The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-03
FOR REVENUE ONLY
Why Some Men Seek to Hold a Mu-
niCipal Office.
THERE IS MILLIONS IN 1T
And There Are More Than Two
Members of the Council Who
Are Directly Interested in the
Awarding of City Contracts.
THERE IS MILLIONS IN 1T

More than usual interest attached,
apparently, to the article in the Stan
dlrd Of a week ago calling attention -
the law of the new codes on the subject
of mayors, aldermen. and other officials
being Interested in work done for the
city or supplies furnished to the city,
ana how the present reform admins
tration is d.sobeying the law every day
Of its existence.
1t is perhaps due, in all fairness, 10
state tlaIt Mayor Thompson and Alder
men Schatzlein and HeiEg are not the
only city officials who are reapIng BEN
eff in one way or another from being
officials. Some who read the article in
question seemed 10 get the idea That,
betauSe '.he names of these officials
We're given as examples, that they were
the only beneiic!ares Tnis, however,
Is erroneous. There are others who are
also in on the patriodc benefi,
BuJte's present city council seems TO
have run to lumbermen and painters.
Two Of 'Jne aldermen and the mayor
are very directly Interested in the lum-
Der business and plree of the aldermen
run painting and decorative establish
mems. Mayor Thompson and Alder
man knowltCn are actively concerned
III t4l' itll.itpd lIuinb-I ~ Aldnuldc-
turing company, and Alderman Cook is
seCre tary OF me NJ. j. Council Lumber
company Il has already been shown
how Mayor Thompson was benefited
by the council rejecting tne low bid
PuT,le & Lynch made for furnishing
lumber 10 the city and accepting the
bid Of his own company and the Con-
neil company, which companies had
agreed on a figure just 81 higher than
NE figure at which Puzzle q Lynch
had agreed 10 furnish lumber TO Butte.
1t would be unjust, however, 10 Mayor
Thompson 20 have the people of Butte
gain the impression That Mayor Tlomp-
son Is the only cay official TO be bene-
hted BY ',ds taxpayers paying 81 more
per thousand for lumber IMAM they did
before the lumhermel went 50 actively
into municipal pol.sics. 1, should be
understood ta3t the mayor very fairly
.iNlded Ghe COntrl,t for lumber with
.he lumber COMPANY of which Alder
man Cook is secretary. The law on
;l.s subject, by the way says: The
mayor or any member of the city coun-
ell. must Hoi be directly or indirectly
Interested IN he profits of any contract
entered in,D by the council" That
seems TO shut out Alderman Cook just
Is wei as Mayor Thompson.
lc is also only fair to Aldermen
Schatzlein and He.ilg, of The Schatzlein
Paint company. to state that they are
not the only painters in the council who
have reaped benefit by being members
of the council. Alderman Carder of the
firm OF CaTdcr Brothers, painters and
decorators. IS also member Of the
council 1t is embarrassing 10 have so
many painters In the city council where
there Is only a lim.1ed amount of paint
ing and decorating to be done but, for
Alderman Carder is also the
head of a firm which deals in feed and
produce. 50 Alderman Carder furnish
es The feed for the horses at the fire
station.
IL IS urged by those who are furnish
ing various supplies 10 .he city, contra
~ 10 law, that they are taxpayers and |
good citizens Of long standing in this |
and therefore should be !
given these little perquis.tes Of Office |
IN return for their services in acting as |
aldermen. 1t Is nut necessary to make |
any statement as 70 the ability or the |
qualifications Of any Of the gentlemen |
13med as officials Of The city. 1t may,
however. b. offered. by way of suggest |
on, that when the gentlemen were |
elected 10 office they were elected on 1
he suppos!tion that they would respect |
he laws which the state OF Montana |
has passed governing those offices, and |
I they didn't intend to respect and /
'un for office. No pcovls sion was made
n the ballots by which these gentlemen
we're elected that they would he ex-
used from Uheying the conditions I'M
Ter which other officials have been |
elected. The lawmakers Of Montana |
Considered IL wise that officials of the
lily should not be interested in any
way with any contracts or financial |
In this law Montana is
lot peculiar. 1t simply follows what
experience has taug4 to be wise in |
very other state IN he union Under
my other conditions and regulations
nen Will be running for Office for no !
ther purpose than 10 be able 10 sell
upplies 10 the city or do work for the
ity which Nigh. ~ To others II they
we're not in office. That is the idea the
lawmakers had Of the matter, and so
ar as experience has gone their iudg-
nent was wise.
Passengers destined to points beyond
Denver and Kansas City will receive
uperior commodations BY travelling
ia the Union Pacific and Chicago a
lion railways. No VeNatiOus della " a.