The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-24
We ARE NOW FULLY II
The City Council Decides to Put Up
$4,000 Public Library
Building.
Not a Protest Raised by a Citi-
. or by Any of the
Aldermen.

Aldermen.
City Warrants and No Time VIII
10 Lost-Other Matters.
When the city council was called to ordel
last night every available sant in the lobb,
was filled by people Interested in the audi,
forum proposition. Mayor Kleinschmid,
was not present, being confined to his home
by an attack of intiammatory rheumatism
Alderman Fuller therefore presided. Aftel
some other business had been disposed oil
United States District Attorney II. d
Weed was called on to present tbs PROPOSE
ton of the meeting held at the Board OF
Trade rooms. He said that to avoid any
legal POINTS the council was asked to make
an appropriation for a public library build
ing. The city was paying 81, 800 for the use
of library quarters, besides rental for room.
for the school trustees and o%ficer1. Thu
proposition was to have the city borrow the
money to erect the building. Tho interest
would not amount to as much az the rent.
ais now paid. He read the petition, signed
by over 1900 people, representing 81 pc.
cent of the large Taxpayers of the city.
Only eight or ten had refused to sign, and
Of them not one had liberality enough
to engage a lawyer to get out injunction
proceedings. Outside of the business view
Of the matter, he believed the building
would be worth 100000 in cold cash to
the city whom finished. AS to the legality
OF issuing warrants in payment for the
building. several contractors had announced
their Willingness to accept these warrants
and take their chances. The only one who
seriously objected to the proposition was
James L. Perkins. who, Mr.. Weed assumed,
would not b. generous enough to hire a
lawyer to fight it. The enterprise and
liberality Of the city was for it.
Alderman Thompson offered the follow
ing preambles and resolutions:
Whereas, It appears to the satisfaction of
the city council of the city of Helena.
Mont, that Q public library building and
assembly or lecture room connected there
with, for the use and convenience of the
city of Helena and its citizens and tax
payers, is necessary and needful; and
Whereas. There does not exist within the
city any suitable building adapted for such
uses; and
Whereas, Nearly 1000 citizens and tax
payers Of the city Of Helena have p~etitioned
the mayor and city council to take imme-
diate steps to provide and maintain a
public library building and lecture room;
therefore
Resolved, That the city council of the
city Of Helena hereby declares that a pub
nected Herewith is necessary and needful
for the use of the city and citizens Of Hell
ena; and
Resolved, That the COMMITTEES on public
buildings of the city council be, and are
hereby instructed to advertise for plans
and specifications for such .ublic library
building and lecture room. to cost not ex-
ceeding $25,O0O completed, the same to be
presented to an adjourned meeting of the
city council to be held on Friday evening,
Feb. 26, at 1880 O'Clock, and
Resolved, That the committees OF ways
and means and Judiciary be and are hereby
instructed to present a report at the afore-
said meeting as 70 the best plan to be
adopted by the city in the assumption of
the cost thereof, and
Resolved. That all competitive plans sub
mitted be on tracing cloth, in black ink,
with specifications defining same.
Remarks were made in favor of the prop
osition by Ex-Alderman William Harrison,
j. w. Kinslev, H. M. Parchen, Richard
Jockey, K. Fl. Howey, Aldermen Thomp-
son, Morris, L1saner and Hartwig. During
his remarks MI: Jockey agreed not to kick
assessed" Mayor pro tenn Fuller ex-
planned why some Of the aldermen had
been somewhat dubious about issuing
bonds. 1t was because the law allowing
cities to create indebtedness required
twenty days notice of the election, and
four weeks advertisement for the sale of
the bonds: This would require fifty days.
Attorney Weed explained that the contrac-
tors were willing to take the CITY warrants
and Alderman Thompson said if 100 men
would obligate themselves for $3.50 each it
would protect the bondsmen. Acting
MAYOR Fuller stated that his only reason
for reading the law was to explain why
there was some doubt about issuing bonds
in time. Ex-Alderman Harrison said also
that with electric lights, work neither be-
gun with sun. up nor ended with sunset, but
lasted twenty-four hours. In that way
work on the building could e, on day and
were unanimously adopted by an aye and
nay vote amid loud applause. It was de-
decided to meet again Friday to consider
the plans.
The judiciary committee made their re.
port in regard to the bills of the Herald
for 5000. and of the Journal for $27b. for
publishing the delinquent tax list. Tbs
committee found that the Herald's bill was
duly authorized and the amount charged
was the legal ratio according to the law.
The Journals publication. tho committee
found. was sanctioned by the city t,easu1er,
according to the existing ordinance giving
him the right to publish the list in one or
more pape.s. Both bills were ordered paid
by the city council.
The expense of condemning property for
the opening Of Lawrence street was reported
as $26, Gso. IS, of which the city pays IS, $685.
81, and the pa1ties benefited $17,767. II.
Ordinances for the condemnation were re-
ferred with instructions to report them
back as soon as possible.
The report of the fire committee, handed
IN some weeks ago. recommending the pur-
chase Of n hose wagon, horses and harness
TOR the Seventh ward hose house was taken
~. The council authorized the COMMITTEES
TO purchase the articles needed.
Or. .. Il. DoRge, through a lawyer in Salt
AXE City. asked $50 for his services us OK
pert IN the Schaetzle case, and assigned
he same to his children. The council al
owed the claim, it being the same given
Or. W. L. Steele and DIR. j. Is. Atchison for
services.
The ordinance extending the time for the
completion of the Rapid Transit railway
rom Mnr0h I A., T,,lr I .,--