The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-21
WILL THE CHARTER PASS2
IT Is Hard to Say, But Here Are
Different Prophecies Con-
corning the Result.
It win Probably Be Beaten in
the First and Sixth
Wards
The Majority Of the Other Wards Arc
Quite Likely to Favor the
Charter.

The charter mercury has one up and
down since the report of the commission.
It went up, then down, and Is now again on
the rise. If the citizens interested In the
| adoption of the charter will do a little
! rustling they will have more than an even
chance of winning. The opposition is not
80 active as is generally believed, though
they are doing tho most work. For an
stance, it has been asserted that the charter
will be beaten five to one in b Sixth ward.
This will not happen, though It will prob
ABLY be defeated in that ward unless some
thing is done to prevent it.
Alerman Theme says that there may be
a sufficient change of sentiment In a Few
DAYS to cArry the charter through. He hnds
it is not generally understood, but when
it's provisions are explained many doubters
change their views in favor of the proposed
measure. He believes that good active
work would Go much toward increasing the
vote in favor. The vote will probably be
LIGHT because the citizens of the ward
generally are not showing much interest IN
the subject, Alderman Theme is heartily
in favor Of the charter which he believes
| will work to the great advantage OF the
| citv. He is doing What he can to have 1t
adopted. The opposition is led by George
! Hall. Alderman Hauley. +. D.. luony ana
others. If the charter fails in the Sixth the
majority will be small.
Tn First ward is likely TO vote aRainst ~;
| Alderman Lissner is working against 1t ana
the FOUNDERS and gamblers will probably
fall in with him to some extent. The bet
ter people will vote for it..
Alderman Garrett, who favors the charter
! because it is an Improvement on the
present system, says that the vote In the
second will be close, with the chances IN
| favor of adoption. He earnestly hopes that
the charter will be adopted: /,
Alderman Billy Hartwig is against 1t and
saws the Third ward will knock it out two
to one, District Attorney Nolan, on the
other hand, says it will be carried IN the
ward by a good round majority and he be-
lieves it will be adopted by the city.
Landlord Ed. Zimmerman says it will &c
through in the Fourth with a big whoop.
He is heartily in favor of it for 1t means
progress for Helena.
It is pretty generally conceded that the
Fifth ward will give a handsome majority
Ex-Alderman John Worth is doubtful
about the Seventh but thinks it will vote
against it. Other residents of the ward say
it will 20 through.
This is about the situation. The First
and Sixth wards will reject it, and the indl.
I ~ okO UAoV VAAo VAO "A NOs
than stand these of. 1t is q difficult mat
ter to prophecy the result because party
lines will not be drawn and the results Of
previous elections are of no value In esti-
mating the result on Monday.
Who Oppose the New Charter. ~,
To the Editor: From the writer's OBJ
servation, the opposition to the neWhchar
ter comes from two classes or groups
First. The large property owners who arr
afraid to invest their money in improving
the streets of Helena. Second. The "ins,'
their allies and subs. It is simple justice
to say that many of the largest proport!
owners are hearty supporters of the new
charter. The working men and the masse
are to be greatly benefited by its adoption
by extensive city improvements, largely a
the expense of those who are best able Il
foot the bills md consequent private build
ing and improvements. There is an outer,
on the part of some because the owners O
property must pay three-fourths of cost o
street improvements in front of their prop
r erty; in st. Paul and many other progress
3 sive cities property owners pay it all. A
. to the board of public works being an oh
+ iectionable feature, the writer esteems i
. Just the reverse; he believes a board o
public works would haye saved the city a
8 least $4,000 in clean cash in the past tv
years.
+ He came from a city which has had
a board of public works for many years, be
9 ing put into power when the city was n
larger than Helena, and it has been so sue
cesaful that the city would not think q
abolishing that body. Said city now has
population of twice that of Helena and ha
had this board much longer than Nashville
Tenn, and since its installation jobs an
taints of fraud are almost unknown, The
feature is the head of the corner or kew
D stone in our new charter. 1t is better {
elect all aldsgmen at large than ell b
wards, but Malt and half might hav
j, pleased more voters. Our city has been q
u sea without mast or rudder long enough
let us adopt the new charter and give it
fair trial; it can be amended if necessar,
Turn out honest voters and give it you
hearty support. PROGRESS.
Concerningsth Law.
Editor INDEPENDENT: Concerning or
section of the new charter there can be bl
n one construction. Section II of article
:, states that latter any certificate of tax,
has been delivered by the city clerk to IL
city treasurer, the courts of this state sha
g not entertain any suit to enjoin or prevel
:, the collection of said tax"
nh LIZ r