The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-03
new MEN At THE HELM
The New City Council Takes the
Reins of Government.
MAYORS ANNUAL ADDRESS
An Able Review OF Municipal Conditions
and Afairs-A Remarkable Econ-
omy Shown in the Police
Department.

Great Falls. May flowing to the
celebrating throngs on the streets the
city council was without spectators at
its meeting. All Of the members save
Dunn were present, Alderman Wads-
worth having returned from his Cali
fornia trip this morning.
Tit annual report of the chief Of po-
lice showed 1,2SS arrests for the year.
OF the prisoners five were sent to the
states prison. Property valued at
50, no. 20 was stolen, of which 1854 was
recovered and restored to owners. A
comparative statement of the depart
ment's expenses since 1898 showed that
during the past two years a remark
able economy, the cost having been re-
duced 81. 900 in that period. The report
advised the ringing of a curfew bell at
8 p. m. and the strict enforcing OF the
ordinance.
The library report stated that 24,6l6
books had been given out during the
year and 42S cards issued. The fire de-
partment had 80 calls. Insurance on
property involved. 81, 1866. Losses paid,
S4,05S; losses without insurance, $4,000.
The police magistrate during the year
collected 81. 9SS. IS.
The auditing committee then presented
the usual monthly batch Of claims,
which were allowed. A bill Of $6O4.11
from the water company for lowering
water mains was referred to the city
attorney n engineer.
The mayor then read MS annual ad-
dress, as follows:
Gentlemen of the Council:
Before you finally adjourn ! desire to
congratulate you upon the good work
you have accomplished during the
year.
The results obtained through the en-
forcement of the policy outlined at
the beginning of this administration of
strict economy in the management OF
the various departments OF the city
are very gratifying indeed.
The expenditures of the city, as COM
pared with the previous year. have
been reduced s6.e1S. 60, n are lower
than any year since 1891. About w.
900 of the floating debt of the city has
been paid off. In other words. all the
expenditures have been met out of the
revenue for the year, besides taking up
and ~discharging $40. 600 of the floating
debt with sufficient funds left to de-
fray a considerable Bortlon OF the ex-
penses of the city for the ensuing MS
cal year.
The street fund has been placed on a
cash basis, and the general fund in
debtedness has been so reduced hat
with the continuance of the present
policy of economy for the next two
years 1t, too, will be placed on a cash
basis.
While the rate of taxation was high
err than of former years, 1t must be
borne in mind that property valuations
have been greatly lowered since 1898.
The ten mills levy of hat year yielded
almost as much revenue as the fifteen
mills levy of the past year. A reduc-
ton of at least two mills in the tax
levy can be made the ensuing year.
But further reductions in the cost
of maintaining the city government can
not be made if the present efficiency
Of the various departments is to be pre-
served; the great stumbling block be-
ing the fixed charges, which amount to
about S33. 900 per year. nearly all OF
which were contracted prior to 1893.
The bonded debt incurred during 1891
and 1892 amount to $50 900. $4,000 of
which was for the construction of main
sewers, $4O.0 900 for new parks, and $780,
900 for funding outstanding warrants.
Nine thousand dollars annually is re-
quired to pay the interest on these
bonds, necessitating a tax levy for that
purpose of one and three-fourths mills.
besides a further levy under the law
for a sinking fund with which to re-
deem them at maturity. The funding
bonds of $50, 900 were mostly for the
of redeeming city warrants
which were used to defray ordinary ex-
penses which should have been met by
taxation or not incurred. In my 5udg-
ment the issuance of n for pur-
poses other than permanent improve
m~ents-such improvements, the bene-
Ats from which, in large measure, can
be enjoyed by those who in the future
must pay them-is without justifica-
ton.
Another liked charge. and the most
exorbitant and unreasonable one. IL
the annual hydrant rental. which now
to $17, $50. 1t has been the
policy of the council during the past
five years to refrain from ordering ex-
tensions to the mains. except where
absolutely necessary, as every mile OF
such extensions means an increase In
the annual hydrant rental of $500. Dur
ing the last two years no extensions