The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-26

John Mccormick. damage to prop
erty by water, 1920.
John Mccormick, damage to proper
ty by water as a result of a defective
sewer $3.50.
Philip Leonard, personal injuries,
81, 500.
Della Hanrahan, personal injuries,
So. $50.
Lou Metz, personal injuries, s., 900.
Joseph Dewitt, damages to property,
$780,"
With the exception of the last named,
all the damages and injuries incurred
were during Mr.. Thompson's term of
office. Mr.. Thompson was opposed to
all public improvements. Everything
got out of repair. He was penny wise
and pound foolish and refused a few
dollars to patch up a sidewalk or fix
sewer. Now the city is paying the PEN
atty for Mr.. Thompson's shortsighted-
ness. A few dollars would have fixed
the sidewalks on which Philip Leonard
was injured. Mr.. Thompsons lack of
enterprise now costs the city $500. A
sidewalk off which Della Hanrahan fell.
Now the taxpayers have to pay 81, $50
Lou Metz received $4,000 for injuries re-
ceived on one of Thompson's sidewalks.
In justice the amounts of the judg-
ments should be charged against the
Thompson administration. They have
been paid during Harringtons term,
but the sins are the sins of Thompson.
Had he been less niggardly, had he
been wiser and spent a few dollars for
public Improvements, he would have
saved to the people of Butte in judg-
ments alone several times the amount
| of his salary. The city's streets and
| sidewalks were in a deplorable eondi-
| ton when Mr.. Harrington assumed Of
| flee. Mr.. Thompson's sole idea was to
| lower the city's Indebtedness. In order
| to do that he would incur no expense
| in public Improvements or even in need
| ed repairs. These repairs and improve
ments had to be made and Mr.. Harring-
| ton on assuming office Immediately
| went to work to make them. They
| should have been made by Thompson.
| But it was imperative that they be
| made at once. 1t is because all the
| public improvements and repairs of
| four years have been done during the
| past two years that Mr.. Harrington has
| not been enabled to reduce the indebt-
| edness as much as did Mr.. Thompson.
| Had Mr.. Thompson been in line with
| municipal growth, had he done his
share of public work, Mr.. Harringtons
| record in reducing indebtedness would
| have been better than Mr.. Thompson's.
| The credit of the city has been
| brought to par under Mr.. Harrngtons
efficient management, ably seconded by
Mr.. Mccarthy as treasurer. The repub-
lican platform says: I'VE demand that
| no employee of the city government be
| paid his wages in deprecated war
| rants" What happened to city en-
ployes under Thompson's rule? War
rants were discounted at 5 per cent.
| To-day, through the efforts of Mayor
| harrington, warrants are now disposed
of at par. This is in spite of the fact
that city warrants now bring only 6
per cent interest, while under Thomp-
son they brought 7 per cent. interest.
Mayor Harrington has accomplished
| what the republican platform demands.
! Why did not the last republican admin
| ter than ever before The people have
confidence in the administration They
| know they are getting something for
| their money, for they can see the i'm
| provements that are made When
| Thompson was mayor they could not
| tell where the money went to, for there
was nothing to show for it.
The Inter Mountain also contends
| that the license collections have not
been so large under the Harrington ad-
| ministration as under the Thompson
! administration. 1t goes farther and de-
clares that "favorites have been
played" that collections have not been
made from some who ought to pay The
statement that favorites have been
| played is absolutely false. 1t is on
| par with other indefinite charges made
by the Inter Mountain. Name the men
| who have not been compelled to pay
| licenses, owing to favoritism. The IN
| ter Mountain says that the collection of
| licenses during the Thompson admins
| tration exceeded the collection under
| the Harrington administration by
$5953.50. During part of Mr.. Thomp-
| sons administration gambling was IL
| censed and a large revenue was re-
| ceived by the city from that source