbbcrics in Galena
The women will doubtless see To il thai
their m ,uthly bank accounts do not suhci
from the fine. IL would be advisable tt
accused of relieving men of their poke
books, merely as an example.
Meanwhile the hurdy house runs night,
and deGes the law. After a two or three
days hullabaloo the excitement and right
eous indignation against this place seen
to have subsidized as suddenly as il arose
blowing over like many. other similar
waves of popular emotion in Butte. The
police say they are as anxious as ever Il
hound the proprietors of the hurdy hors'
out of business, but that the delay hai
beer delayed in drawing up "A complain
against them. IT County Attorney Bald
win has not had time in fiye weeks L
draw up a complaint against Massey, tia
is sufficient proof that he needs al
assistant and he should have ON
prietors of the hurdy house should not b
louger allowed to snap Their fingers at III
city marshal, the county a'sJ TORN ,ns p Pc
them and the entire people OF Butte. !
was on the night OF November 70 tina
rested.
A quiet agitation was begun in favor q
government building for Butte. Much q
the dissatisfaction over the present pos
office arrangements is due to the fact tina
nnstai bnsiness of In" city. The u,iarter
are crowded in addition To the small nun
Der of assistants. change Will Lave I
be made soon, and when "a change Is mati
il is hoped to move into n goverumer
building. to be erected lower in the tow
than the unhlndy present location OF I'll
postoffice. The government bulluin
would also Accommodate the Unite
States court room, and offices of intcrns
evenne, etc.
One entering the Combination gamhiin
house about = o'clock on IA morning
this season of the year will find in the re;
of the house about n score of individua
'~sprawled on the hoor, i'm the corners,
various attitudes of repose. Some nj
drunk, some are tranps and some al
broke after bucking the tiger. This niorl
ing 16 of them were curled about ii
stoves i'm the building. Most of the
were lying with their heads on their arm
while some rested their heads on ii
abdomens of sleeping companions. Or
was doubled up in the wood box.
A man who has lived ten years i'm Bur
has earned the right to be called an o
resident. One of them said y esterday:
speaking about this cold weather.. "
ought to have been here in 1Ss2. Th
was the first year of the Utah q Northe,
road. and we had to burn cans OF {
under the engines to- thaw out the pipe
The thermometer was % degrees beio
zero.