The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-25
THE BILLS WERE ALLOWED
Tho City Council Settles for tho Ex-
psnsss Of the Charter
Commission.
: Tho Recommendations OF the
Commission Are Not
Adopted.
A Short Session Held and Vary Little lBus-
insss DOns-Pfspsring for
Chinook.

All aldermen were present at last nights
meeting Of the CITY council, and In the abb
sence Of the mayor, Alderman Thompson
was called TO preside. Most Of the session
wss occupied In discussing the bills OF City
Attorney Smith and his assistant, Mr.. kel-
ssy. for services rendered tho charter com
mission. Their claims were for 900 and
$3.50 respectively. These seemed large to
the aldermen last week and by unanimous
vote IL was decided TO refer them back to
the charter commission for auditing. Tho
commission investigated the claims and
considered the services rendered. Through
Mr.. Lorey they reported TO the council that
in their judgment Mr.. Smith WAS not en-
titled to any remuneration for his legal
services, inasmuch 90 he 10 the city's coun-
sel snd receives q regular salary for his
services and they looked upon his work on the
commission ~ a part Of his duties. They
recommended. however, thHt he be allowed
500 for clerical services. They also recon-
mended that Mr.. Kelsey be allowed x2O for
his services.
In the meantime Mr.. Kelsey presented a
communication IN which he reiterated the
seryjcgs he had rendered and would cut MS
claim OF $3.50 down to $3.50. Mr.. Kelsey'g
claim was duly considered and the council
by unanimous consent allowed u.
In regard to his bill MI. Smith stated
that there was no law nor ordinance re
curing him to do that class OF work on the
commission. He did the work against his
own interests and to the neglect Of his bus
mess. He spent II great deal OF time look.
ing up questions o. 'aw ana pfepa rec
s besiSes 0' the charter aaa lie Consulted
an attorney under instructions from tho
commission, ard said the city would have
to pay that attorneys bill also, when il ~
presented. On the whole he considered his
claim very reasonable and said he charged
less b he would TO any pTiVhtS IHdivIduai
for the same work.
Alderman Lissner thought Mr.. smith
should be paid and said the council did not
need sny advice from the commission. lie
would act upon his " judgment. He
said the city paid Mr.. Clnyberg $l,NW for
ono days work in drawing. up = contract.
ale opinion; Col. Botkin WAS also paid 500
for revising the ~ordinsncss. No said Mr..
Smiths claim WAS very reasonable. A
mistake may have been made IN not max
ing 4 contract or agreement before and the
best thing to DO under the circumstances
DR.. Steele and Alderman Hartwig O
the same view. Alderman Hartwig said
the council appropriated $1,000 for legal
services alone for the charter commission.
Alderman Thompson took this Opp0rtuni-
t. TO again remind the council that he was
the first one to propose revising the charter;
but the mayor drew up q resolution which
was introduced by Lissner, by which the
mayor WAS made president of the commits
sion and three aldermen appointed. Mr..
Thompson was not appointed, though the
latter gentleman's resolution which had
been adopted required the mayor to ap.
point one member Of the council from each
ward. The mayor never appointed the gen
tIemen under Thompson's~ resolution.
Alderman Dun then criticised the mayor
and the question of allowing Mr.. Smith,
bill wss put. The ayes and noes were called
vste in the negative.
Several other small bills were allowed
including from VIM. Lorey for $2O.60
THg JHDEpgsDysT bill Was referred back t.
the auditing COMMITTEES.
II appearing to this council upon tho state
ments Of Aldermen Gallagher and Dunn
that j. II. Boucher's bill for $22.s2 for q
discount on warrants paid to him, WAS in
the nature of 4 bluff at the council and the
bill Was laid on the table. Mr.. Dunn said
Boucher WAS not entitled to il, and Gala.
CHER said Boucher would have never pre-.
Sented it had not q somewhat similar claim
been SLOWED.
1t appears that Chairman Thompson Of
the street and alley committee recently
ordered the STREET commissioner to st0T
cleaning the Main street CUTTERS. Alder
man Ljssner moved that Nr. Brady con
Time this work - il the CATERS were
blocked with snow n ice, some serious
damage might result in cellars being food.
cd, as soon as the plsyfuI chinook got in
its work.
Mr.. Thompson said he ordered the worl
stopped upon the recommendation of twG
Main street business men who thought il
was O ercst expense, had never been done
before and one of the gentlemen threat
ened to enjoin the city if j. was no
stopped. Both gentlemen were republi
cans. Mr.. Connolly thought that n pool
excuse and said many good things mad beer
done under the present democratic admin
tstration and that if republicans had 1aiiet
20 do this work that was no criterion to bt
guided by. The motion of Alderman Liss
ner carried.
The city attorney notified the council
that j. +. Newly had begun n suit TO
damages against the city for injuries re
csived last winter in falling of a Ewint
street sidewalk approaching Catholic hill
He wss paralyzed on one side ~ result
and has been and probably always will b.
an invalid. The attorney has not been abb
to and anybody familiar with ths facts
and several aldermen promised to aid hin
in his search.
The council then adjourned.
Get Runners for ably carriages at Cal