The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-02-02
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{ COUNCIL CHAMBER. !

\ COUNCIL CHAMBER. \
Much interest will center around
the council meeting next Tuesday
night. tor more than n reason. In
the first place, the council ia to elect a
new CITY treasurer, whose duty it will
be to be guardian of the city's dough"
which, by the way, amounts to over
$S, 900 at present aud is increasing. 1t
is remarkable that there are SO many
who are willing to be the custodian
Of the wad, and all for the big sum (?)
Of $33lsper month or $500 per year.
Some men are willing to give up al.
most anything for the paltry Office and
there are said to be about an even half
dozen Of them, 1t is rumored that n
man, apparently, has the inside track
on the office. having approached the
aldermen with a*eproposition which,
naturally, would appeal to the s1asAEt
Of a humane and sympathetic persaus
But more than one mans nalne may be
presented and the election will probably
not be unanimous. Alderman Bennig.
hoff wanted the council relieved Of the
unpleasant duty of electing n man
and making about FIVE others "sore,"
by holding an election tor city treasurer
this spring and let all the six candi.
dates fight it out at the polls. But as
the term Of city treasurer does not ex.
pire until May, 1901. this could not be
done and the candidates will be saved
the expense Of cigars and liquors on
election day-by the time 1901 rolls
around about tour OF the six will fall
out Of the race.
When the council oonvenes next
Tuesday night they will be greeted by
an air of freshness aud cleanliness in
the fire hall, for Chief of Police Bond
aud members Of the fire department.
have been cleaning house. The carpet
has been taken mp and the dust Of years
beat out Of it, and everything else in
the room has been treated to a thorough
cleaning and airing. Even the Maver.
ioks appreciate the new atmosphere
which pervades the oom now. and can
read with more ea%rnestness, play bill.
ards and cards and otherwise enjoy
themselves to the fullest extent.
4
The bill for clothing and furnishings
to the smallpox patients, which so as.
tonished the aldermen about three
weeks ago on it's first appearance on ac-
count Of the high-prioed articles, will
come up again for final disposition.
There seems to be no other way than to
pay the bill. but some of the council
will probably express their views on
the matter. There has been some little
talk Oh the streets regarding the matter
and the citizens generally believe the
prices paid for the clothing, etc., were
a little steep. But as Bennighoff said,
latter taking the action that the u
oil did what are we going to do about
it?" It's a case Of swallow the pill.
bitter though it may be.
It is queer, indeed, the many kickers
there always are when some certain
action is to be taken by the council. but
did you stop to ponder that those kick
ers never peep into the council room
for the purpose of airing their grtev-
ances. The council meetings are not
behind closed doors and if at any time
a citizen has a complaint, which comes
under the province Of the city council,
he should report at headquarters instead
Of making it known on the streets.
The street lighting proposition is Il
which will probably receive the early
attention Of the council. The commit.
tee on fire, lights aud water, to whom
was referred the matter Of seeing how
far fifty lights would 70, should be
able to make a report Tuesday night.
Billings needs many more lights, but
if the city has to pay at the rate Of
$ll9 a year for each light, it is high
time Billings was putting in an electric
lighting plant of it's own. It's a case
of too much ''mon."
The action Of the council in raising
the salary Of the oity's policeman to
$40 a month has had the desired effect
that of securing good men who will
do their duty. Chief Of Police Bond is
we'll pleased with his force and the citi.
ems can feel we'll satisfied with the
work done by them.
y
The people have probably heard the
first aud last of the petition Of W. j.
Bennett for a $500 divy from the city
for the loss no suffered to his business
during the smallpox quarantine. All
the cases of smallpox that Billings had
originated in Benefits place, and be-
sides this he can thank his stars that
the council hasn't or doesn't revoke his
license.
The north side sewer system will be
completed by the first of the week and
formally turned over to the city council
at its meeting next Tuesday night.
The system would have been completed