The Helena independent., 1894-12-12

THE PLAN MEETS WITH GREAT FAVOR.
Aldermen Hold Their Regular Session and
Transact a Great Amount Of
Routine Business.

the meeting Col. w. n. Sanders. n. NJ.
Bcadle. II. NJ. Parchen and James Per
kins, The report 0f the judiciary COM
mittce, composed Of Aldermen Freeman,
Morris and Llssner was In substance
as followH;
The principal object Of rclncorporn-
tlon under the general law would be
the funding OF the indebtedness of the
city by the issuance OF bonds and the
taking up OF the outstanding warrants,
There are many features Of the general
law which, II incorporated In our char
ter, would be OF beneft to the city, but
there are many other features which.
II made applicable to our city. would
work to It's disadvantage and TO the in
jury of the people. The most
objectionable feature of the gen
eral law is the matter Of the
tax levy AS under the present charter
the maximum tax levy Is eight and
one-half mills. while under the general
law the maximum levy is fifteen mills.
The debt should be funded. II this was
done the city would be saved perhaps
per cent In the way OF interest and at
least Is per cent In the purchase of city
supplies, which saving would amount to
a great sum annually.
The judiciary committee recon-
mended the following amendments to
the city charter;
First. That the charter be go amended
that the Offices OF city attorney and city
clerk may or may not be combined. In
discretion OF the council, and that the
combined salary of such Offices be no
more than $1,000.
Second An amendment permitting
the city to compel the repair of side
walks, and to assess the cost Of same
to abutting property without petition.
Third, To provide for the election of
city marshal and street commissioner
by direct vote of the people instead OF
appointment as is now the case.
Fourth. To make the term OF office
OF mayor. police magistrate, treasurer,
city marshal and street commissioner
two years instead OF one.
Fifth, To amend other parts of the
charter to accommodate the above
| changes.
The committee further recommended
that the city attorney be instructed 10
mitted TO the legislature looking To the
passage OF the proposed amendment to
the charter. and the bonding of the
city for the purpose Of taking up out
standing warrants and the separation
OF the sewer bonds, already Issued.
from the general Indebtedness of the
city.
A few members OF the council dis
cussed the matter. and then Col. San
ders was asked to give an expression
upon the proposed action. Col. Sanders
said that there was no question that
the city had outgrown its present char
ter. Something should be done TO In
sure the city's credit. He believed that
the recommendation of the judiciary
committee we're wise with one excep-
tion. That exception was the provision
authorizing the election of city marshal
by direct vote of the people. Col. San
ders said that II was unwise and would
certainly be harmful 10 the best inter-
ests OF the city, II such an amendment
TO the charter was allowed by the legls-
lature. Upon the question of finance,
he said the general charter Is not equal
10 Helena's needs The debt of the city
looked upon as n whole was somewhat
appalling. but he believed the city coun-
eli would be equal to the task Of reduc-
Ing Il very materially In conclusion.
he said. "Our debts must be paid. We
cannot do like Mioawber, who, when a
note was presented 90 him, would give
another one and exclaim Thank God,
another debt Is paid.
II. NJ. Beadle made a short address, In
which he endeAvore1 to impress upon
the council that the only way out OF the
trouble was to reduce expenses. Al
the close OF his speech the following
colloquy took place:
Alderman Lissner-Well, Mr.. BeAdle
how would you go at IL TO reduce eN-
penses?
Mr. Beudle-lf you would like TO heal
me on this matter | would gladly tell
YOU II you viii provide special session
and give me the opportunity.
Alderman Flaherty--Well, now. Mr.,
Beadle, | would like to ask you a ques-
tion. Would you like to reduce the pq,
lice force TO four or five men. and would
you like TO cut OF the little salary oi
the special firemen who live at homey
To this Mr. Bcadle replied that lac
didn't feel called upon 10 answer such
specific questions.
Mayor Weed here said that II was the
desire of himself and every member ol
the council to reduce the citys eNncnsea
80 far as was consistent with good gov
ernment. There was a limit, however
to reductions.
The report Of the committee was here
received and adopted.
The council transacted a great deaI
OF routine business. City Clerk Car
penter reported warrants issued during
November as follows; General fund
Sc 1924: FIRE, S6,360.A2; street. $l1Ol0,Sb
total, S2i2l3.7i. The total amount ol
warrants outstanding is as follows
General fund S2s5, 722 81: tire, s2l 095.S4
street. S24, ,6SS27: total, 1881 .50a.IS.
Police Magistrate Gage reported as
follows. Number of complaints, lQg
found guilty. ~ discharged, 81; com
mlttcd 80; fined %. cash collected, 1850
The committee ON police reported IL
favor Of paying the August salary Of
Police officer Reed
They further recommended that cts
Marshal Davis be commanded to show
and prove to the satisfaction OF Tho
council at the next regular meeting thai
the city OF Helena Is released from any
: liability FOR the payment of tl5 or ans
. part Of IL. for three mackintoshes, said
tu have been furnished To the police de
partmCnt; for the payment Of fS or any
part OF Il, for two awnings, for the pay
ment of any money that may be claimed
be demanded by Mill Wltten FOR serv
ices rendered during the month of July
The city mershal reported haVlnl
made l57 arrests in November, Of thil
number lll woe for violations Of city
ordinances, and sixteen for violations %
state statutes. There were twcnty-sll
men given lodging during the month.
The nrr marshal reported having re-
spondod 90 seven alarms during NoVem
bcr The damage from these fires wal
. less than SS25, which was fully covered
by insurance. IN this connection th,
commlttc on origin Of ircs rcpOrtc,
| that tho fra pf nra . iu an EIGHTH ave