The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-12-20
ARE MADE VICTIMS OF UNFAIR
COMPETITION.
HAVE CHAMPION IN COUNCIL
Alderman Thorson Complains Of Man.
ner Business is Done On
the Line.

From Wednesdays Daily Gazette.
Berky and Cothron failed to re-
spond when Clerk Matheson called the
roll of the city council last night.
Reynolds of the finance committee
reported that he had examined the
reports of the police magistrate and
chief of police and found them to be
correct. The amount of fines collected
for the month of November was $685..
A number of bills were reported
f%avorably, among them several for re-
bates on sidewalk taxes, it having
been shown that the parties making
the claims had been assessed for
crossings, which are a charge against
the city.
F. M. Carter submitted a satisfac-
tory bond and was granted a license
as a retail liquor dealer.
Judge Mann was present and the
matter of his request for an allow
ance for Office and telephone rent was
again taken up. The ordinance max
ing an appropriation for maintaining
the office of police magistrate was
read. 1t was found that the sum of
5000 a year, including office rent, was
appropriated for that purpose.
Being given the privilege of adj
dressing the council, the judge said
that the salary of $50 a month was
small enough and that a little Gift"
from the city in the way of rent would
be very. acceptable.
White thought that it would not be
proper for the city to pay office rent,
but if it became apparent that a tele-
phone was necessary for properly con-
Quoting the business naturally arising
between the police magistrate and the
police department M should be plac-
ed in the magistrates office at the
city's expense.
On motion of Reynolds it was or
dered that a phone be placed in the
magistrates Office.
Judge Mann again took the floor and
said that as the council had seen fit
to be extremely generous with the
city clerk and chief of police, furnish
ing the former with an Office and va
rious c~onveniences, and voting a spec
ial monthly allowance to the chief for
a horse, he thought a little generosity
nc For nc hie oAHa1 voc ooraorra1
would not be amiss.
Stoddard said he was reminded that
the horse which the city was main
tanning for the convenience of the
chief of police was supposed to be
kept at the fire station for the bene-
fit of the driver of the hose wagon,
SO that he might use it in going to
his meals. 1t seemed, however, that
the driver was deprived of the use of
the animal and was compelled to
walk to and from his meals.
Chief Warner replied to the alder
mans complaint by saying that to per-
nit the fireman to use the horse in
the manner stated would necessarily
compel it's absence to such an extent
as to interfere greatly with the pur-
pose for which the allowance was
made. Furthermore the allowance of
$50 a month was to cover
all the incidental expenses of the
chiefs Office and was not for the
specific purpose stated by the council
man. The chief said he had bought
and paid for the horse and buggy and
was giving the city the use of the out
fit for the benefit of the police force
in consideration of the allowance un.
der discussion.
The vote making the allowance was
hunted up and it developed that the
$50 was a monthly allowance for horse
hire and all incidental expenses of his
office. This closed the horse debate.
Thorson now took occasion to en-
ter a protest against the manner In
which certain things we're allowed to
u in Minnesota avenue. He spoke
in the interest of the saloon men, who
he said were compelled to give heavy
bonds, pay license and submit to ex.
acting restrictions, while the keepers
OF variety shows, bawdy houses and
dance houses were permitted to dc
about as they pleased. Women pat
ronized their bars and went in and
out at all hours without let OF
hindrance and were to be seer in and
about them day and night. He thought
something should be done to compe.
such people to keep within bounds
and the ordinances covering the case
should be enforced. To force saloor
keepers to pay license and permit
the places he complained of to do bus
mess without doing likewise was man
Restly unfair to the owners of the
lnwstinnotn r1ococ