The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-09
CITY NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Charter Commission Work Soon TO
be Presented TO the Tax
payers.
Record OF the Helena Relief Com
mittee in Assisting the
City Poor.
Since Its Organization the COMMITTEES Has
Afforded Help to Over Two Hun
dred Families.

The citizens Of Helena will soon have an
opportunity to become more familiar with
the work of the city charter commission.
the members Of the legislature Wednesday,
when an informal discussion Of the various
features OF the new charter will be had. BY
that time the charter will be in printed
form and copies of it will be distributed 80
that all may become acquainted with the
different provisions proposed. Several
members of the commission who talked
about their work yesterday we're not dis.
posed to say a great deal regarding the re-
suit of their labors. They express the
opinion that the proper time for criticism
and suggestion will be after the charter is
printed and placed in the hands OF the tax
payers. Much study has been given to the
charters OF large cities by the commission
and it is believed that they awe adopted
the best features Of all. There
has been considerable talk regarding tho
board Of public works. Mr.. T.. d. Edgerton
is not in favor of such a system. He takes
the view that such a board is not needed in
Helena at present. Another objection he
makes is that it 10 too expensive. Too
much authority is also given the members
of the board. In the matter of opening
new streets he contends that the board has
full control. This is something which he
does not favor. II the board were governed
by personal feeling, the power would be in
their hands to do harm. Mr.. Edgerton
said that he had not thoroughly investi-
gated the charter and his views had been
expressed of hand. On the question of
electing aldermen at large he had no hest
tation in saying that he was heartily in ia
vor of it. He believed it to be the proper
way to secure representative city govern
ment. Mr.. J. Il. Murphy, a member of the
commission, ia strongly in favor of the i'm
provements contemplated by the charter.
He has given a great deal of study to the
subject and is probably one Of the best in
formed members. Mr.. Murphy would not
undertake to anticipate any criticism upon
the labors OF the commission. When the
charter is before the people in its complete
form he will be prepared to express his
views more fully. Mr.. W. A. C%hessman,
another member Of the commission, took
much the same position as Mr.. Murphy.
From time to.time, for several years past,
notices OF the regular meetings of the Hell
ena Relief committee have appeared in the
daily papers, and in order that the origin,
organization and work of this committee
may be more fully understood, the follow
ing statement is made. On February 2,
1887. Hon. Z. II. Kleinschmidt, then mayor
of Helena, influenced by the unusual
amount of restitution in our midst,
through the daily papers, designated two
ladies from each of the several wards of the
city, requesting them to meet the following
day and confer with him rs to ways and
means of collecting and distributing
among the destitute provisions. clothing,
etc. The ladies kindly responded to this
call of the mayor, and as the result, the
Woman's Relief committee was formed.
Mrs. Chas Rumley was president, Mrs. r.
D.. Fisk, secretary, and Mrs. Cornelius
Hedges, treasurer. This was the beg ginning
of organized relief work in Helena. Within
a month over $500 had been collected and
expended for provisions and fuel, which with
a large amount of clothing gathered from
various households, was distributed among
the destitute and suffering. From the date
of organization to the present over 200
families have received help after being Wis
tied and found worthy of receiving aid, and
many other cases nave been investigated
and help refused for sufficient reasons. II
addition to discriminating relief work
among the needy, homes have been in some
cases procured for children. The COM
mlttee solicit no funds now and secure no
aid from the city, but are frequently pleased
by receiving contributions from some gen.
erous friend of the poor. The Thanksgiv-
ingcollections of our churches are from year
to year kindly given them for distribution,
and the orders of Knights of Pythias and
the Excelsior lodge of Odd Fellows have
generously aided them by contributions.
From time to time a member of the com
mittee has felt compelled to withdraw
from the work, bnt others have taken their
places. Mrs. August Fack, of the First and
Mrs. John w. Thompson. of the
Seventh wards, have recently been
added to the committee. At the annual
meeting Feb. I'd. Mrs, Hedges, who has
been the efficient treasurer for four years,
having disbursed during that time over
twenty-fi ve hundred dollars. to the regret
of the ladies. withdrew from further work
with them. AT this meeting Mrs. Chas.
Rumley, a faithful and untiring worker,
and president for four years, was unani-
mously retained in that position. Mrs. Il.
u. Fisk. secretary until a year past, and to
whose efficiency in that position and un-
firing efforts in all.work undertaken, much
that has been accomplished ID due, was
elected treasurer, and Mrs. Atkinson was
retained as secretary. This is a brief re-
view of the work don largely by aid fur
nished by the commissioners of our county.
Helena needs a we'll organized cystem of
charities. If any doubt let them visit the
poorer parts of our city and they will doubt
no longer.
The Mouse Trap.
The members of the Altar guild will pro-
A. nh-.-