The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-30
The Commission Holds . Long
Session Working Upon Its
Preparation
The Proceedings 1t This Time
are Only Preliminary to
Future LaborA.
A Board of Publso Works and tho Elsc.
tion Of Aldermen at Large Favor
ably Considered.

mission held two sessions-from four
to six p. m. and Tao TO IL. Measrs.
William Iorey, J. II. Boucher and M. q.
DDbsrtson, delegates from the Trades and
Labor assembly, appeared with credentials
from the secretary pro tenn OF that body,
and Mayor Bradford, as chairman OF the
charter commission, appointed them ne
members. The others pseesat were John
r. Murphy. w. A. Chessman, 9. K. Wells,
John Stednlan, Robt. b. Smith, Mayor
Bradford, Aldermen Lissner, Theme and
Gallagher. The only absent members were
II. H. Floyd-Jones and DR.. G.. X. Cole.
After the minutes Of the previous day
were read the reading OF the present city
charter was requested and City Attorney
Smith read it throughout. This occupied
most Of the time of the afternoon session.
Its reading section by section was then be-
gun, ont before the adoption of any portion
Of it Mr.. Stedman moved, and it was car
ried, that the privilege to amend or recon
slider any section, hereafter, would be per-
missable.
It was generally understood among the
members that the p proslng. adopting OF
amending of any section at this time would
~ la IOt&l DO AAAA04 VkAnU y
or article WIS pissed upon would still re-
main open for discussion and that anything
lone now wal only to obtain the sense OF
the commission as to what it proposes to do.
In view of this, the public will therefore
notice that any report of the proceedings OF
the commission at this time is not to be re-
garded as final, but a review Of their work
will be gived that the people of Helena may
know what the commission is doing.
Upon the second reading of the old char
ter the first clause was amended to show a
continuance of the corporation OF Helena
as a body polite, and the word "state' was
inserted in lieu of the word territory"
whsSagN it occurred.
The Question of whether the commission
proposed forming an entirely new charter,
or Of amending the old one to suit the ext
gencies of the city, was brought up, and it
was decided by vote that the commission
wouia petition the Legislature to re-enact a
new charter for Helena.
The Nashville charter, which may be
said to outline Mr.. Mufphy's theory of
municipal government, was referred to and
many Of its provisions will be enacted in
the Helena charter. Section 2, describing
the boundaries of the city, was left undis-
by giving the city power to sell or dispose
of lands and property of the city, a
power which the old charter does not pro-
vide for. Article !. was adopted.
The afternoon session then concluded,
just after employing Mr.. Kelsey as clerk of
the old charter was again taken up.
After u good deal or discussion the ques-
ton of what shall constitute the council
came up. The Nashville charter WAS again
referred to, and the ACCESSIBILITY of creating
n board of public works was favorably CON
sidered and adopted by a unanimous vote.
The creation of this board and it's relation
to the council was read from the Nashville
charter. According to the vote, section l
of article III. will read: There shall be a
city council to consist of a mayor, board
of aldermen and board Of public works."
1t was also carried by a majority that two
aldermen should be selected from each
ward to serve two years. and that they shall
be elected by the people at large. IT will
be arranged, however, that the holdover
aldermen of the present council shall con-
tinue in Office until their terms expire. Ac-
cording to this system seven aldermen will
be elected annually. It was the sense of
elective city officers, such Us treasurer and
police magistrate, should be elected to
serve for two years. An annual election
will occur, however, to elect seven
aldermen. This method Of electinR
aldermen at large was discussed at length.
as his reason that should an alderman from
any ward fai! to receive the support of his
district, and should be elected BY the votes
of some other ward, that he would be very
liable to neglect his ward. The qualifca-
ton of mayor and aldermen for office was
changed in each case to require them to have
resided in the city at least " years imme-
of settling election contests of all officers,
as we'll AS judging of the qualifications Of
council. Section Z was LETT uns
disturbed, which relates to attendance
OF members, and quorum. Section eight,
providing for tile punishment of aldermen.
was amended so as to give the body power
to expel a member by a two-thirds vote for
malfeasance in Office. Section ten, which
applies to filling vacancies, created quite a
debate. 1t was amended finally by author
izlng the council to elect q member from
the ward in which the vacancy occurred,
thereby avoiding the expense of holding a
general election, which it was estimated
would cost the city about $1,000. The
matter OF taking the oath Of office was
easily settled by adding to the present law
IN the charter requiring the officer to sup
port the constitution and laws of the state;
and it was decided that all oficers-ap.
pointiye and eleotive-shonld subscribe 10
the oath. Ties in elections will be settled
by lot, and the commission decided that
the council should hold twenty four stated
meetings II each year.
Article ILL.,, respecting the election, quail
hcation, VACANCY, tie and contest of the
office OF mayor. was quickly passed upon.
Ihe only material change is, that in the
event OF a vacancy the president OF the
shall act until the next annual cleo
ton, when q new mayor shall be chosen.
1t was on article ~. of elections that
the commission struck a snng. There was
a diversity. of views and opinions as to what
should and should not be elective Offices.
The only offices upon which there was no
dispute were mayor, treasurer, police mag
istrate and aldermen. Some said the
city attorney should be elected.
Mayor Bradford held that nc competent
man could be secured for that position. He
favored electing a city prosecutor who
should attend to the petty cases in the
police court, and to have the mayor appoint
a moro eminent limb OF the law as counsel
Tor, who would se chief adviser of the city
and would attend to legal business
of the city in the higher courts. Mr.. Lis
ner said that only ~pettifoggers would rnn
for the Office IL made elective. Before this
point was settled upon Mr. Boucher said the
city marshal should be elected, also the
street commissioner He was reminded,
however, that the board of public works
would attend to the duties of the street COM
and would appoint a street
or superintendent. .Then / say
let us elect the board OF public works."
continued MIR. Boucher. Again the
charter was recoursed to
and it distinctly provides that the coun-
oil shall appoint the board Of public works.
MIR. stedman thought that wonld leave the
members of the board creatures OF a probnh-
y corrupt council. Msssrs. Murphy and