The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-25
IN The WRONG COLUMN,
A Clerical Error Made It Look as If
the Charter Had
Carried.
Steps Taken to Have Main Street
Paved by Property
Owners
The Electric Railway Given Authority to
Charge Ten Cents Faro-Othsr
city Council Matters.

officer, and after a policeman had been des-
patched to silence the Salvation Army out
side, the council settled down to the trans
action Of more business than it has had
before it for a long time. Among other
things was the counting of the vote ON the
new charter, Right there came a surprise.
It was in the First ward, Second precinct.
As announced by the judges at the close of
the count on Monday that precinct gave
26 votes for the new charter and $50 against.
The clerk, in making his return, had trans
posed the two columns, making the result
read 100 for and Is against. This was evil
IDENTIFY a clerical error. but it caused a good
laugh at the expense of first Alderman
Lissner, and would indictae a majority OF
in the the city. Alderman Lissner wanted
Second precint right there. City
ATTORNEY Smith said no one had the right to
do this but the clerk of election. 1t WAS de-
cided to let the matter go over till Tonight,
when the clerk of the Second precinct will
be present to count the votes and make a
correct return.
The defeat of the new charter came up
incidentally again on q motion to place
electric lights at the corner of Harris street
and Broadway, and the corner of Winnie
avenue anu llhllUEOu 6tTcous
Lissner entered a protest. 1--WE must go a
little Slow he said. latter the warning the
people gave us in the charter election. The
council Had an o~verhauling and deserved it.
Al l said once before, let's be honest from
now on-not that We have been nipping
ANYTHING. The mayors committee gave us
a charter. 1t was voted down. I could not
stand the dictation, of that chosen commits
sion and went against it. I am glad that it
was beaten. We have no money Gu ex-
penses are heavier than people imagine. 1t
Is time to quit. l will vote for no more
water. l don't blame the citizens who
made a kick. They were perfectly right"
The lights we're ordered, nevertheless.
What Alderman Lissner called a ''sur-
prise'' was offered by him. 1t was a resolu-
ton ''that a committee of three be appoint
committee to be chosen by the Board of
Trade, for the purpose of procuring sigma
lures to a petition for the paving of Main
street from Cutler street to Helena avenue"
Alderman Lissner explained that he was
not in favor Of the paving of Main street
the then assessed valuation of $1O,OOo,0OO
was 100000. all of which was expended, and
the city could not borrow. Now the valua-
ton was $40, 0OO, 900, which allowed a debt
of 5000, 600. His idea was that if the owners
of the majority of the front feet OF Main
StreeC ASKED ZOE tne Improvement, Cne Guy
would have the money to put up for the
minority who declined to pay until the
amount could'be collected from them. He
wanted the taxpayers on Main street to pay
the expenses of the paving. 1t would not
cost as much as it would have done last
year, as the railroad company had two
tracks now and would nave to pave be-
tween. cara
Alderman Thompson said that this was a
little feather he had meant to wear in his
cap, but Lissner had carried it off.
"He's a candidate, too," said Alderman
Connolly.
The resolution was adopted and Alder
man Thompson as mayor pro tenn named
the following committee: Aldermen-Liss-
ner, Richards. Thompson; Board of Trade
H. M. Parchen, Wm. Muth, Il. H. Floyd
Jones.
The matter of allow n2 the Electric Rail
way company to raise the fare from five
two reports. The majority report was
signed by Aldermen Garrett, Hartwig,
Richards and Connolly, and granted the
company what it asked; sixteen tickets fol
a dollar, seven for so cents, and 10 cents
for single fare. The majority report said
at five cents, and had the right 10 charge II
! cents except on one short piece of road. 1t
, also recognized the fact that Colonel Broad.
, water was one of Helena's most enterpris-
ing and philosophical citizens and had
expended over SSOO,O 600 here in needed i'm
provements, and thought that the counci
should encourage enterprise and progress,
The minority report was signed by Alder
men Thompson and Hanley, and granted
the company the right to raise the fare tc
ten cents for a single trip, provided twenty
tickets were sold for a dollar and eight fol
. 50 cents.
Considerable discussion followed tn,
reading of the reports. Alderman Goa
molly believed the company knew what wa,
: to its interest. When it found that i
, could make money at five cents it woult
: make the fare at that figure. Aldermen
Dunn and Theme argued in favor of tn
minority report, and Aldermen Wilmer an,
Hartwig against it.
9-Lissner, Connolly, Garrett, Steele
g Spencer. Hartwig, Brown, Richards, an,
Wilmer; nays FThieme, Hanley, Dunn
> and Thompson. Thu c%ompany's ordinanc
was then amended on motion of Alderman
Lissner, by making the charge 80 cents 70
eight tickets. instead of seven, as wa
Is aided by the railway people. An amend
At ment BY Alderman Connolly was ais
l. adopted, resetving to the city the right t
alter or amend the ordinance at any tim
it might see proper. Alderman Connoll
wanted to strike out the part of the ordi
nance providing that the council cannc
reduce the fare until the company paws te
per cent, but there was no second to h
motion. The ordinance was then passed b
yeas 8, navs 4. The negatives were, as be-
fore, Theme, Hanley, Dunn and Thomr
son. Alderman Lissner remarked that thi
was a good chance for the mayor and b
a. veto.
1he contract for removing the CITY carl
age for one year from April l was awarde
to Peter Wier for $4,975, the lowest bic
The other bidders who accompanied the,
g. proposals with a certified check were: A
bert Davis, i 8,400; John Abel, 1888; v
10. W. Livermore, $4,000; John Blank, $500
John Clarity and Henry Hay, Jr., S5.19
VIM. Schaffer, $1,000; and Michael Quill
gan, $5,612. Several other bids were n,
accompanied by certified checks, but mol
of them were as low as the Wier bid.
Zoe Alderman Connolly presented tho iudl
ment of the district court in favor
james p. McEvily for $5,O 900 damages an
at 5000 costs. What Is the pleasure of Il
council?" asked Alderman Ihompso
1--WE haven't any pleasure" replied Aide
$50 man Connolly. 1t WIS decided to give
warrant for the amount, though Alderm,
Lissner said the jury meant cash and n,
ray discount when they gave a verdict.
The city attorney was authorized to n,
" vertise for the sale of 800, coo fundi]
bonds. They are to be disposed of on Ju
ly l. JE'
Alderman Gallagher's resignation "
received and accepted, and Il vote of than
nd rendered him for his services. Alderm,
Steele has not yet resigned, but says he
tends to on account of the pressure
Of. other business.
The application of +. f. Ward for
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