The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-09

The Newly Hlsctsd Aldermen
Hold q Caucus.
POLICE FORCE CHANGES
It Il Probable That the Aldermen VIII
Be Recognized When the Mayor
Makes His Appointments
Next Meeting.

hArRCtC0 9fOuifo III . RHCtty
strong. healthy kind Of a whisper that
the newly elected democratic aldermen
held q caucus the other day to con-
slider the subject of the mayors ofncial
appointments and the attitude they
should take in regard to the appoi 1T
ments. There was no opposition what
ever to the heads Of the various de-
partments appointed by the mayu~ last
Monday night. the new aldermen os-
Gliding hat they would interpose no
objection to the oid heads of depart
ments being rea~ppointed. However. IL is
understood that their attitude will be
very different in regard to the ap.
pointments for the minor Offices. po-
licemen. ETC.. which Il is expected will
be made by the mayor at the next
council meeting.
1t is not understood that the new aid
ermen have special objection to any Of
the present policemen or other subordi-
nate officers nor do they desire 10 be In
an attitude hostile to the mayor or to
the administration. They do, however.
want a few changes made In order that
some of their particular friends n
supporters may be rewarded.
IF Butte were under the m%etropoli-
tan police system" said one Of the new
aldermen yesterday, in explaining their
position to a Standard reporter, I'VE
would not ask to have changes made
I am sorry for one that Butte IL not
under the metropolitan system. but the
fact remains that IL is not and II v
has been. With every change OF ad-
ministration the great majority of the
policemen and other officials are
changed. / admit that the policemen
ought to hold office as a reward of merit
instead of as a reward of politics. But
they don't, nevertheless. No matter
how efficient the policemen may be it is
certain that IL another party gets into
power next year the police force will be
changed from top to bottom.
Such being the case. u contention
is that 1t is not fair for the aldermen
elected in odd years to have the naming
of all the policemen and other officials,
while the aldermen elected on ever
years a w nothing whatever to say in
regard to the appointments. The alder
men who were elected last year at the
same time with the mayo were con-
suited in regard to the appointments
and could get positions for some OF
their friends. But. we poor aldermen
who We're elected this year find all the
offices filled already and no places for
any VI Jul pdItltuidi hSChuo uhi'e
changes are mad Now 1t is just as
hard to get elected on a year when
the mayor is not to be elected as on
a year when ne is to be elected, and We
ought to nay some plums. That Is our
position. We don't want to throw any
good men out of Office, but there are
some men on the force and in other po-
sitions whose places could probably be
filled TO better advantage and we have
some mon IN suggest for those places."
: 1t is aid that the new aldermen had
a conference with the mayor the other
day and laid their case before him The
mayor admitted that there is some jus
tice in their argument and so has de-
cided to make a few changes in the. po-
lice force in order to give the new aid
ermen an opportunity to work In some
Of their friends. The bulk of the force
will, however, remain as at present. 1t
is understood also that an effort is be-
ing made to change one of h sanitary
officers.
A local paper recently referred In a
sensational way to the fact that the
old city attorney, Judge De Wolfe. was
not reappointed with the other heads
Of departments last Monday night and
made it appear that the neglect TO re-
appoint Judge De Wolfe means that he
is to be decapitated. This conclusion
shows a painful Ignorance of munich
pal affairs on the part OF the local pa
per. The city attorney Is the only OH
cial whose appointment is for a term
of two years. The mayor couldn't re-
move him, IL he wanted to. for the
statute provides that he shall be APP
pointed for two years. Judge De Wolfe
will not be reappointed, but he will hold
Office until his term expires, which Will
be a year n