The Helena independent., 1892-12-28
NO REDUCTION ORDERED.
The City Council Takes no Action
on the Elimination of
Offices.
All the Committees Report Their
Subjects Without Recon-
mendation.
City Attorney MoIntirs Litigation In
which the City Is Involved -
Other Council Proceedings.

Other Council proceedings.
The matter Of reducing the number Of
city officers or the pay OF some of them.
formed tho principal business before the
city council last night. The matter came
up on the report of the various committees
who were called on to consider the PROPOSE
tions embraced in Alderman Wieber's reso-
luton of the previous meeting. Nothing,
however. was accomplished looking to any
changes. Aldermen Harrity and Post.
from the committee on public buildings, to
whom was referred that portion Of the res
olntion relating to the advisability of dis
pensing with the services or reducing the
salary of the building inspector, reported
that lowing to the great Importance OF this
office, which can be better realized by
competent mechanic your committee has
given the matter more than ordinary con-
sidsration, weighing we'll. carefully and
in detail the duties of said office.
The city of Butte, with an
area of one square mile. popula-
tion of 10. 700 IN 1891. employs building in
spector and two assistants. the former re-
ceiving as compensation 81, 700 per annum.
Helena has an area of nine square miles, ac'
credited with population of ID, 800 in 1891.
The building inspector has no assistant,
and In addition to the duties ordinarily
performed by such officer in other cities.
the building inspector of Helena is required
TO regularly inspect ali elevators in the city
and to SUI ervise the construction of plumb
ing. The Importance of the last two mem
toned duties alone Ia in itself sufficient to
discourage the suggestion Of making any
changes in this department. Your COM
mittee is further possessed OF the belief
that ii is not in accordance with the die.
tates of a majority Of this council, that per-
sons having faithfully performed their re-
speotive duties during the summer season
should be unceremoniously retired at this
time of the year. We therefore would pre-
fer to have the matter discussed by the
council as whole, and with this eud in
view refer it back without recommends
tion.'
Alderman Weber offered minority re-
port, favoring continuing the Office, but
with the salary reduced to $500 year. The
majority report was adopted by yeas 10,
nays 2 (Fuller and Wieber); absent (Mor-
ris and Collins)
Aldermen Hundley and Hanley, of ths
WAYS and means committee, to whom was
referred the matter of dispensing With the
services of the inspector of milk and food
during the winter months, reported that
the duties of the office. when zsalously and
fully performed, are apparently necessary,
at least the greater por tion of she year; but
that whether or not it is wise economy to
discontinue the office temporarily during
the winter months. the committee are not
quite at liberty to say without ther dis
cussion and investigation. ! he committee
referred the matter back to the council as
whole, for such action as may be deemed
proper. Alderman Fuller said ono good
turn deserved another, 80 he moved to re-
fer the matter back to the committee. This
motion was lost and the report received
and placed ON file.
The police committee asked for further
time to consider the matter of reducing the
police force, and it was granted.
After other business had been disposed
of, the report regarding ths milk inspector
was taken up for discussion. Drs. w. III.
Billiard and s. @. Baldwin and Col. c. ID.
Curtis, the board of health, were present.
DIR. Bullard spoke of the Importance of the
Office of milk and food inspector, especially
at this time of year. when there was SO
much temptation to feed COWS on swill. He
also referred to the excellent sanitary con-
dition in which the board of health had
gotten the CITY, with death rate smaller,
in pror rortion to population, than any other
city on earth. Col. Curtis also spoke of the
duties of the board of health. and said that,
if they were not doing their duty, the mem
bers were willing to resign. Several of the
aldermen disclaimed any idea of attacking
the board of health. which was not even
mentioned in the resolution calling for the
reduction of the city Offices When there
was some prospect of the council getting
into a wrangle over the Misunderstanding
of the purport of the resolution. Alderman
Hundley moved that further discussion be
indefinitely postponed. This motion was
adopted. which practically retains the milk
and food inspector as at present.
report from the board of health was
received, calling attention to the fact that
the duties of the city marshal prevented
him discovering all the nuisanoes which
ought to be abated. The report suggested
that the duties of the marshal in eonnec.
tion with nuisanoes and the removal OF
gar rbage be transferred to the board of
health. 1t was found that the ordinances
already put the marshal under the direc-
tion of the board of health in such matters,
and this discovery was accepted as happy
solution of the whole problem.
City Attorney McIntyre reported that in
the case of Richard Jockey va. James B.
Walker, as city treasurer, he had issued
execution for $30.55 costs incurred by the
city in the district and supreme courts,
which amount had been recovered and paid
into the city treasury. Tho city attorney
referred to the suit of A. Fl. Nelson, who
and breaking his leg on Col. Sanders side
walk. At the last meeting Of the council
the matter had been referred TO a select
committee with q view of having an AMIGA
ble settlement. The city attorney says the
bringing of suit in court relieves the coun-
Gil of any responsibility ON the question of
a settlement, as there is nothing left now
but to fight the case. which Will be done.
The ordinance regarding theater licenses
wRs amended to read "Theatrfcal exhibi-
tons, opera or concert singers, minstrels.
slight of hand performances, !sgerdemain,
and any other public entertainments held in
a permanent theater or place of amuse-
ment. which closes before midnight not
herein otherwise mentioned So per day or
$25 per month" The former rrice was S5
per each performance. or S75 per month.
The council decided to allow Fireman
Elliott of the Sixth ward company, his pay
during the time he was disabled in the dis
charge of his duties.
On motion of Alderman Fuller the street
commissioner was instructed TO begin at
once removing the mud and dirt from Main
street.
The use of the auditorium was granted
the inauguration ball committee.