The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-22
The COUNCIL MIDDLE
Question as 10 the Legality Of Recent
Cut-Salary Resolutions.
MAYOR BELEY vETOEs 1T ALL
Another Point Regarding the Con-
solIdatlon or Attorney and
Clerks Office a Matter
OF Much Conjecture.

Special Correspondence OF the Standard. N
LIVINGSTON, April 20.-The city council
has become involved in what may prove
to be q serious complication. The law
mikes il mandatory for the council TO
make the annual appropriations and fix
the salaries of officers for the fiscal year
ut the last regular meeting preceding the
municipal election. This the council
failed to do. On the regular monthly
meeting night prior to the election no
quorum was present and unfortunately
an adjournment was taken until the day
after election. A few days previous to
election the council found they had made
q mistake and it was sought to be recti-
fed by calling special meeting In or
der TO make the annual appropriations
and fix the salaries of officers for the rs
cal year. It being thought best to take this
action at n special meeting before cleo
ton, rather than to put it off until the adj
journed meeting after election. The
special meeting was accordingly held and
resulted in the passage OF the annual APP
preparation ordinance and resolution fix
ing the salaries. There were only five
members of the board present and three
of these were in favor of reduction OF
salaries. Mayor Beley strenuously OPP
posed the contemplated reduction, but
the aldermen who stood with him we're in
the minority and the low-salary aldermen
carried the day.
Mayor Beley, however, knocked out the
low salary resolution and appropriation
ordinance by vetoing both measures, and
was sustained at the adjourned meeting
by the aldermen who at the special meet
ing had voted against a reduction of sala-
ries. The three aldermen who favored
the reduction attempted to secure the
passage of the measures over the mayors
veto, but as they were not numerous
enough TO constitute two-thirds of all the
aldermen elected, the motion to knock
out the veto was lost. An adjournment
was then taken until last evening. at
which time the sixth member of the board
was present, having returned from his
trip to Canada. He joined the low salary
forces, and thus the necessary two-thirds
majority required to pass any measure
over the mayors veto was secured.
As soon as the meeting was called to
order last night Alderman Gordon moved
for a reconsideration of tho vetoed mea-
sures, n second came from Alderman
Rowe, and the motion carried by vote of
four TO five. Upon motion the measures
were then passed over the mayors veto
by the following vote: Ayes-Gordon,
Rowe, Nolan and Martin. Noes-Sawyer.
The new salary resolution, as passed
over Mayor Beley's veto last night, makes
the following reductions in the pay of city
officers for the year beginning May 6,
1895:
Chief of police, from 500 to SIS per
month.
Night policemen, from $50 TO SEQ per
month.
City attorney. from S35 to $50 per
month.
City clerk, from sS35 TO $50 per month.
Mayor, from SIS to $40. and aldermen,
from s. TO 50 per month.
The salary OF city treasurer was fixed
at SS5 per month, instead of $35 and COM
mission on collections as at present.
Mayor Beley gives the following rea-
sons why he opposed the passage Of the
appropriation ordinance and salary reso-
luton:
"First-That the laws of the state of
Montana require salaries TO be fixed at
the last regular meeting of the city coun-
Gil preceding the annual election.
"Second-l believe that the salaries of
the various officers OF this city, both elec-
tive a nd appo.ntive. as fixed by the reso-
luton. to be insufficient compensation. 1
do not believe il is for the best interests
OF the city TO underpay it's officers and
employees, but believe they should be fully
compensated for the services performed
by them. II the resolution should go into
effect the city would be unable, In my
opinion. to secure the services of efficient
and competent persons"
Although the aldermen in favor of a re-
duction of salaries finally won the day,
there is n serious question that confronts