The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-28
WILL NOT PAY ANY RENT.
Alderman Reeee Says That Is the
Determination Of the Lii
brary Trustees.
Tho Public Building Committee
Recommend $50 a Month and
Other Charges.
A Conference VIII He Hold on the Mat
ter-wo oden Sidewalks on Main
Street.-The Assessment.

Al the regular meeting of the city coun-
oil last night the committee on public
buildings made the following report on the
matter of charging rent for the free public
library. and heating the auditorium: "On
behalf of the city We agreed to place under
the auditorium a complete heating plant,
supplied by two boilers. each Of n twenty
fivs-horae power. We also agreed to charge
them S6O per month rent, based upon the
interest of $4,000 worth of seven per cent
bonds, the estimated cost of the library
part of the auditorium. The trustees Of
the free public library agree TO pay the
engineer, ~ianitor. all bills for light. fuel
and other sundry items of expense con-
neoted with the heating and lighting OF the
library. They also agree to furnish all the
heas required for the auditorium and CITY
otfce free of charge. This arrangement
will place the heating OF the entire build
ing under the supervision of the public
library. The city will pay for ianitor's
service and light required for the auditor
Jun only"
Alderman Reece said that he was author
lied TO state OF behalf of the president and
the majority of the board of trustees that
they woul refuse to pay any rent for the
auditorium quarters. He did not think the
city could legally collect it. The commit
tee had not conferred with any of the
trustees except Secretary Hedges, and as
several of them were absent, he moved that
the matter be postponed until she .tuil
board could be heard from. He said the
expenses of the library would be very high.
on account of fitting up the new quarters,
- r. 49,. -.-- ---L~-, xro~IS ,4al all
the money obtained by the levy of taxes
for that purpose. The matter was post
poned. In reply so an inquiry, the city at
torney said he thought 1T was perfectly
proper for the city to charge rent for the
library. A conference will he held between
the library trustees and the committees on
library and public buildings.
City Engineer Keerl called attention to
the condition of the sidewalks on Main
street. from Sixth TO Heleua avenue, some
of which. since the paving, are either a foot
or more above or below the established
grade. The property owners there sent a
petition to the council asking permission to
relay the present sidewalks with planks, ex-
cept in front of permanent improvements.
he permission was granted, with the I'M
derstandinR that the plank sidewalks are
not to remain down more THAI TWO years.
Ex-Alderman John w. Thompson stated
to the council that he and the First National
bank and the Rapid Transit company had
contracted to pave Grand street. from Main
to Jackson, and wanted a permanent grade
established before beginning work. The
CITY engineer was directed to furnish q
grade.
The committee on sewerage reported in
favor of eight-inch sewers on Harrison and
Monroe avenues. with flush tanks. at a cost
of 81, $50, the work to be done under the
supervision of the city engineer, and not by
contract.
Ordinances were passed to cancel all war
rants not called for or delivered one year
from issue; perfecting the opening of Law
renee street; transferring $1,000 from the
general fund to the fire fund.
The committee on ordinances reported
unfavorably on the proposition to transfer
from the city clerk to the board of health
the registration of births and deaths. The
report was adopted.
The city marshal was instructed to en-
force the ordinance relative to fast driving
of vehicles and undue speed of railway cars
i'll the city limits.
The council resolved itself into a board
of equalization, when Alderman Fuller
raised the point q to the legality of the
assessment as copied by the city treasurer
from the books OF the county assessor. He
said the ordinance required suitable blanks
to be furnished the taxpayers. on which to
make returns of their property. Richard
Jockey had raised the point in his suit to
enioin the city from collecting taxes from
him, that he had not been served with these
blanks. Formerly these blanks were sent
out, but for a few years past the assessment
had been copied from the county books.
City Attorney McIntire said the Jockey
suit was now in the supreme court, Judge
Buck. of the district court, having decided
in the city's favor. AS the treasurer de-
sired time to send out notices to property
owners as to their assessment, the council.
as a board of equalization, decided to ad-
lourn until Friday night. Oct. Z, to hear
appeals. The city treasurer presented a
bill for $500 for making the assessment for
1892. 1t was referred to the ways and
means committee.