The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-18
BUTTE News.
IN FAVOR Of A CHANGE
Council Meetings Should Be Held
in the Afternoon.
IT WILL GIVE MORE TIME
Long Night Meetings Are a Detriment
to the Public Service-Aldermen
Inclined to Slight Impor-
tant Matters.
IT WILL GIVE MORE TIME

There is an agitation in city hall cir
cles in favor of hereafter holding the
city council meetings in the afternoon
instead of evening. City Attorney
Lamb and City Clerk Callan have de-
clared themselves unqualifiedly in IA
vor of the change, and several of the
aldermen have also expressed them
selves favorable to a change. The prin-
cipal argument used by the advocates
of the change is that at late night ses-
sions the aldermen are too impatient
and too sleepy to give important mat
tiers the calm consideration which they
should have. The end of the session is
hurried through, everybody wants to
adjourn and intelligent debate and dis
cussion becomes impossible
The talk in favor of afternoon ses-
sions was particularly strong yesterday
after the long and trying session of
Wednesday night 1t was nearly 1880
o'clock when the evenings work was
cleared up, and then much of the work
was done very hurriedly and some
matters which should have been at
tended to were postponed altogether.
Some of the most important matters
of ALL" said member of the city gov
eminent yesterday, came up after 10
o'clock at night. The aldermen wanted
to be home and many things We're
rushed through without proper consld-
Grafton. When some of the aldermen
started into debate propositions others
looked at them with Impotence and
were evidently only anxious to have the
matter disposed of in some way so that
they could adjourn and get home. Be
sides that the aldermen as midnight
approached are not in as good condition
mentally to discuss matters of import
ance as they should be. When matters
of municipal importance are to be de-
cided the men who have the decision in
their hands should be at their best
mentally. But after their bed time
hour the aldermen cannot be expected
to have as careful judgment as in the
middle of the day.
Il would be in favor of starting the
council meetings at l or 1:30 o'clock
in the afternoon. Then there would be
no excuse for hurrying things or slight
ing anything. There would be plenty
of time for full and free discussion of
every proposition and for investigation
as we'll.
'If the business was not all trans
acted by o'clock in the evening, a
recess for dinner could be taken until
o'clock and the business finished up
in the evening. When evening sessions
only are held every one is watching
the clock and wondering when he will
get home. This is particularly the case,
inasmuch as it is usually between $3.50
and 9 o'clock before quorum arrives
and business is moving.
II think the aldermen could attend In
the afternoon as well as in the evening.
Aldermen show up for committee meet
ings in the afternoon and they could
show up for a council meeting just as
WELL There are always some absentees
at evening sessions, and 1 do not think
there would be any less on hand if the
meetings were held in the afternoon.
In order to change the regular meet
ings from evening to afternoon, it
would be necessary to amend the ordi-
nance on the subject"