The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-22

Inc city council resumed Its laDCf6 OF re.
vising the city ordinances last evening, in
committee of the whole, all aldermen pres
ent except Alderman Hartwig, and the
mayor. President Steele occupied the
chair.
Street exhibitions are licensed at 80 per
day.
No change is made in the license of the
atrical, opera or concert entertainments,
which is IS per day. or $75 per month.
Public pedestrians, wrestling or sparring
exhibitions will pay $25 per day.
Every wheel-of-fortune 500 per day.
The next clause was that of gambling,
and here quito discussion arose. Alder.
man Wilmer moved to increase the quarter
ly license from $40 to $25 and from $40 per
month for each table to $25 per
month. Alderman Thompson hearth
~ seconded this and made quite
a. speech condemning gambling and
vice in every form, and thought it shame
that SO much gambling should exist in this
community. He was not there to say how
many nameless graves nor how many wild
ows had been made by men losing their all
at gambling.
Alderman Lissner strongly opposed any
tinkering with the gamblers. He said he
gambled once in while aud he was not the
only one. While he believed it was an evil,
he said it was one that will always last. He
thought that if the legislature could not
prohibit gambling it was not within the
power of the city to do so. He then told
the amount of license the gambling houses
of this city pay, which he said is 5000 per
year, and said they were the principal con-
tributors to the city treasury .S If gambling
on Main street, he said, and business men
would not endorse the scheme of doing
away with gambling.
Alderman Thompson referring to the in
ability of the legislature to do away with
gambling, said that the money power often
our legislatures were unsusceptible of its
influence. He realized that gambling will
exist, but he wanted the Glow, dirty dives
driven out by placing such liccnce on them
that they could not afford to pay. He did
not object to respectable gambling house,
pay we'll for the maintenance OF an evil,
and he doubted very much that grass would
grow on upper Main street if gambling was
abolished. 1t should at least be put on the
second floor and not be an eye-sore and dis
grace to respectable people. He said bust
ness men on Bridge street near Main could
not secure their just share of the trade be-
cause ladies would not walk up and down
past these gambling dives, the sidewalks in
front being usually crowded with loafers
| ne WOUlU always raise Ills VOlC0 anu VOGo
against any vice.
Alderman Connolly then grew very elo-
quent, asserting that no one more than he
was against gambling, but he considered
it impossible to put it down at this time.
Alderman Lissner then said that every
preacher of this city who located prospect
and began to sell wild CATS" Alderman
Thompson did not like this kind of talk
and rose to point of order. The chair
man told MI. Lissner he could proceed, but
should avoid any personalities.
Alderman Wilmer then called for the
question on the amendment, which included
poker tables. The ayes and nays were called
for and the amendment was lost by the
following vote:
Ayes-Brown, Richards, Wilmer, Dunn,
Thompson-5.
Nays-Lissner. Connolly. Garrett, Steele,
Spencer, Gallagher, Theme, Hanley-S.
The question then recurring upon the
adoption of the section as read, which leaves
the ordinance unchanged was adopted by
q the following vote:
T Ayes-Lissner, Connolly, Garrett, Steele,
Spencer, Brown, Gallagher, Richards.
} Theme. Hanley, Dunn-11.
!. Nays-Witmer. Thompson-2.
This ended the gambling debate and ii
, was victory for the gamblers.
Other sections of the license chapter were
adopted and some changes made. The cir
Gus regulations now stand, for circus and
, menagerie combined, $50 for the first day
and $75 for each subsequent day; circus
and menagerie separate, or any show under
a canvas, $50 per day, and $25 for each sub.
sequent day.
t Express companies express lines anc
. stage lines are not licensed, and the insur
, ance agents license was stricken out.
The draymen of the city expressed de
2 sire to be licensed and were accommodated
:. with license of 81 per year.
8 Hereafter the called or volunteer fremer
: will receive yearly salary of $l20. 1t wal
;, formerly $50.
Spencer wanted the fire marshals salar,
Q reduced, and Wilmer thought $75 PEI
s month sufficient. After some discussion
}; motion to reconsider the vote by which tn
= salary was made 1925 per month, was lost
Wilmer alone voting in the affirmative.
Alderman Richards than presented a pc
tition setting forth the facts that transpire,
in connection with the street railwa
= wrangle, asking the council to designat
. the route it shall pursue on Main street.
As the matter is now in the courts, Alder
man Thompson moved to lay the petition
r upon the table and this was carried.
: An ordinance was passed transferring
money from the general fund to the sink
ing fund, 5000, to pay interest on sewer
age bonds now in New York. Adjourned.
al