The Helena independent., 1892-04-01
them with thsir families. loft the city be-

canse theto WAS no work for them. Had
the mayor kept ~ close watch Of the city'a
finances AZ he does 0f his own, and 0t the
private interasts committed TO his care.
there would be more people In Helena to-
day, less discontont among tho latoring
men, and more business for Tho merchants.
but hims was running tho police depart
mont, 10 was given fres reign, and u was
ming the street department.; and no was
supposed TO ba doing IL In anch manner ag
to pave the way for the mayors
denomination and re-election. He was
supreme, and he did as no
pleased without regard to resolutions Of
the council, the authority Of tbs chairman
o. the street and alley committee O. the de-
siras OF the taxpayers and property owners.
Ihs money was spent but II did not 20 to
pay tho lRborinR men.
1t has always been the feeling In Helena
that when the city made expenditures in
the way Of employing labor, work should
bs given to ~ many people a. pos,
resldsnts OF this city who own wagon and
team of horses, and on these thsy depend
for the support OF themselves and fam
lilies. Thers has not bssn great deal OF
private work for these teams this year, and
in consequence there was an excellent OPP
portunity for ths mayor and the street COM
missioner to do the right thing. Did they
do it2 Ask Alderman Morris, who requested
Commissioner Klnge il he had use for q
team to give Mrs. John Lamy show. Mr..
Kluge refused to heed the request, but
there was work for his own teams. The
hia salary $125. This is 81, 500 year. Lot
the men who depend on their wagons and
teams for living for themselves and fami-
lies, and who have not enrneu enough the
past winter to pay for horse feed and stable
rent, 90 over the city warrants. and they
Ill fr~I fNAi X 1rr
has received more from ths city treasury
for the work done by his teams on the
streets than his salary has amounted to.
Kluge carried the First ward primaries
fer Mr.. Klsinsehmidt. He ID in joint com-
mand with Sims and Graham Of the admin
istration forces, and his reward will be, ii
Mr.. Kleinschmidt is reelected, reap
pointment with salary OF $1,000 yoar,
and work for his teams in preference to
all others. 4as
Treasurer Walker has made NO explann-
tion or excuse for his failure to file with the
city clerk the quarterly reports required by
the city charter. The Taxpayers have the
right to demand these reports, as they have
also the right to know what il being done
with the money they pay for the support OF
the city government When the city treas
urer prepares hia answer to the above ques-
ton, he oan at the same time. answer the
following querls. propoundea . nd by Richard ,an.
4AOOAoy, LAAOukA eAo DaiJ Oout-
nal. In that paper Mr.. Jockey made the
folle wing statements, and every business
man in town knows them to DO true:
Tho city treasurer began collecting
taxes in November, believe; BY the first
Of January last nearly all the taxes had
been collected, amounting at the time, am
advised, 80 about $17O,O0O, nearly $40, 600 o1
which WIS received in CITY warrants, leav-
ing in his hands about $130,O0O cash. It ID
safe to say that this money has been on
hand fully one and one-half months, while
warrants that should have been redeemed
have been drawing interest at the rate Of
seven per cent per annum, and seven per
cent per annum for one and one-halt
months on $13O0OO amounts to just
$1,1S7.5O, which it has cost th'
CITY to Keep this money lying in some
body's bank, and which interest the
taxpayers are necessarily called upon te
pay. Occasionally banks allow four pei
cent on balances; the query is, do they Dc
SO in this instance? / insist that thii
ST, 1877. 80 should have been saved by the re-
demption Of warrants as rapidly as money
was taken in. The above sum does not in
clude amounts received for lioengss ant
from othsr sources. Notwithstan ding tht
1 fact that this amount of money has beer
on hand, the city treasurer he's advertised
additional warrants for sale. What excuse
have the city officers for this delay in pay
1 ing out the money?"