The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18

state having a population OF lo.ooo "
upwards. while the duties Of such
board might be elaborated und<<4a
city ordinance and Its compcnsat.rn
liked by the city council. which wouId.
OF course. vary according % the duties
devolved upon them, and the time
given TO those duties.
In many particulars the various pro-
visions contained in House Bill No 700
could be abridged 30 as to leave the
city council TO determine each for it,
self the enactments which 10 contains.
But these would have to be formulated
by some n who has given the munich
pal government a careful study. Tire
great desideratum IL to define cara
fully the powers hat are delegated
wtthou hampering different city gov
ernments by exact legislation which
may be both expensive and nneces
sary.
Another matter that ureently calls
for legislation Is the mode OF annexing
contiguous and adjacent to a
city or town. The mode provided by
the present law is both cumbersome and
dilatory. At present the question Of
%annexing adjacent territory must be
voted on by the inhabitants Of the city
or town. and II a majority Of the votes
approve OF the annexation. that fact
must be certified TO the b ard Of county
commissioners. who thereupOn must
submit the question OF annexation to
the qualified electors residing in the
limits Of the territory which IL In pro-
posed 10 annex. II these do not favor
the annexation the project falls
through. Whereas. II they favor II IL
then may become Incorporated as a
part Of the city or town. In a city like
Butte. hos limits are constantly tx
tending. IL Is often a matter Of ecss
sity hat outlying limits which have
hoo. hTNfIs V,-Aa - - ..@ ---
pied for CITY purposes. should be ncor-
porated in the city without this uncer-
tain and roundabout procedure.
As a rule persons owning or occupy
Ing suburban property are averse to
annexation TO a city OF town for the
reason that il increases taxation. Yetit
is most important to the inhabitantbof
a city that in the extension Of streets.
alleys. water mains and all other city
improvements. that these should be
to outlying property which In
reality forms a part of the city. And
In case of fires. such adjacent property
and improvements reap all the benefits
OF property within the city limits. M
in other respects such property shares
the benefits without sustaining any Of
the burdens Of a city government. md
as long as the owners and occupants Of
such property can avoid doing so. they
will shirk the burdens. While IL may
not be desirable to ir-est a city with
authority to annex outlying limits
regard to their use or necessity
for city purposes. still the authority
be invested in the city to an
mex such outside property as is neces-
sary for the general welfare Of the city
and its inhabitants. or II this authority
Is not delegated to n city. then the
legislature should itself annex to every
city such adjacent property as Is built
u and which properly should form
part Of the city. The above are oniy
a few Of the many matters which might
be suggested for the consideration Of
Lawmakers OF the state. who are
to assemble in relena.
p. s. HARRINGTON. Mayor.
Butte. Dec. IL, 1898.