The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-10
The Council Devotes Much or its
Time TO Him and His
Affairs.
Bills for Publishing the Delinquent
Tax List Referred to
Committee.
Moving for n Convention Building En- xin-
Ger Rseder Denies the Guthrie Charge
Missouri River Power Co., etc.

AtCoHtlON 70 4 COMMUNICATION III tA0 Ilol0uh
Journal Of Sunday. which he characterized
az n slur upon the council. Every citizen
had that right which belonged to an
American, to kick. But when he charged
carslessness md extravaganza and the next
thing to fraud. the mayor thought the best
thing for him to do was to some before the
council and ask a committee of invsstiga-
ton. 1hs mayor thought the affairs Of the
city had been very economically ndminis-
tered. Tho article he referred to changed
among other things TINT the city treasurer
had kept funds in 4 bank instead of paying
warrants, and had thereby lost considerable
interest. He suggested that the committee
ON ways and means investigate and report
IN the city finances.
Alderman Thompson said the committee
on ways and means hoped in a short tim
to DO able to furnish q report showing that
this administration was no moro sxtrava-
CANT than any other administration Lock
ey's kicking p~ropensities were we'll known
and Mr.. Thompson's idea WAS that the man
who kept his mouth shut caught no flies.
It would be best to make no reply, he
thought. Jockey seemed to be the only
one who had q grievance against tho city
treasurer. Others paid considerable taxes
and made no kick. The best plan would be
TO elect the proper kind Of county treasurer,
for there all this blame lay. The city treas
ursr only duplicated the county assessment,
which he had a right, to do.
Alderman Lissner wished the city had
about 500 such kickers as Jockey. For
himself he didn't see why this city should
keep $780, 600 lying idle in bank and not
pay the city warrants. Jockey had given
his opinion and Alderman Lissner said he
was Sin with it."
City Clerk and Attorney Craven reported
that the city had been enjoined in the suit
of Richard Jockey, from selling that gem
tleman's property On unpaid taxes. He
had examined into the matter and thought
the city had a good case. yet he would like
to have authority, in conjunction with the
mayor, to employ an attorney to assist him
in case it ahould be found necessary. Mr..
Craven explained his motives for making
tho request. some lawyers objected to hav-
ing assistance forged on them. as Z retlec-
handle the case himself, he wanted the
council to understand that he would not
feel it was a reflection on him should it be
found necessary to engage some one to help
the city attorney. Mayor. Kleinschmidt
said the city attorney had the case we'll in
uhHus l/Ab ~ u ~ uNAO A0NVvCA 90
there was a serious question az to whether
the city had u right to seize and sell prop
erty for taxes. 1t might be necessary to
engage another attorney to assist, but if it
should be, hs (the mayor) would be con
suited, ana if the lawyers fee was too high
the city clerk and attorney was adopted.
Among the bills presented were those of
the Herald for 5000 for publishing the de-
linquont tax list Of the city, and of the
Journal for 1894. 80, of which S275 was for
publishing the Same list. Alderman Steele
principle of ito tbs victors belong the
spoils'' was firmly imbeddedG on American
Eolitic1, but he was not in the council. TO
manufacture spoils for the vlotors. He did
not soc why the list should be published in
two papers. II the council wanted the vic
which victor it WAS to 20 to. He did not
think the city was benefited one cent by
publishing the list in two papers. The city
treasurer had told him that the Herald was
selected Alderman Steele said he had no
warmer feeling for one paper than for the
bill than the Hetald's, as the city would
save nearly S4o0. He moved to refer the
Journals bill so the judiciary committee.
Alderman Wilmer wanted to know il the
committee on printing had authorized the
journal to print the list. Alderman Wiebsr
bhlN II IlutlA COku011UkS0 uAu III Jukl4-
diction as the law gave the atty treasurer
the right to select one or more papers. Al
derman THOMPSON said he understood that
satisfactory arrangements had been made
between the publishers Of the Journal and
the city treasurer. If ths bill was to BE- re-
amount go to tho same committee. Hs had
hoped that tbs bills would 80 through with
out any discussion, ss the comparison
would not reflect much credit on ono of the
papers,. The council, by unanimous vote,
referred both bills to the judiciary commit
tee. Alderman Thompson gave notice that
he would Introduce an ordinance to advsr-
tise for bids for everything hereafter-feed
for the fire department., blaoksmithing for
the engine houses and street commissioner,
printing. etc. He believed in consistency.
Supreme Master Workman ]. VI. Kinsley,
of the Ancisnt Order Of gnited' Workmen,
appeared before the council to urgs the
Importance OF providing q suitable meeting
placs for the convention of that order and
that of the sons of Veterans, az we'll as
the mining congress, all of which are to be
held in Helena this summer. Mr.. kinsley
said the council was nc doubt aware of the
three big meetings. Those int. ested in
the gatherings we're all making special of.
forts to secure q large assomblage.. The
order he rep: osonted expected to have from
5000 to 5000 people present. Tit Sons of
Veterans would have nbout the same. The
mining ongre would also be large. There
was no permanent place for such o%rgRniza-
tions TO meet in. There had been some
talk to the effect that arrangements might
be made by which the city council and the
school board could put up u suitable build
ing, which would he useful for similar oc-
casions in the future. He was surprised to
lind that tbs matter had mover been fol-
mally before the council. His OBJ
Jeot was not to commit the
council to any particular line, as he did not
know himself what was best to DO done. But
there must be " Htarting point. A building
capable of accommodating 1,500 people
would be large enough. Mr.. Kinslcy
thought a good wny to start would be to ap-
point a committee to consider the matter,
confer with the representatives, of the Or
CARNATIONS affected, and see if tho CITY
could consistently take any steps. Ii it
was contemplated TO put up a building. it
would be only four months before his or
ganization met. and this was not u long
time. Mayor Kleinachlnidt and Aldermen
Lissncr, Steele, Fnller, Morris, Wilmer,
Harrity and Thompson were appointed q
committee to consider the matter. The
mayor stated that the more he thought of
IT the more important the subject appeared.
The affairs of the coming summer were of
grent Importance to the city. Everybody
reach those interested. Tbs llborally in
not liberal would not. The masses would
not contribute, A fsw would pay for it all.
II the council found the city could nppro.
might be that thpy could do something TO
nrnyiHa fnr fp ~ ra n n 81 1.