The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-25
THE COUNCIL MEETING.

Discussion Over the Small Force I'm tho
Firo Department.
Fire department matters Termed . SUBJ
jeot of considerable discussion at last
nights meeting of the CITY council. It
came up ON the report of tho fire depart
msnt committee on tho request Of the fre
marshal TO have some Of tho men recently
dropped Eeinstated. The report said that
tho special committee on rstrenchment had
recommended the dropping of the men
after mature dsliberation ~ to the needs
OF the department.. For that ress On the
committee suggested that nothieR bs done
with the matter further at present. Fire
Marshal MeKinnon. who was present. said
he could very we'll handle tho apparatus of
the department with the force Ut his dis
poSal since the number Of call mon had
been reduced from twenty nine to eighteen.
Bat for the men who had been dropped
turning In at the Ashley stable fire it would
have been impossible to have done the
work properly. The der artment now was
twice as large as 1t was seven years ago,
and yet IL had less men. 1t the council
could not allow him to have all the men
back, st least reinstste part Of
was roos economy to keep small fire de-
partmonl He was at the Ashley hrs and
saw that the force WAS weak and could not
have handled the apparatus but for the aid
of the men who had been dropped. He
moved that the matter bs referred back to
the committee. with power to act. sstishsd
they would not BE- extravagant. Alderman
Flahsrty thought the city was trying to
eoononize in most important par ticular.
The city had been fortunate thus far. b0t
there WAS NO telling when that economy
would be regretted. Alderman Lissnsr
said tho city had enough fremen at pres
sent. The council had started in to bs
economical and should stand by 1t for
awhile. AldsrHen Huudlsy. Morris and
Collins spoke in tho A<me strain.
When the discussion had aone ON for
quite while Alderman Fuller withdrow
his motion for reference, and made another
to increase the force of call men from
cusssd in the same vein Al that on the re-
port. Eventually the report Of the oom-
mittss was adopted by yeas eight (Lissnsr.
Post. Hewell. Morris. hundley, Collins,
Cox and Hsnley); NAYS (Burgard.
Flaherty, Fuller and Wa!ksr;) absent 2
man Morris the fire department oonmistse
wore authorized. in their discretion, TO re-
inssate two oall men to be added 10 tho
foroo Of the oity hall truck. the fire marshal
having stated that he could not handle
that machine with ths five mon allowed at
ton, which was adopted. that three of the
call men Be required to sleep At she city
hall station.
Ths committee ON origin of res reported
that tho enc which destroyed Ed Jordan's
cabin was Of tnesndisry origin; and that
the origin of that ~ II. II. Ashiey's stable
vas mystery.
l. X. ldsll complained 70 the council at
its previo0s meeting that she water oom-
pany had cut of the water from his house
because hs objected to paying three months
water rent In advance. The committee ON
water reported last night that she oom-
plant was . matter for ths coarts and not
for the council. Alderman Ltssnsr Thought
the souncil might do as much In the mat
tor as TO have its COMMITTEES see the water
company people aud find out why they
acted ~ they did. Chairman Post. of the
committee. said they had ssen all the par
tics to The controversy aud they did not
SEQ how they could do anything. City
Attorney AoIntirs explained that the
council had given the watsr company
charter which allowed the company 'ts
make reasonable rules and rsgulations' in
regard to the use Of water. Whether II
was reasonable regulation" to require
three months water rent in advance was a
matter which might properly be brought
before The courts BY q mandamus. Alder
eommittes's report was adopted.
lhs committee ON taxes and licenses re-
ported on . number of ths applications
made for reductions Of assessment. Nearly
Su we're allowed. Among those allowed
was ono 10 exempt that part of the Rapid
Transit railroad track outside tho oity linz
tts. Another WAS . reduction OF about
SNVo0 in the assessment Of tho Helena
Water company. All the oommittsss' re-
,,DYta V0Rn nhnNe>A