The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-24
LIKE N~APoLEoN's ARMY.
City Council Marches Up the Hill and
Down Again.

From Wednesdays Daily Gazette.
Only Connolly was absent when the
clerk called the roll of aldermen at
last nights meeting Of the city coun-
Gil.
The finance committee reported the
monthly reports of the police magis-
trate and chief of police. That of the
magistrate was accepted and that of
the chief was returned for correction.
The committee also reported favora-
bly, on the bond of r. H. Beeman. The
bond of o. c. Overn, city treasurer,
appointed to succeed James Kelly,
with the United States Fidelity and
sum of $4,000, was accepted.
The final report of MI. Kelly show
ing a balance Of $61,173.51 in all the
funds, was submitted by the finance
committee, with check attached and
reported as absolutely correct. APP
proved.
The special committee appointed to
examine into the matter of the bids
for steel furniture for the city clerks
office recommended acceptance of the
bid of the Irwin-HodsOn company, for
1922. The other bids were, Norris
Safe and Lock company, $368.75; Art
Metal company $500.
Nh ~D0r rr,oc n10rfnd on1 0nn-
tract awarded.
A petition for an arc light at the in
%tersection of Fifth avenue and North
T%hirty-frst street was referred.
The finance committee submitted a
list of d%elinquents for licenses and
the same was turned over to the new
treasurer.
On motion of White the vote on ac-
ceptance of the report of the police
n agistrate was reconsidered and the
report re-referred.
Discussion now ensued relative to
an ordinance prohibiting expectora-
ton on sidewalks. Hogue of. the COM
m:ttee thought it would be useless to
instruct the committee to prepare an
ordinance of that kind, as it would
not pass. He said the expressions Of
a majority of the aldermen had salts
fed him of this.
The mayor thought such an ordi-
! nance should have place on the list
of the city's laws.
A number of bills were favorably
reported and allowed. s
G. w. English appeared to enter a
protest against the construction of
sidewalks in front of his property, Or
dered some time ago. He said that at
one meeting the council had voted to
rescind the action ordering the con-
%struction Of the walk.
Upon examination of the minutes it
was found that such was the case,
and also that at a still later meeting
a motion was passed ordering the
walk to be built.
Berky said that only two property
owners in the block under considera-
ton, No. Z, had signed the petition
for a walk. He considered it a hare
ship to compel anybody to go to the
expense of building sidewalks for the
convenience Of people living outside
the city limits.
Considerable discussion ensued and
it developed that a majority of the
aldermen were of the opinion that
when the motion to order the walk
Ebuilt was passed they did not quite
understand the situation. 1t develop.
ed that a walk already existed On the
opposite side of the street and that
by constructing a eros walk all would
be given the beneil + a sidewalh
from the ground in pute to the
business part of the city.
Berky, seconded by White moved
that the order for the walk be rescind
ed. erried.
Connolly and Cothron of the side
walk committee voted no and said tina
as far as they were concerned the,
would make no more reports on side
walks. They said that they had re
ported in favor of constructing the
walk and considered it unfair tina
some people were compelled to buiit
walks in the same block, while other:
were exempt. They had made an ex
animation and concluded that it wa!
but fair to report for the walk.
Reynolds now asked that an ay4
and nay vote be taken. Those vot
ing to rescird We're Stoddard, Berky
White, Hogue, !; horson. Nays, Reyn
olds, Connolly and Cothron.
City Attorney Johnston said tn
contract for building the new city hall
awarded to the Billings Lumber com
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