The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-06
The City Council Accepts His Propo-
sition and Gives Him Money
for Nothing.
A Windy War Of Words the
Feature Of the Special
Session.
An Investigating Committee Appointed
to Examine City Affairs-Lissner's
Amusing Remark.

The city council met in special session
last evening principally to consider the
case of G. N. Miller, ex-city engineer.
When the roll was called Mayor Bradford
ana all the aldermen except Hanley were
present. Lee Word acted az clerk in place
OF Il. 8. Smith, who was unavoidably alb
sent. After the minutes Of the last meet
ing were read and approved the mayor
called for the committees report on G. N.
Miller's case. II will be remembered that
Mr.. Miller claimed to have contract with
the city that would not expire until August.
Mr.. Miller, however, anxious to get out of
town, offered to compromise with the city
by accepting $612.5O in full of all claims
and relinquish his contract, this being a
reduction of $75 per month from May until
August. The committee acting under the
opinion of City Attorney Smith, recon-
mended that the proposition of Mr.. Miller
be tabled: This started a lively dis
cussion. Alderman Dunn moved that
brought at least six aldermen to their feet
ards, Theme and Thompson. The latter
was recognized by the mayor. Mr.. Thomp-
son was loaded for ''bar" evidently and
stepping into the center of the room began
kAs
which he referred to the minutes of 1888,
which to him were unintelligible. He said
the office of city engineer had never been
created, nor did the city ever enter into a
contract with Mr.. Miller and that it was
his opinion that Mr.. Miller was not entitled
to any consideration from the council. The
motion to reject the committees report car
ried by vote of to6.
ID: Steele would only consent to paying
MI. Miller the amount claimed to be due
him. providing he remained in the city and
rendered services for the same. He was
opposed to paying out money for nothing.
tract. Meantime Alderman Hanley ap-
peared and an effort was made to reconsider
the vote by which the report was rejected.
Alderman Connolly then took the floor and
held it for about twenty minutes. Nearly
every aldermen then had his little say.
There was considerable disorder, with mo-
floor, and amidst the confusion Lissner
kept up call for Mr.. Botkin to speak. The
OK city attorney made clear statement of
the case and was of the opinion that the
essence OF the agreement with Mr.. Miller
and the old council was a contract. After
considerable more talk Alderman Thomp-
son went back on his former agreement and
moved that the council accept Miller's pro-
position and draw warrant for $612.5O.
This was put and carried amidst more con-
fusion. When it came to adopting the ordi-
ance Aldermen Connolly and Hanley were
the only may" voters and the matter was
finally and effectually disposed of. But
who, realizing that Mr.. Miller would proba-
bly, leave the country in few days, asked
him if he thought he did right in using
cement pipe in the lateral sewers instead OF
the clay. Mr.. Miller said he thought so,
and Alderman Lissner said that Miller was
not responsible for the quality of pipe used,
but the alderman from the Seventh has his
own opinion of the matter.
communication from Mr.. Botkin re-
suited in the adoption of a resolution to
have printed 200 copies of the revised city
ordinances.
Several petitions relative to regulating
sidewalks on Rodney street and Broadway
were appropriately referred.
The bond of T. j. Cronin as city marshal,
with j. G. Curtin and Jacob Loeb as sure
ties, was accepted.
son, Garrett and Connolly committee to
investigate the accounts of the city for the
past two years. At the previous meeting an
ordinance appropriating not to exceed
I'll ,OOO, was adopted for this purpose. An
other discussion followed on this point and
for the first time in many moons politics
creeped into the council proceedings. The
republican members, excepting Wilmer and
Thompson favored having the investigating
committee go back and examine the books
for the past six years, and Richards was
willing to appropriate another $1,000 for
the purpose. Alderman Lissner was opposed
to investigating and created some amuse-
ment by saying, Gentlemen, let us be
honest from now on"
The six year proposition was defeated by
vote OF to and the council adjourned.