The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-28
THEY WANT LESS TAXES.
A Protest Made to tho Council
Against tho Assessment Of
City Property.
Richard Lockey Says There II
Likelihood Of the People
Resisting.
The Matter ~ Unlform Grades On Built-Up
Strsets-Othsr Businaas Be
fore the Council.

Tho matter of the assessment WAS brought
TO tho attention of the city council last
night. Richard Jockey was given permits
sion TO address the council on the subject
Of city taxation. He wanted TO know II tho
council could not devise some means by
which a proper assessment could be made;
otherwise. tho city might ind itself with
ont funds; many taxpayers would bind
themselves together to resist and refuse
payment of taxes. They would let their
property go into the market for failure to
pay taxes and no one would buy 1t in. Tn
county assessment was q fraud, unequal
and unjust. There had been no city a..
ssssmsnt. II WAS simply a copy Of . book,
and a book OF outrageous. mistakes. 1t was
hurting business and keeping away intend
ing purchasers. The oitizens were deter
mined to have a mass meeting. employ
counsel, and find ont what could be Iona.
Mayor Kleinschmidt said it was common
talk that the assessment was unequal. The
city council was in better shape to handle
the matter than the county commissioner.
who had adjourned. He suggested that the
matter be referred to the committee on
taxes and Licenses to look into the matter
and rec whore injustice has been done and
suggest a remedy.
City Treasurer Walker defended his
course in following the county assessment.
He said the last legislature had passed q
law allowing incorporated cities to take asa
basis the assessment of the county and
state. He admitted that there were mis-
takes in the assessment; he never saw one
that was perfect. He had made many re-
duotions himself. There might still be
ment was legal.
On motion Of Alderman Thompson, the
matter was referred to the committee on
taxes and licenses.
The question of establishing q street
grade that will be permanent and on which
people can build without danger of having
to change with each administration, occu-
pied much of the time Of the council. II
came up on the proposition Of David Morris
to raise his sidewalk four inches, and for
John r. Watson to lower his three inches
in front of his new building on Main street.
opposite Edwards street. 1t was brought
out during tho discussion that the Morris
building had been put up on tho grade
given by q former city engineer. That of
John r. Watson had been built on the
grade given by the present engineer. The
Watson building is considerably higher
than that Of the Morris building. Alder
man Thompson objected to the
property owners below the Watson
building having to raise their sidewalks.
The city engineer At the time the buildings
were put mp had given q grade which the
property owners had conformsd to-. II
would be an injustice to max them 60 to
the expense of changing now. City Engl-
neer Reeder said that while the Watson
sidewalk ware higher than the adjoining
!, grade. Alderman Steele took the same
grounds az Alderman Thompson. II would
be unjust to make people raise their side
walks after having built on the grade given
BY the CITY engineer. II they were too low
coslum," exclaimed the alderman. The
matter was referred to the city engineer and
tho following special COMMITTEES: Alder
men Lissnsr, Steele. Fuller. Gamer, Wit
mer, Harrity and Thompson. Alderman
Thompson also wanted to know who was to
street to conform to the projecting covers
OF the new sewer openings. The mayor in
formed him that tho city ordinance re-
quired the sidewalks to BIO Of a certain
width, which would bring them out to the
line of the sewer coverings.
An ordinance was reported from COM
mittee for the appointment Of an inspector
of weights and measures. He is to be ap-
pointed about January l and July ]. and Is
expected to do his work in about two weeks
each time. Owners OF public scales are to
do the weighing of coal and Measuring OF
wood, and furnish the purchaser with a
certificate. The council had something of
a struggle fixing tho fees that the pom
sumner has to pay the weigher. The ordi-
nanoe as reported fixed tho fees for weigh
49,. 49, - 49, I1---. I1-1& A--@--
less, five cents; ton, fifteen cents; two tons,
twenty-five cents; and ten cents for each
additional ton. For measuring wood:
Half cord, five cents; cord, 15 cents: cord
to cord and a half, 20 cents; cord and a halt
to two cords. 25 cents; two cords, 80 cents;
These figures were changed to tho follow
ing: Coal OF hay, less than a ton, Is cents;
ton or over, rs csnts; wood, less than cord,
Is cents; cord or less than two, 20 cents;
two and over 25 cents. The ordinance was
then sent back to the committee to be on
crossed.
A bill for $57.20 was presented by the
committee on Accounts without reoommsn-
dalton. II was for board and lodging of
Policeman Grogan n wife from Oct. 8 to
Got. 22, while the officer was lying wound-
ed at the house of Mrs. K. g. Carpenter.
Mayor Kleinschmidt said that while the
city was not legally bound to pay the
money, yet it was 4 proper bill to allow, AZ
the officer had been wounded while in dis.
charge of his duties and had dropped at
the door Of Mrs. Carpenters house, whore
he had been taken in. The matter was re-
ferred back to the police committes, who
reported in favor of allowing Mrs. Carpen-
ter the bill.
The committee on judiciary submitted
their report on the ordinance for opening
Lawrence street. They found some mis-
takes in the original ordinance in the de-
scription of property. and corrected them.
The ordinance as perfected was passed by
yeas II, nays l (LiGsner). Alderman
Thompson, who came in later, was allowed
to record hia vote in favor Of it. 7
A resolution offered by the committee on
accounting was adopted. 1t il to the effect
that before my payment il made for ma
terial furnished or work done for the city,
the contractor must furnish the city clerk
satisfactory evidence that all claims for
which liens can be fled have been satisfied.
Mayor Kleinschmidt nominated DIR. W.
IA. Billiard for the Office of inspector of
s"ilI and food, and he was confirmed unan-
7mourly.
A communication was received complain
ing OF negligence in tho matter of collect
ing the special street tax, some people never
having been waited on at all. 1t was re-
ftrred to tho street commissioning
i" The committee on building permits re-
ported in favor Of allowing A. NJ. Hotter
TO erect a one-stoty structure ON Main
street, between tho Bailey and Gold blocks.
Adopted.
The committee on sewerage recommended
that Work on tho Harriaon nvenua uewcr bc