The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-09-29
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The city council meets again next
Tuesday evening. The session will
probably DO an interesting one. by rea'
son at the amount Of business left over
from the meeting Of two weeks ago.
The street railway franchises will be
settled in some manner. There Is
likely to be some protest against grant.
ing these franchises, as an agitation
has sprung up during the past ten days
against throwing away the oity's rights
to Its streets. Several of tho aldermen
have been approached on the matter
and arc giving ii some consideration,
which may mean 10 little discussion
when the franchise matter Is brought
mp next Tuesday night.
The ordinance introduced by Fri
zelle, declaring the desire OF the city
Of Billings TO purchase the water works
system, will DO reported upon by the
fire, light and water committee, to
whom it was referred. This committee
In composed Of Whitman, Clement and
Frizelle, and as each one is known to
favor the proposed action. the ordinance
will no doubt be reported favorably.
Alderman Frizelle will DO prepared to
make some pointed remarks II time
permits. He will also furnish some
statistics from cities which have
adopted the municipal ownership Of
water works, These cities when com
pared with those in which the water
works systems ARE owned by private
concerns, are found TO be more prosper.
GUS and having less indebtedness,
The Billings Wholesale grocery house
platform matter, on Minnesota avenue.
will be aired again. At the last meet.
ing the city clerk was instructed to
notify the chief Of police to notify the
firm to lower the platform eve with
the street grade at noe. The chief Of
police did his %duty-the grocery firm
has not yet complied with the order.
II is said that some sort Of a compro.
mise will be effected BY which the plat.
form will be partly lowered.
Alderman Clement Ii home from
Chicago and with no preventing Provi.
denee will DO present at the meeting
next Tuesday night.
Alderman Berky, successor TO OK.
Alderman st. John, does not carry him.
self In the council rooms as q stranger.
He has entered upon the duties Of his
office as though he was an old hand at
the business. just what committees
he will serve on Ia not known, as
Mayor Yegen stated to The Gazette re.
porter that he would revise the present
order. II makes no difference what
committees Mr.. Berky Ia placed upon,
no will be found doing jealous work
for the oity's welfare.
Alderman Bennighotf' = proposed new
city hall will probably take some
shape, II that gentleman ia given the
opportunity to do q little talking.
Just what will be his mode Of proceed.
ure Ia unknown, az MI. B%ennighoff has
taken n n into his confidence, and
refused to divulge his plans to the re.
porter. But q city hall Ia needed, all
right, and Il Mr. B%ennighotf can push
through q scheme to build one without
raising taxes, he will indeed be a pub.
lilo beMefaotor.
The council convened IN special ses.
sion at s O'Clock Wednesday night for
the purpose of approving and accepting
the bond OF T. II. Kinds, for the faith.
ful performance Of the sewer contract.
The bond was fled In the sum Of $780,.
900, with T..R, Kinds 40 principal tor
$40, 900; A. l.. Babcock, surety, $lO,-
900; l.. II. Fenske, surety, $4,000, and
Joseph Zimmerman, surety, 5000. Az
1t was a special meeting for this pur.
pose only, the council did no further
business. {
A matter which will probably come
mp at some meeting at no distant time .
VIII DO the Arrangement Of u schedule {
OF wages to be paid BY tho city for all J
common labor done for 1t. At alrecent I
meeting there was some informal talk
regarding this matter. accustomed BY a '
bill OF certain laborer who charged tho l
city VI a day for some street work. :
The aldermen thought IL was "soaking" q
the city a little too much aud said 30,
but allowed the bill. The alderman J
think that In view Of the fact that the t
city pays cash for ITS labor, that IL
should DO done an cheap az though done
a private party, {
AT the meeting next Tuesday night {
Inc council will receive bids for build \
lnR sidewalks for tho city Of Billings.
The city expects to do considerable q
sidewalk building during the next few b
months and tho council thinks the work !