The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-05
IT ENDED ALL RIGHT.
The Fire Department, With All Its
Efficiency, Lives.
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
Just Enough of REFORM" Consid-
cred to Make II Agreeable to
Everybody-Chief Men, sttg
trum's Report. T.
MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

M1SSOula, NOV. 4.-MlSSOuld . nre ue-
pauImens will remain with SITS efficiency
unimpaired, with the came old CHIEF at
its head and with both teams of horses
in the stable. The city council settled
the question to-nfght without any great
difficulty. although the margin was
dose, only one vote to spare. The ac-
ton of the council is a rebuke to those
who have ,howled reform" for the past
four weeks, while they have been try
ing to wreak personal vengeance upon
the chief of the fire department The
contest has been "a warm one. The
question of reduction was first raised
by the ways and means committee.
whose motives were all right. The
members of the committee were actuat-
ed only by desire ito save expenses to
the csty. They. however, made a Sc
rious mistake ait the outset, when they
went Ito the wrong place for their fig
ures on the cost of running the city.
AS the Standard has already stated,
the ways and means committee obtain
ed figures on which 1t based its esti-
mates, not from the books of the clerk,
but from the treasurer's warrant reg
lister. This does not show the distribu-
tion of expense, and 50 the report was
all wrong. But, however good the mo-
tives were THE point which was raised
was eagerly seized upon by some citi-
zens who had fancied the grudge
against Chief Mentrum and some nnen-
bers of the fire department, and these
"reformers" proceeded ito utter TRADES
against Mayor Keith, against Chief
Mentrum, against the Standard, and
against everybody who attempted to
place the caty's financial department in
a correct light, and who insisted thaN
no such 1nraa Sonahlp c1lt i'm EXPENSE
was necessary.
The mayor was informed that he
knew nothing about finances; insurance
agents who protested were classed as
not reputable, and THE Standard was
called everything else. This argument
reached a climax in the statement OF
the local paper: Chief Mentrum will
find THE city can get along without
him." but the adtton of the council to-
night justifies the position of the Stan
dard, and the fire department is as
good as ever.
When THE council met, the regular re-
ports of officers were received and bills
disposed of. Then the first of the re-
form ordinances was brought up. This
IS ito consolidate the offices of city clerk
and city attorney, and was reported by
the ordinance committee, that IL be not
passed. When called for passage, Bon
ner, Lombard and Darbee voted aye;
Sheldon, Stevens, Reilly, Merrick, no.
The ordinance to abolish the office of
health marshal, which makes Chief
Mentrums salary large enough TO live
on, and to Impose the duties of the
health marshal upon the city marshal,
was defeated by the same vote. The or
dinance to lay off one day policeman
was passed, Sheldon, Bonner, Darbee,
Stevens and Lombard voting ayes and
Reilly and Merrick no.
The petition of d. J. Cavanah, to
open THE Cracker Jack saloon on West
Main street was granted. City Attorney
Crouch addressed the council advocat-
ing am increase of the city license for
retail liquor dealers, and G. N.THartley
asked that the theater license be re-
duced. These matters will be remedied
by ordinance at the next meeting.
Alderman Stevens then moved that
one fire department driver be 1aid off
during the winter, while the team can
not work on the streets, and THAT Chief
Mentrum be empowered to hire a man
to drive the steamer lin case of necesst-
ty. Seconded by Lombard; carried.
This is the plan that has been in the
minds of those who desired TO carry out
a reasonable reform ever since this agi-
tatfon began, and will effect a saving
of $S5 "a month. lit was moved by Lom-
bard, seconded by Stevens, that Driver
Lancaster be the one to be retained.
Reilly moved that the marshal prepare
a report of poll tax and pound fees col
looted, with the names of persons pay
ing the same. The council then ad-
journed to Nov. IA
Some of the "reformers'' now appre-
ciate the work of the good Samaritan.
which has been somewhat obscure to
them. Chief Mentrum of the fire de-
partment submitted to the mayor and
city council tonight the following
statement of expenses of maintaining
the fire department for the first FIVE
months of the present administra-
ton:
May
Chiefs salary SIPS 90 I
Two drivers, $S5 each. $40 90
Total ......... ....... 1926 90
Dent & Bodies, wrench,