The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-11

He IL Not Seeking Either Retirement Ol
Public ONCE.
Col. A. G. Botkin i one OF those who ID
opposed to the new CITY charter. Col. Bot
kin was for four years tho legal officer OF
the CITY, and prides himself on the posses
sion of some special knowledge bearing on
the subject. incidentally it may be re-
marked that the ~colonel's name has also
been mentioned in connection with the
nomination for mayor by the republicans.
With the view of ascertaining just how he
stood on the charter question, and to see II
he had any intention OF making a fight for
the prize which, by general consent. seems
to have been awarded to Alderman John
w. Thompson, Col. Botkin was seen yester-
day. The charter question was first
broached. On this point the colonel was
somewhat chary about giving the reasons
for his objections, preferring to confne
himself to the questions which have been
discussed concerning the validity of the in
strument.
Doubts have been expressed" he said,
''about the validity Of the amended char
ter which is to be submitted to the vote Of
the people on March %. l am afraid that
it the amended city charter is ratified and
it appears thereafter that it is unlawful
much confusion will result. Taxes might
be avoided, all Improvements barred, and
infinite mischief ensue in all branches OF
the citv government. The part of wisdom
would seem to be to determine by the best
authority accessible whether the amended
charter is constitutional or would be vail
dated by any action the people might have
at an election. Mr.. John b. Clayberg, who
was a member of the charter commission,
and CITY Attorney Smith are committed to
the affirmative of this proposition. But
there are some authorities to the contrary.
1t is possible that Judge Knowles, being a
very good natured man. and n be-
fore whom no case could arise
might mn rs consent to TO give sns an e opin i
on this question. But if Judge Knowles
amiability is not equal to this task it is
suggested that the Board of Trade might
employ ex-Gov. Carpenter, E. w. Toolo, or
Judge Wade, or some other lawyer of high
authority, to aid in deciding the question.
No doubt the voters would accept such au-
thority, and possibly save the city from
great embarrassment, and especially from
the danger that an unlawful organic act
might prevent or delay improvements great
ly needed to keep the public works OF the
city in pace with the large individual inl-
provements we are confidently looking
for
care you likely to be a candidate for the
mayoralty nomination. %colonel?"
''Well, so far there has not been devel-
oped any wild popular enthusiasm that
would seem to make me a candidate. 1t
requires a large amount of public spirit for
a man to accept such duties. There are
certain conditions now existing III the
finances of the city which make it proba-
BILE that the next mayor, if he should per-
form his duty, would cut off all abuses,
dispense with unnecessary offices, and make
a progressive and economical administrs-
ton in which the money of the people
should be paid not for salaries or perqui-
sites, but for practical and needed improve
ments. Such an officer would probably
have occasion to find retirement for q long
term of years. l am not seeking either Of
fee or retirement"