The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-03-19
MISTAKE OF THE COUNCIL.

4th day of April, 1898, at which, it
says, there is to be elected one may
or and one alderman for each ward |
of the town of Neihart, omitting to
say for how long those officers are to
serve. This leaves the public be-
nighted with respect to the second
and third wards where rather anoma-
lous conditions exist. 1t seems that
by expiration of term of Office e
years. John r. Fitzsimmons and A.
G. Wilson, representing respective
ly third and second ward, each go
out to give place to successors who
will be elected April 4th, next. This
is at least the general belief. But
their colleagues, Jonathan McAssey
il, third and VIM. Bonner in second
ward have large Interrogation points
hanging over their heads, which the
public should pause to look at.
In the case of Mr.. McAssey, the
man was chosen one year ago, by the
council, the occasion being failure
of the one popularity elected to quail
ify. The question hanging upon
McAssey is ''May town council f II
vacancies for longer period than
that between general elections,
which occur annually?" If the one,
popularity elected from third ward
one year ago failed to qualify as aid
erman, why should not the people of
third ward this year have another
chance to elect their officer? This
question may involve very simple
legal point, but it will certainly bear
inquiry. Not in the interest of friend
or favorite, not as we should wish it
to be, but according to the divine
law of right, and universal fairness
With no other motive than that
actuated by fairness and right, we
ask: els town council bigger than
a town." Can council, having de-
rived all its powers from the people,
turn about and usurp popular pow
ers in defiance of the popular will?
In second ward there is still more
unusual condition. We refer to the
seat held by Mr.. Bonner, He has
made good alderman. And we do
not believe, if he were lmbued with
notion of his inability longer to sit
as alderman of second ward, that he
would insist upon holding the place
until the people should once more
elect him. But, elected for two
years, he has already held the place
for three years, and evidently intends
to hold it for another year. One
year ago, when his term of office
should have expired by legal limita-
ton, he held over because his sue
cessor failed to qualify. He simply
held the seat for want of some one
to take it from him. He sat in coun-
Gil, voted upon all motions respect
ing his right to sit, and virtually
elected himself for on indefinite
length of time to sit as councilman
for the big ward.
We say an indefinite length OF
time; for why could he not each year
vote that his seat is not vacant
Why might he and all the council
do so from year to year, and thus es'
cape these unpleasant and unneces'
sary elections? We blame Mr.. Bon.
ner no more than those who voted
. with him, but must register an OBJ
lection when autocrats rule the towr
by denying the people the right te
say who shall rule.
A reference to the council pro-
ceedings of one year ago shows thai
the council took no definite action il
the case of Mr. Bonner. He wa.
not chosen by the council to fill {
vacancy as in the case of Mr.. Meas
sey. The question was aired at the
time, legal advice was obtained
and filed; and upon every
motion affecting his own claim, Mr.
Bonner voted to retain the seat, ant
thus held his place. Finally, the
subject was dropped without a de
cision.
The HERALD in these suggestion
is altogether uninAuenced by parti
san forces from without or by ssl6sl
natives frAua xx;tbip We L. po-