The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-10
LIVINGSTON PoLIrIcs.


Special Correspondents OF the Standard.
Livingston, May 1.-THE white-winged
Y dove OF peace did not hover over the
nrst meeting OF the new city council
held Monday evening. Upon mis- in
auguration Mayor John Harvey said
ne would Ike to see the members OF
| the body work together in harmony.
but before the meeting adjourned he
became sensibly aware that his posi-
ton as chief executive of the city
would be fraught with many an I'M
pleasant episode before the expiration
or his official career. The attitude as
sumed by majority OF the aldermen
at the first meeting was not such as
guarantee harmony in very large
chunks, and the new mayor was
brought to a full realization of the
many exasperating incidents that
promise to beset his path should the
policy which obtained at Monday even
ing's session continue throughout his
term of office.
Although Mayor Harvey knew that
| certain measures which he proposed
championing would meet with the op-
position OF a majority of the members
OF the council, he was entirely impair
tial in his selection of the standing
committees. which he announced as
l follows:
Ways and Means-J. S. Thompson, A.
Mayne and +. A Krieger.
Fire Apparatus-Alex Livingston, j.
g. Thompson and John Martin.
Streets and Alleys-A. Wayne. J. s.
Thompson and +. A. Krieger.
Sidewalks-John Martin, George A.
Gordon and ]. s. Thompson.
City Ordinances-J. s. Thompson, F.
A. Krieger and A. Wayne
Water Works and Electric Lights
II. A Krieger. J. s. Thompson and A.
Mayne.
Sewerage-George A. Gordon, John
Martin and Alex Livingston.
Park-John Martin. A. Mayne and
George A. Gordon.
Board of Health-Dr. r. ID. Alton,
DR. w. l.. Shawk and A. w. Miles.
Ever since IL became known that the
mayor had decided to appoint p. w.
Nelson to the position of chief of po-
lice. the life of Mr.. Harvey has been
made miserable by large number Of
citizens who are feminist the APP
pointment. Among those who have
been most active in opposition to the
candidacy OF Mr.. Nelson is j. ID. Finn.
superintendent of the Montana division
of the Northern Pacific. Mr.. Finn
gives as his reason for opposing Mr..
Nelson that during the gentleman's
incumbency of the office of city mar
shall several years ago he failed to give
good satisfaction to the railroad COM
pany. He may have other and weight
Ter reasons. but if so. he has not made
them public.
II is generally conceded that because
of Mr.. Firms opposition to Mayor
Harvey's choice for chief of police, Mr.
Nelson will never hold the position
during the life of the present city
council. as there are at least four out of
the six members who will vote against
the gentleman's confirmation. Two of
these. Aldermen John Martin and Alex
Livingston. are in the employ of the
Northern Pacific company. They may
have good reasons of their own for OPP
posing Mr.. Nelson's appointment, or
they may have been Influenced to some
extent by Superintendent Finn, who is
in a position to deprive them of their
situations on the road.
In postponing the appointment of
chief of police and other officers until
later date, and continuing the old
officers In their positions, Mayor Har-
vey did not occasion any great sur
prise. 1t was a foregone conclusion
that he had appointed a chief of police
he would have named Mr.. Nelson, and
IL was equally certain that the appoint
ment would have failed of confirma-
ton.
At Monday evenings session of the
council there were only FIVE aldermen
present. the sixth member, +. A. Krie-
ger, being absent in Chicago, where he
has been for three months undergoing
medical treatment. Mr.. Krieger is sup
posed to stand with the mayor in the
matter OF Mr.. Nelson's appointment,
and his being absent is the reason the
appointments were postponed. But
even with his vote the mayor cannot
win the fight, unless one OF the oppos-
ing aldermen can be whipped into line.
Should IL be found that Mr.. Nelson
could be confirmed by the vote OF Mr..
Krieger, the right of the alderman
from the Second ward to a seat in the
city council may be contested on the
ground that he failed to qualify within
the prescribed 10 days after his cleo
ton. The necessary papers for him to
sign were sent on to Chicago, but were
only returned the other day. Although
IL is known by only a few, IL Is a fact
nevertheless that Mr.. Krieger neglect
ed to qualify until the 30th day OF
April. or "a days after his election.
Besides Mr.. Nelson the other appli-
cants for the position OF chief of police
are C. III. Savage and ]. L. Poorman.
Either one of these gentlemen would
receive the full vote of the council for
confirmation. IL is generally conceded
that for the position OF first night
Waterman Mayor Harvey will appoint
the present chief of police, William
Mitchell, and for second night watch
man the present incumbent. John Skill
lin. ralhnr
At an adjourned meeting OF the old
city council held two weeks ago an or
d1nance was passed concentrating the
offices of city attorney and city clerk.
Frank Beley, who was then mayor. op-
posed the passage of the ordinance on
the ground that IL was illegal The
ordinance provides that the salary OF
the city attorney. under the consolida-
ton. shall be $50 per month. or SIS
per month I'm excess OF the salary pro-
vided for by ordinance for the city at
torney at the time of his election.
Last Monday evening. just as the old
city council was about TO give way TO
the new. Mayor Beley vetoed the con-
soiidation ordinance. and I'm support OF
the veto cited the provision of the state
constitution. which states that no law
shall be passed extending the term OF
any public officer or increasing his
salary during his term of ONCE. The
retiring mayor contended further that
IL was not for the best interests OF
the city to consolidate two of the most
important Offices OF the municipality.
ia Cd IA,