The Helena independent., 1893-08-23
NEARLY CUT IN HAL YES.
What the Petitions Presented to
the City Council Ask as
Reductions
Employees Get In a Count ter Pro
position to Accept Warrants
for Pay.
The Latter Is Accepted and tho Form 9,
! Is Sent to n Special Com mittee Of
Five Aldermen.

The meeting Of the city council last nigh.
was devoted almost entirely to the matter
OF reducing municipal expenses. Three Pc
tisions asking for sweeping reductions were
handed in through tho ways and means
committee. Alderman Hundley, chairman
OF ways and means. said the committee had
nothing else to present. Alderman Fuller.
another member of the committee, eX-
planned that tho petitions were not q report
from the committee. but were presented by
request of the citizens committee. The
petitions were all alike and read rs follows:
10 the Honorable Mayor and City Coun-
oily OF the city OF Helena. Montana: Your
pesitioners citizens and taxpayers OF the
city OF Helena. respectfully represent:
That the present financial stringency de-
mands at the hands OF municipal bodies the
closest economy In the management and
conduct OF public affairs. to tho end that
the burdens of municipal indebted NJ ess
may not be increased. and that taxes may.
II possible. be lessened; and il this be not
possible. that tho public expen nditures shall
fall rs near As possible within the limits OF
the public revenues. In harmony with this
sentiment committee appointed by a
meeting of citizens has made painsta king
ana Impartial investigation Of the affairs
OF our city. and in this work the committee
has been aided by the committee on ways
and means OF your honorable body. As a
result OF this investigate Is is believed
that the expenses of the city government
may be largely curtailed without in any
material degree affecting the efficient and
proper conduct of municipal affairs.
Your petitioners therefore respectfully
pray your honorable body to make such
| general reduction in the expenditures of
tho oity as from time to time may seem
best. and particularly pray that salaries
and expenditures may be reduced without
delay "s follows to-wit.: Reduce the salary
Sl25 per month. Reduce the sala ' Of city
marshal from $166. .G6 per month to Sl35
per month. Reauoe the salary of street
corn commissioner from $l25 per month to
Sl0o per month. Reduce the salary of fire
marshal from S12b to 800 per month Rs
per month to $50 per month. Reduce the
salary of jailor from 800 per month 10 $50
per month. Reduce the salaries of police
| mon from 800 per month to $65 per m onth.
Reduce the salary of CITY clerk and attor-
nev from $3.50 per month to Sl25 per
month,
| We also recommend that the following
ohioes be abolished. to-wit: Inspector OF
| milk and food now drawing a salary of 1915
per month: sanitary office now drawing a
salary OF 800 por month; city engineer
now drawing salary of 1925 PEI month;
500 per month. We also recon mend that
the duties heretofore performed by the
| sanitary officer be added to the duties of
| the City marshal md street commissioner.
We also recommend that the duties per-
! tanning to the office of city engineer be per-
formed by the present assistant of that
office. at salary of 1915 per month. We
also recommend that the expenses of main
tanning the fire stations of the Fifth and
Seventh wards be reduced to the minimum:
| and II In the opinion of your honorabl
body the volunteer force of firemen be suf-
| fioient for the proper service at those sta
tions that all other expense attending the
same be abolished. We also rscommend
that the Office of poundmAster be abol-
issued. and that the duties pertaining to
that office be performed by the police OF the
city. We further recommend that the po-
lioe force for day service be reduced and
that an efficient force be kept on at night
follows: John Il. Watson, II. Cans. II.
Klein, r. c. Wallace. John N urta, A. Nj.
Aolter, holter Hardware Co.. N. b. Hotter,
vice president. A. j. Steele, John b. Clay
borg, Chss. h. Cole. r. Lockey. w. w.
Brown; w.; J. D, Thompson; Il. Il. Howey,
mann Co.. John J. Geier, John II. San
ford, ]. L. WaRRonor, j. q. Briseoe, Sands
Bios, Thos. Cruise, W. j. Sweeney, Swend
Carlson. Now York Dry Goods Co., f. j.
Nye, J.: L. smith. c: b. Jacquemin. l. L.
Israel. l. A: Walker. Kleinsohmidt & Bro,
A. G. johnson, A. J. seliRman, l. Green.
sss xoe'' E. = s. E;oh.sds. Ii %sod e. w. R,,an. r na
Il. II. Kleinschmidt, ID. J. Arnold, $. Kautf.
man. GenzbetRer. Barnett Il Co.. l.. Stad-
le', N. Lalonde. @. Il. Kemp. W. f.
Henry Nsill, H. B. Palmer. L. w. Prosser
Frank s. Lang, Chas. +. Kelsey. IL. Il.
l'nbcook. Babcock d Co.. Anae son Bros :,
Co.. J. NJ. Woodbridge. L. Boyer q Co., j.
Steinnetz. Clarke d Frank. John b. Will
son, q. w. Cannon. y. ID. Weed. c. L.
Payne. u. w. Beattie. VIM. Harrison. Al
bert Kleinschmidt, Montana Lumber Co.
Ii. F. Galen. d. A. Cory, J. Il. Atchisou
estate @. A. B,oadwater. estate Wm.
Chumasero.
When the petition was being road and
the item OF rolice was reached. Alderman
Lissner exclaimed: How much2"
''si1sy-fvs dollars" replied Clerk Mc1n-
"We'll have TO hire ChinAmen," said the
Els ST ward alderman.
i At the conclusion Of the reading Alder
man Flaherty called for the names on the
petitions. "Yes. let's have them." added
Alderman Lissner. 30 they wele read.
Aide man Flaherty moved that all that
part of the petition relating TO cutting
down salaries be laid on the table inden-
nitely. Alderman Fullsr moved TO refer "a
u special committee. of which the mem bsrs
of the ways aud means committee should
not be part, to report at the next meeting.
Alderman Post wanted the pat relating %
the fire department. to 40 to that commit
tee. that referring to the poiico to the po-
lice committee, and nll other propositions
30 the ways and IN cans committee.
Alderman Lissner thought the council
should show the courtesy to the taxpayers
to refer the petition. 1.-The Rentlemsu who
signed this petition" he continued. "havs
been sleeping for the last Ave years aud have
just woke NJ. They knew when Mayor
kleinschmidA and Banker Hetshheld were
urRinR the council to lay the pavement on
Main street and distrcsslng every merchant
there. when ono furnished the blocks and
tho other furnished the money 30 AZ to 10,
IL. u. Palmer make u proht on the job"
NJ Lissnsr then referred TO the "lsnd
shRrks' who. he said. were urging the
opening Of Lawrence street." al
great expense TO the city. 'They
arc new wanting 10 distress others who ans
drawing . few dollars from the treasury
no continued. "rhsy knew what the audi
forum cose. Who Aaked for that. the tax
payers Of the council? am not in favor
OF rsavcang one cent OF anybody's salary
lie spoke OF ehe dangers which a polio man
hravSd III order 10 protect the lives of citi
zens, ana shs watehfulness OF tho firemer
and tho ,isks they took in protecting p op-
ery. II the people who signed she pe.i-
AAnA - "A IL tII