The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-07
THE BILL is DRAWN UP.
Measure for the Reform of Police
and Fire Departments.
THE ALDERMEN OBJECT
Soma of Them Prefer ths Old Spells Sys-
tenn to the Plan OF Putting the De-
partments on a Modern and
Business Footing.

The bill which the legislature is to be
| asked to pass placing the police and
fire departments under the control of a
police commission to be appointed by
the governor has been drawn up and
will be taken over to Helena probably
| next week. 1t seems that all the Butte
aldermen are not in favor of the bill
and for that reason it was not pre-
sented to the Butte city council for its
| Endorsement, as was originally intend
ed Instead a petition of citizens will
accompany this bill A large number of
citizens have signed the petition, but a
number of the aldermen have refused
| to sign it, and it is in fact claimed that
a majority of them have not signed it.
The mayor, however, has signed it, also
the city clerk and several of the alder
men.
The bill provides for police commits
sloners to be appointed by the governor
in cities of the first class, which will
be Butte, Helena, Great Falls and Ana
conda, it being expected that Anaconda
| VIII become city of the first class after
its next municipal election. The act
VIII take effect before the present ad-
as follows:
A bill for an act to create for each
| city of the first class in the state of
Montana, board of municipal service
commissioners to have the management
ana control of the police and fire de-
| paftments in such cities, and to pro-
| vide for the appointment of such COM
| mlssloners, to define and regulate their
duties and powers over such depart
| ments and the direction and removal
| OF officers and members thereof and
to repeal all laws in conflict Herewith.
Be it enacted by the legislative assem-
| ply of the State of Montana:
| Section l. There is hereby created for
! each city of the first class in this state,
| board of municipal service commits
sioners, which shall consist of the
| mayor of the city for which the same
| is created, and two resident taxpayers
OF such city to be appointed as members
| OF such board by the governor of this
| state, and who shall hold such position
| for the term of four years, or until the
appointment and qualification of their
successors; provided, that said COM
mlssloners so appointed shall not be of
the same political party, and the terms
| OF those first appointed under this act
snail be so arranged that one shall eX-
plre on the first Monday in January, A.
D. 1901, and the other on the first Mon
DAY IN January, A. D. 1903 No member
OF such board except the mayor shall
hold any other municipal office during
the term for which he is appointed.
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of such
board TO exercise supervisory control
over the police and fire departments of
the city for which the same is created
subject to the city council of such city
and to that end, it shall have power
to make and promulgate such rules and
regulations as it may deem best for
the management and control of each
department and for the guidance and
direction of members and officers there
Of In such board is hereby vested the
sole power to remove from office or
discharge any officer or member of
either department for any cause what
ever.
Sec. 3. There shall be appointed by
the mayor of each city of the first class
IN this state. subject to confirmation by
the city council thereof, a chief of police.
captain of police, a chief of the fire de-
paftment an assistant chief of the fire
department, and such number of police
men and firemen as the city council of
such city shall from time to time de-
termine to be necessary or advisable
The city council may prescribe the d,1
ties and qualifications and fix the com
pensation of such officials subject to
the limitations contained in this act.
Section 4. 1t shall be. the duty of the
chief of police:
l. To execute and return all process
issued by the police judge or directed
to him by any legal authority, and to
attend upon the police court regularly.
z. 10 arrest all persons guilty of
breach of the peace or for the viola
ton of any city or town ordinance, and
bring them before the police judge for
trial.
3. To have charge and control of all
policemen, subject to such rules as may
be prescribed by ordinance, and to re-
port to the council all delinuuencies or
neglect of duty or official misconduct of
policemen for action of the council.
A. The chief of police has the same
powers as a constable in the discharge
Of his duties, but he must not serve
a process in any civil action or proceed
ing except when a city or town is a
party.
5. To perform such other duties as
the council may prescribe.
Sec. s. 1t shall be the duty of the
chleT of the fire department
to assume the personal command and
direction over the fire department of
the city for which he is appointed and
all members thereof and over all other
persons who may be present at fires
He shall devote his entire time to the
duties of his office and to the end of
securing efficiency in said department,
and shall at all times have full power
as member of the police force Of said
city, which he is hereby constituted
and shall take a special oath of office as
such. He shall also perform such other
duties as may be required of him by the
city council of said city.
Sec. 6. The said board NAV bv a
majority vote, suspend for a stated
period or remove from office, or dis
charge any officer or member of either
department. for incompetency or for the
violation of any of the rules or reguIa-
tons of such department or for other
good cause; but only upon written
charges preferred against him and filed
with such board and after a public
hearing shall have been had thereon |
at a time to be fixed by the said board |
and upon at least four days notice |
thereof in writing to the party charged. |
At such hearing the complainant, who |
may be any member of the board or |