The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-22
WHERE THE POWER LIES.

M0Cn Oh tno ooJeGtton w eho pAo
posed new charter is directed at article
SIX which vests the practical admins
tration Of the city's business in a board
OF public works and affairs. 1t is as
sumed by many who carelessly read this
section, and do not study the other
sections of the instrument, that this
board Of public works usurps the pow
ers of the council to a great degree and
threatens to become a close corporation
or petty despotism. The enemies OF the
charter are industriously circulating the
report that the new charter proposes to
place in the hands of three mon the
power to look after the city's morals, to
issue or refuse licenses and generally to
regulate human conduct.
Now the board of public works has no
such powers delegated to it. 1t is an
executive. not a legislative body. 1t is ii
body created by the council and the
council has absolute control over it at
all times.
The powers of the city council will re-
main as great as they ever were. Artl-
Gle five of the new charter provides that
the MAYOR and common council shall
have these powers:
To make appropriations to open, alter,
abolish, widen, extend, establish. grade.
pave or otherwise improve, clean and keep
in repair streets, alleys and sidewalks, or to
have the same done, and to erect, establish
and keep in repair bridges, culserts, sew
" -. - --AA>,c, ,-l 10 nj ka ,,rrorriNflOnR
for lighting the streets. and for the erec-
ton of all buildings necessary for the use
of the city.
To license. tax and regulate auctioneers,
crocers, merchants, retailers. taverns,
brokers, coffee houses, confectioners, retail
ers of liquor, hawkers, peddlers, livery sta
BILE keepers, and all other privileges not
prohibited by the laws of the state.
To license and regulate hackney car
riaces, carts, omnibusses. wagons and
draws, and TO fix the rate to be charged for
the carriage of persons and of property
within the city, and to the public works and
property without the limits of the city.
To regulate or prohibit and suppress the
atrical or other exhibitions, shows and
a~mnsements.
To regulate or prohibit and suppress all
gambling houses, d~isorderly houses and
~erature.
To regulate, restrain or prevent the car
rylng on of manufactures dangerous in
causing or producing fires, and to prevent
and suppress the sale of firearms and car
rying of concealed weapons.
To direct the location and management
of slaughterhouses and markets. breweries,
distilleries, saloons, pawnbrokers, ETC.,
within the city limits.
These and many similar powers are
absolutely vested in the board of alder
men.
The proposed board of public works
has no authority conferred upon it to
regulate these matters. It's principal
function is the execution of the laws
which the council enacts. 1t takes
charge of the construction of public i'm
provements after they are ordered by
the council; it has control of no funds
except such as are appropriated for spe-
cific purposes by the council; it employs
the chiefs and heads of departments,
policemen. firemen, etc, but here again
the council has a check on it by fixing
the salaries of such officials and their
number.
And, finally, the city council is clothed
with power to override, suspend from
Office, or absolutely remove any or all the
members of the board of public work:
for ineficiency, misconduct Or nep'act o
duty.
In a nutshell, the board of publ,
works under the new charter will reliev'
the committees of the city council o
some OF their advisory duties and tax
upon it's own shoulders many of the de
tails of administration which the mayo
is now compelled to look after.
The benefits of a closer supervision Q
our municipal business, such as the pre-
posed board would give, are too appa1
ent for argument. The provision for it
creation is one of the best features Q
the new charter, and not a single obiec
ton that has been urged to it is base
on substantial ground.