The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-07
WINDING UP THE CHARTER
The Work About Completed and q
Final Revision Will by
Made To-Day.
A Synopsis of the Important New
Features In the
Document
Opposition 10 Heard In Many Quarters
ElectinG Aldermen at Large
strong Objection.

The Charter commission has about com
pleted its labors, and to-day the third read.
ing and final revision of the document will
take place. 1t is earnestly requested that
all member be present. The meeting il
called for two o'clock. Messrs. Smith,
Stedman and Murphy have been appointed
a committee to provide for having the
charter printed in the form of a bill, 90 as
to expedite its consideration before the leg
islature.
The matter Of paying for street improve
ments by the property owners who will be-
come liable for any street grading or open
ing done in the vicinity of their property
has been arranged like this: The board of
public works shall fix the sum. The city
treasurer will be notified. That official will
inform the property owner of the action of
the board within five days. The property
owner will have thirty days in which to
settle. Should he fail to do this, then the
amount will be made a special tax against
the property, to be collected as provided by
law.
The provisions of the old charter relating
to elections, registration, sewerage, water
supply and public Improvements were
adopted without change. The charter as
revised contains about fifty of type.
written copy, or about eleven columns of
The INDEPENDENT. The members of the
commission are satisfied that they have
compiled one Of the best charters ever
framed. There are a good many people in
the city, however, who do not think so.
The objections heard on the street are not
confined to any u topic. Thu plan of
e~lecting aldermen at large meets with the
most disapproval. Others say a board Of
public works and affairs is not necessary.
The question of expense is one of the ser
ious objections to having this board. An
other objection arises from the method of
street improvement-1ot the doing of street
work, but the method of paying for it.
Some claim the people should be allowed
from five to ten years to pay for theis work,
and would favor a proposition to issue
bonds on the abutting property benefited
by the street work.
Alderman Lissner has not attended the
meetings of the commission since he left
them the third day of their sitting. He is
opposed to meddling with the old charter
for a few years yet, but would have it
amended to reach present emergencies.
The commission has not one anything pro-
vioing for issuing bonds. 1t is understood
to cover this point. The material changes
the old to the new charter are as fol-
The new provides for a board of public
%orks 70 &C CONSIST n OF tnree memners, 10 pc
e eoIie4 ny sne S;sy coun aaI a ea mthoa,sy
eo"h - he p ".n : eaan. - = a;@ 1ua
e sac n neloe ". ~ 10 % selecoeu 1lom d ulnei-
"ara. me memeers snall nave 'ne
anuo ~ ~ ~ posi'iv !. es
10 ioquifeu o. .ne etgc'lVe oin lsa 70 aneLl
sa,aay WIN Plouap, 70 pS'oov eacn'
pea annu, ILL fh1 p etIt ol sne Gi.y eoyI
I hana en', VIZ ,ai' w W I IN oDala' aney VIII
nase iuil coa.rol u 'he pollce' nre, sewer.
sGn 1 ensiaee. AM s.reeo uePai'nleh.s
49, w." aph;ne " soes - nesNohLei, 4.
noi;cs and j. p' dano ~ nao ~ ;naueosnaume
irno ~ y NV LIZ ~ uop".s onS' Anspsc.oi - =.
m .nknao a,a III measuaes anu pu..uinss' 10y
Ratoaso u ~ osner Son'tacss' reserve any
t ~ ~ up ~ pe.s;,oms' anu ~ face WI, at'eh ~
w. al 'n n business ai.l ne;e'oiofe iei' 10 'ne
" 1yy "a ~ nas Ivy oounvH.
.;dn.e ~ tha ~ pe.a.ions hot oeint coh.
s sio me petitioner MI may appeal to the
Ivy - oouno,l. ane ooatu WIN SUOMI ~
VI nnn ~ piopiiasilH mohey ~ eAGess
" 9oo ~ W. couacll LOT l.s approval. lne
Guy coenc,l Is RESPONSIBLE Tor all tne &C,
elems VI 'ne Doaiu OF PUBIC ", wo y ano
a a a punu ~ tne sum OF 1lo,Voo - re-
qu nna u eacn lnenoel OF tne Doaro.
,ine heaG cnahHe y Tue !lmlt OF TAX levy.
,Min'ali nas oeen nAeu a. nine ana ohe-nal1