The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-15
The City Council Indefinitely Post
pones the Resolution Calling
for a Vote.
Statement Of the City Treasurer
Regarding the City's Finan-
DIAL Status.
National Banks Cannot Be Made to Pay
Licenses, but Athletic Clubs Can
other Business.

Alderman Morris was willing to have tho
matter postponed for awhile. on account OF
the amendments to the general incorpora-
tion act proposed by the mayors OF Mon
tana cities. Al the samo time he did not
want IL postponed indefinitely. as he wished
the citizens to have a chance to say whether
they cared to rsincorporate. Alderman
Howell said all the amendments proposed
by tho mayors brought the general incor-
poiation act nearer to the special charter
under which Helena was working. There
was also some likelihood OF a
special session Of tho Legislature to
act ON this new codes, which
contained q general incorporation act for
cities. If the new codes are adopted Helena
md all other cities would be operating
under the incorporation act contained
therein. There would be no use to take
my action now. md as for himself he was
opposed to taking any steps looking to re-
incorporation. Tho resolution of Alder
man Morris was indefinitely postponed by
yeas seven (Post, Burpard. Howell, Collins,
Keeoe, Hanlsy and Walker); nays three
tLissner, Morris and Harrity.) Tue pro-
vision in the new code. referred to by AL
derman Howell, is section $685., and pro-
vides as follows:
.All cities and towns existing or hereto
fore incorporated under the laws of the
territory or state of Montana, either under
general or special laws or charters. on the
adoption of this code become and are in
c0rporated under the provisions OF this
bill, and have the powers conferred, or that
may hereafter be conferred by law upon
cities or towns of the class to which each
may belong"
City Treasurer Walker reported the fol-
lowing balances in the several funds ON
Feb. /:
General fund, $780, 40; redemption
fund. 81. $40. 2G; interest md sinking fund.
$50, 944. so; street fund. 49, 52. TO-; sewerage
fund, $56S. 50; fire department fund, 3D.
904. "a; Lawrence street fund, $2,68b. 30;
library fund, $l.3lS.4 40; total. 1878. 495. 65.
Areoapitulation of the receipts and dis
bursements during January showed the
following: Balance on hand first OF Janu-
airy $l67, 975. IA; received from city licenses
during january T934.7 IS; received from fines
$97. SO; received from special street tax
$126; from taxes SO. TAI. 50: total $175, 1864.
Disbursements: general fund, warrants and
interest $3.50, 5l2.62; lire departments fund,
war ants and interest 1923. G35 81; street
fund 1926; sewerage fund 1902. 50; interest
and sinking fun S19.6l4.65; library fund
SIS. OOO; Main street paving $780, So; total
$97, $50 60. Balance on hand $7S.495. 65.
Ih city treasurer was directed so call for
S15,O 900 of warrants on the general q and
all outstanding warrants ON the sewerage
fund.
of warrants drawn during January; re-"
turned "a cancelled 81. $50. "a; outstanding
1892, 1927.
City attorney McIntire read an opinion as
to the right of the city to require licenses
of national banks, and of athletic clubs
giving sparring exhibitions. He said the
wording of the city ordinance was evidently
meant to exempt national banks from pay
ing the city license, and quoted opinions
of cases tried in Missouri. Pennsylvania
sparring exhibitions. the law required
license to be paid where they were given for
profit. AZ the Helena Athletic club
charged an admission fee, the city attorney
thought 1t should be required to pay a
license. In connection with bank matters,
j. T.. Walsh, attorney for the Thomas
Cruise Savings bank, asked that that in
etitution be placed in the same category as
those incorporated under federal laws. The
matter WAS referred to the committee on
taxes and licenses and the city engineer.
The street commissioner reported Sl.o33
collected for poll tax during 1899, of which
81 ,674 was by days wolk done ON the street
md $3.50 in cash. He asked to be allowed
commissions on the collection OF special
street tax. His bill included commissions
on the amount paid by work on the street
az we'll az on that paid in cash. AS there
was some doubt about his right to collect
commissions on that part of the tax worked
out, the matter was referred to the commit
tee on judiciary and the city attorney.
CITY Treasurer Walker again asked to be
allowed the 5000 hs wanted for making the
assessment. and clerk hire. He submitted
n abatement, in which he gave Il letter from
City Treasurer Jacobs. of Butte, who says
he got s., 294 for making the assessment in
that city. where the tax receipt for 1892
were but $12S,00 while in Helena they
we're $150.00O. He said his receipts for
that part of the fiscal year (nine months)
ending Jan. 81 were SO, $50. of which 5000
was salary and $l.250 for commissions on
licenses. The disbursements wore $500 for
clerk hire and $500 paid out for assessment,
leaving him a net income of $3.50. The
matter was referred to the judiciary COM
mittes and the city attorney.
The committee on taxes and licenses re-
ported in favor of reducing the license for
sll night entertainments from 1916 to 1877. so
n month. 1t was signed by Alderman Hiss
ner. Alderman Walker submitted a
minority report asking that the prayer of
the petitioner, Mrs. Josephine Hensley, be
not granted. The minority report was
adopted by ysas6 tFuller. Howell. keece,
Hanley, Walker and Wieber); nays 5 (Liss-
ner. Post. Burgard, Morris aud Hartity.)
Street COMMISSIONS Stubs called ntten-
tion to the practice of throwing snow from
the tors OF buildings on to Main street.
and expecting the city to haul it away. He
IN - ebAhN Sno ei'y rAouAu po eAl6Ctcu
to do this. though it was necessary to haul
The snow away in otdor to keep the cutters
open. He said he had told some of the
Main street people that they should pay for
having the snow hauled away. This had
given rise 10 the report that he had been
charging for hauling the snow away. The
report WAS absolutely Without foundation.
Tho boys of the east side asked to have
south Rodney at eet thrown open for coast
ng after eight o'clock at night. Law ence
street. east of Harrison avenue, wa. aug
tested as another good street for coastinp.
The two localities named were added to the
streets already named in the ordinance.
which was amended for that purpose. he
streets already designated are Chauoer.
Jefferson and Hillsdale.
Alderman Fuller called attention to the
condition OF the crosswalks thi ouQLout the
pity. While the side had been gen
orally cleaned of snow the crosswalks lad
been allowed to get 10y, aud some of them
we're dangerous. This 10 tho case on both
he east and west sides. The street COM
missioner Was directed 10 have the cross
walks cleaned.
The committee on sewerage. which in
vestigated the alleged nuisance caused by
he soap works in the Sixth ward reported
hat the weather was such that the matter
,ould not be properly looked into, and
lskod that it be allowed 20 20 over until
|pring. The report WAS ADOPTED.