The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-12
ALDERMEN WERE QUIET
40 DiSiuFbanC. Marked Last Nights
Council Meeting.
MUCH BUSINESS WAS DONE
Taxes, Licenses, Cemeteries and
Other Subjects Kept the City
Fathers Busy-License
Fees Too Low.

a memorable meeting of the city coun-
ell was held last night at the city hall. 1t
was an adjournment of the regular ses-
sion held a week ago, which was turbulent
and full of conflicting opinions and hot
discussion. But last night there was not
wave of trouble and considerable BUSH
ness of importance was transacted and
radical reforms inaugurated to be acted
upon at the next meeting.
At the opening of the meeting Mayor
Thornton announced that he had APP
pointed j. A. McMasters as polio eman to
act until the vacancy on the force had
been regularly filed by the confirmation
of a nominee by the council. As this
meeting was, under the law, the same one
as that of the previous week, he did not
feel called upon to submit another name
at this meeting, but out of courtesy TO the
council, he wished to inform them OF tho
action which he had taken. With this
statement he was about to let the mat
ter rest. Alderman Cox, however,
moved that another ballot be ia
ken on the name submitted last
Monday night. Mayor Thornton held
that thus was IN order and the motion
prevailed. The vote was taken by ayes
and noes and resulted IN an unanimous
vote IN favor of confirming the nomIna-
ton of the mayor. The members present
were A dermeu Cos, O Conner, Gnose, Has
ley and Williams. Alderman Williams of
the judiciary committee. 10 which was re-
ferred the petition of /. *. Crawford for n
rebate OF taxes on property which he said
was outside of the city limits, reported
adverse to allowing the rebate. Ne expla-
nation was made OF tue reasons for this
action IN the report. and Alderman OCon-
ner asked why the committee reported
thusly since he understood that the land
WAS OtItStde of the cOrDOrato limits.
Alderman Williams then explained that
the property on winch the rebate Is asked
is at the head of Birch street and has all
the advantages of fire and police protec-
ton; and that an opinion of Attorney
General II Iskell is to the effect that the
council has no right or power to rebate
taxes. Aggrieved properly holders have
recourse provided them if unjustly as
sessed IN the board of equalization. This
was satisfactory to Alderman OConner
and the report of tho committee was
adopted.
TIE new cemetery, an almost forgotten
subj CT, was called up by Alderman Cox
who SAID tnat he was informed that no
taxes had been paid on the property for
two years and that no abstract OF title
had neen secured. 1t also developed that
the deed to the land had not been re-
corded. A motion prevailed that the city
clerk be instructed to investigate the mat
ter and straighten it out.
up serenely when Alderman Williams
called on the city treasure for
statement as to the advisability
of increasing the city licenses. Treasurer
Delury stated that the city's expenses are
not getting lighter but are increasing each
wear. and anything that would add to the
revenues of the city should be given con-
sideration. The licenses in this city are
at the rate of one-sixth of the county Ii
cense while in Butte the proposition is
- al H.
Some of the licenses on businesses that
are we'll established and handle large sums
of money are ridlculously low, 90 cents
per quarter, of which the collector gets so
cents.
Alderman OConner thought that there
could be but SLIGHT objection to an in
crease of the licenses on the part of the
business men, particularly saloonkeepers,
and others would not be taxed heavy
enough to make the increase felt by any
one of them.
Mayor Thornton called attention to the
fact that if licensed gambling is pro-
hibited by the legislature as seems likely
this will severely affect the revenues.
Alderman Williams then moved that
the city attorney bring to the next meet
ing a skeleton license ordinance in which
the various licenses desired could be filled
in by the council. The motion carried
The mayor reported that the county
warrant for 5000 for the care of the
county smallpox patients was in tho
hands of the city treasurer. There was
an informal discussion as to what the city
had best do with so much money, but no
decision was reached and the matter is
a special order for the next meeting. The
warrant draws per cent. interest
and so do the city warrants, but some of
the aldermen think 1t best to cash the
warrant at a discount to pay off part of
the city's Indebtedness at once, while
others wish to allow the county warrant
TO run until the county has funds to re-
deem it, when it can be used to redeem a
like amount of the city warrants.
The council adjourned to meet next
Saturday evening.