The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-30

For the benefit Of tho few who ma
have been misled by the esteemed
Uerald's figures OF expenditures in tho
street department we submit the sub
joined communication as received last
fall by the mayor:
HELHNA, Mont, Sept. il. 1S92.-John c.
Curtin, Mayor of the City Of Helena. Dear
Sir; We. the unde,si2ned, members of the
capital committee OF the City ct Helena,
desire to lay before you tho Importance Of
Helena for tho approaching campaign as
POSSIBLE. We know of no way Of doing
this 90 vol. and In which the burdens will
be diatributsd 80 equi,ably as by putting
men voters. regardless Of politics. Al work
on tho streets. II this suggestion meets
would be ploased to have you lay the matter
before the council and make arrangements
to get IA MANY mon at work ON the streets
as possible. Az this is being asked for en-
tirely In the interests OF the capital we be-
lieve the tax payers will sustain you in
taking tho action which we suggest.
Sincerely yours
4. ". BEATTIE. A. j. SKLIaMAN.
:. L. HAusHR, Il. NJ. PARcHHN,
JoHN 4. MURPHY. A. ]. STEELE,
A. w. LYMAN. A. NJ. HOTTER.
RIcHARD LooKEy.
h letter is self-explanatory. 1t
happened that a good deal OF street
work was needed last fall and it was
thought wise to employ a large force OF
men at q time when they could help
Helena in the capital fight. The ooun-
oil SO decided and the movement was
thoroughly discussed and endorsed by
all citizens. 1t was a fight for the
town on legitimate lines and, moreover,
besides securing a large number of votes
resulted in a great deal Of improvement
on all streets where these men were
employed.
The Herald's attack on the admins
tration for this expenditure is untlmely
as we'll as groundless and without ever
a semblanoe of support. IT it did not
favor the policy, why did it not speak
out last fall? II it was saving ammunl-
ton it has found burnt powder, since i.
presents only generalities without evi-
dence that the money for this street
work was expended for other than legit-
innate ends and in a manner other than
satisfactory. It says there is no proof
that a dozen votes were gained for Hell
n by this policy. We are not pre-
pared to furnish this proof; neither are
we prepared to prove that the editor of
the Herald voted for Helena though we
feel sure that he did.
The figures show that this street work
in question was not confined to a small
number of "favorites." In one month
492 men we're employed and if there
were any "favorites" among them we
would be glad to have the Herald sub
NIT names. While the total expendi-
lures were more than twice as large as
the amount paid for similar purposes by
the former administration, several
times the number of men were en-
ployed. There has been neither extrava-
gance nor waste in the management of
the department and there are actual re-
suits to show for all money expended.
The Herald's comparison of figures is
therefore unfair and uncalled for. For
the month of October the expenses for
street work alone equalled the years ex-
penses for similar work under x-Mayor
Kleinschmidt's administration for reas-
ons explained. It is rather late in the
day for Il contemporary to attack this
procedure, but if it proposes to con-
tinue the battle, the public at least de-
mand something besides meaningless
charges Of "extravagance and waste"
Show the sources of waste and tell
where the extravaganza was and The
INDEPENDENT will be ready to reply.