The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-08
IN { NAN.
Taxpayers Are Highly Indignant over
the Water Question.


Special Correspondence Of the Standard.
Bozeman, Aug. THE taxpayers OF
the city of BoZeman are slightly indig-
nant at the result of the recent city
water works election. and the wilful ex-
penditure Of their hard earned cash.
The election held on July % is of no ef-
feet. as was that Of February. Both
these elections We're held for the pur-
pose of securing the control of the Boze-
man water works by the city. The first
election was to ascertain whether IL was
the pleasure Of the citizens TO have
bonds issued to the extent of s55,0 900 for
the purpose Of buying the plant and
putting several thousand dollars worth
of improvements on IL and extending
the mains. The ballots read, Bonds.
yes" Bonds. no." and Bonds, yes"
carried. The city vas also to assume
the outstanding bonded Indebtedness of
$105. 900 of the water works company.
After the election "A suit was brought
by Walter Cooper against the city. ask
ing for "a restraining order to prevent
the city from purchasing the plant. or
to assume the bonded Indebtedness OF
SlO5. 900, it being, il appears. contrary
to the statutes of Montana in such
cases made and provided. Both sides
Of the proposition were ably argued by
counsel for plaintiff and defendant, a.
J. Campbell Of Butte appearing for
dlltI 'OoHtf anu w. l.. ftOllpNaN anu
the city attorney. George u. Pease. for
the city. Judge Armstrong granted the
order to the plaintiff and the matter
proceeded no further at that time.
Again. early in July, notice of registra-
ton of the qualified electors was given
by w. w. Livingston. the registry
agent, for an election to take place aC-
cording to the following notice and for
the purposes therein stated:
"NptiTa * hereby pfNap that on Tl1ag-
day. the 26th day Of July. \. ID. 1898,
from : O'Clock a. m. to 6 o'clock p. m.
Of that day, a city election will be held
by the qualified voters O~aNpayers) i'm
the several wards of the city of Boze-
man at the places designated below. at
which election the question will be SUBJ
mitted To the said qualified voters,
whether or not the said city of Bozeman
shall issue bonds of the said city OF
BoZeman in the sun of S165, 600. to bear
interest at > per cent per annum in
terest payable s~emi-annually, redeem
able i'm 10 years, and due i'm 20 years.
The proceeds from the sale of said
bonds so issued in the sun of $165, 900
10 be used to purchase the water plant
from the BoZeman Water Works COM
pany, and the proceeds from the sale OF
said bonds so issued in the sum Of
$4,000 TO be used to extend and improve
said water plant"
Which election was carried by a vote
of two to one. Unfortunately for the
city, however. there is an ordinance Of
the city requiring 10 days notice To be
given of registration. which ordinance
has been i'm existence but a short time.
but long enough to knock M the cleo
ton. The city property holders say
that they presume that their officers
will look into these small matters and
see thai they are legally and properly
done. In the first place. it appears that
the statutes of Montana were not fully
and faithfully followed, and in the sec
ond, the laws of the city government
We're overlooked. and some of the of
ficials have not been cautious enough.
even after the first palpable mistake,
which ought To ave put them on their
guard.
Either the registration agent must
have been ignorant of the ordinance
or did not ask the legal advisers Of the
city as to the legality of the notice, or
the legal advisers must have over
looked. in the press Of business. this in
significant but all important piece of
city law making. The first election
cost the city. for extra attorney fees
and other expenses. not less than $500.
probably more, while the second must
have cost ii nearly 5000, or 5000 of the
hard earned dollars of the property
holders of BoZeman gone up i'm smoke.
or it's equivalent. the elections, as there
is nothing to show for 1t but a lawsuit.
This amount expended on Main street
would have mad Il ~presentable in the
fall and spring Of the year, or it would
nave paid a large extent of the cost of
the extension Of the mains to the coll
lege. Mayor Bogert is disguised, the
taNpaying citizens are mad. the city
fathers are reduced To silence. the sa-
loon men lost a days business and the
community at large smile audibly and
are waiting for the next notice OF reg
istration Of city election for the issu-
ance OF bonds to buy the Bozeman wa
ter works. The purchase Of the water
works plant is now a Chestnut"
At the election In July less tina 100
votes were asst. though there are sew
eral hundred legal taxpayers of the city
Of RnYamAn