The Anaconda standard., 1898-12-13
A AMETROP6[ITAH SYSTEM
Aldermen, Firemen and Police
mon Talk the Matter Over.
THEIR VIEWS ABOUT IT
Committee OF Four Aldermen Appointed
to Draft a Bill to Be Presented &c the
Legislature Council Will Discuss
It Next "Wednesday.

yesterday afternoon between commit
tees representing the policemen and
firemen of the city and some Of the ell
dermen in regard to a metropolitan po-
lice and fire system and the advisable
ity of endeavoring to secure legislation
on the subject. The policemen and fire.
men requested the mayor To appoint
four aldermen. two from each party. to
be present at yesterdays meeting in or
der to exchange views on the subject.
The mayor appointed Aldermen Pascoe
and Melcher to represent the repuoli-
cans and Macarthur and Knowlton To
, represent the democrats. Owing to the
sickness of Alderman Macarthur. Alder
man Kelly was present yesterday in
his place.
Officer Fogarty acted as chairman OF
the meeting and the views of the po-
licemen and firemen were presented
| They showed that Butte could never eN-
pect tn have an efficient service so long
as the policemen and firemen are
! changed after every election. They
wanted the men who proved competent
to be retained i'm office as long
1 dS lAtN Di'Nt NbilltltUl
and behave themselves. They
thought the Legislature should be asked
to pass bill providing for the metro
poltan system In Montana cities and
| placing the management of affairs i'm
the hands of a police commission to
be removed as far as possible from
politics and to be appointed by the gov
| ernor.
The mayor was asked for his views.
and while agreeing with the plan to
| some extent. he did not agree TO il i'm
! its entirety. He did not believe i'm TAX
| ing the control of the police and fire
forces out of the hands of the council.
He did not approve of giving a man
a life tenure on a municipal job but
he did favor giving the policemen and
the firemen full two year terms from
! the date Of their appointment. except
| for malfeasance i'm office. The mayor
| and aldermen are elected for full two
years and the same should be done IN
| the case of the municipal employees.
In case a man should be appointed on
| the force now he would only hold Of
flee until the spring election. He should
serve two years from the date of ap-
| pointment.
officer Rocheleau said II had been
| thrown up at him at times that ne
| would only wear a star few months
| longer and all because he had insisted
on doing his duty. If he held office dur
ing good behavior. he would not be sub
jected to such taunts.
Alderman Pascoe said that although
a republican. with nearly all the po-
licemen democrats. he favored retain
ing policemen in Office during compe-
tency. He thought fbe city of Butte
has had experiments enough. Expert
ence has cost the states taxpayers a
| good deal and he believed Il profitable
| m hV nv Of pfh hav
| cities and keep efficient men I'm Office
when they have proved themselves ef-
! ficient.
Police Captain Dawson agreed with
the mayors view that a policeman
should have a full two year term. In
case a policeman dies at this time ot
the year. or is removed. the man who
takes his place could only he sure oi
a four months job and thar would not
pay him to buy a uniform.
| Alderman Knowlton thought that II
a man is a good enough policeman I,
keep on the force for two years. hC
Is good enough on It for 10 years. or a:
long as he proves competent. In fac;
he should be more valuable to the City
with every year Of service. He though
that every argument that could be ad
vanced i'm favor of keeping a man TIVE
years could be advanced in favor al
keeping him indefinitely.
| Alderman Melcher thought also tina
there should be no limit to the tern
of office OF a policeman or fireman. i
man Is a policeman, let him maze
business of il. Miners. machinists ano
clerks are not changed with every eiec
tion. and the only way to conduct mu
nicipal affairs properly Is to con1uc
them as a man does his own business
II a man Is the right man for a plac,
keep him there. That is certainly Il
the best interests OF the taxpayers.
Chief Guerin OF Great Falls was pres
ent and expressed his views by invita-
tion.
Fire Chief Flannery spoke In favo
OF metropolitan system. II takes twl
years for man to become a reall,
good policeman or fireman.
On motion Of officer Rocheleau,
committee of four aldermen was ap
pointed to make a rough draft of bill
embodying the views expressed. To D
; presented at the council meeting mex
: wednesday evening for discussion b.
: the aldermen. Aldermen Melchci
Knowlton, Pascoe and Macarthur wer