The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-21

Ing WOuIu DS lllSSdl anu III COuOc
quence the bank had refused to take
the warrants. !
So far as the board was concerned
Mr.. Parker said it's members were at
a loss az to what should be done in
regard to selling the bonds that they
had been clearly empowered by the
people to issue and sell. The county
attorney held that the proceedings
had been regular, but the trouble was
that nobody wanted the bonds, az the
attorneys of the bidders did not agree
with the county's legal adviser. In
the opinion OF the commissioners
about the only way out of the diff
ticulty was to hold a special election,
but before any action in this regard
was taken they wanted to hear from
some of the people and learn what
they desired, whether to hold a spec
ial election, or allow the matter to
60 over until the next general cleo
| ton, which would incur a delay of at
least three years.
Different Minds.
Fred H. Foster, who has had con-
| siderable experience in matters. OF
that kind, was OF the opinion that I'M
der section 4196 the board had the
power to issue warrants, say in the
sum of $4,000, ana by virtue of the
authority given by the people to en-
ter into a loan, and the provisions OF
! the section quoted, it could convert
them into bonds. Then more war
rants could be issued and again con-
verified into bonds, until the entire
amount of the loan authorized had
been exhausted.
P. H. Smith was in favor of holding
a special election. He said all were
agreed that a new court house was
one Of the imperative needs OF the
county and he believed that ii submit
ted to them the people would vote
again as they voted last fall, in favor
OF the bonds.
A discussion general in its scope
now followed. From the tenor it took
it was apparent that many were of the
opinion that II submitted specially
the proposition would be defeated.
Representatives from the south side,
who favored the bonds, gave it as
their belief that a large vote would
be out against them, as last fall a
strong feeling had existed that way
and only the fear that some Of the
candidates favored by the anti-bond
men would be defeated in case they
made their enmity too apparent and
strong had deferred them from voting
Nolidly against the bonds.
When the time arrived for the
board to adjourn for the noon recess
no definite action had been decided
4 upon and, it was agreed. to leave the
matter for further consideration al
the afternoon session.
Where the Defect Is.
AS previously noted the defect
found by the different lawyers is pure
~ a technical one. The commission
ers in submitting the matter to the
vote of the people complied with the
spirit, but not with the letter of the
law.
The question of the bond issue was
voted upon on a separate ballot, which
was as follows:
"coURT HOUSE AND JAIL CUES
TION."
"Shall Yellowstone county incur al
, indebtedness ana liability not to eX
r coed s~eventy-hve thousand dollars
!. ($75, OOO) for the purpose OF a build
, ing a court house and Jail at Billings
For the Indebtedness and liabilit,
!, for a court house and Jail at Billings
!, against the Indebtedness and liza
j, bility for a court house and Jail a
! Billings"
+ Instead OF stating in full the nature
of the indebtedness and liability to b.
, contracted, as was done IN the TIVE
. paragraphs opposite the square ler
for the voter in which to signify hi
choice, section 4273 states the word
ing shall be For the loan," "Agains
the loan"
+ No Decision Arrived At.
At 8 o'clock this afternoon the com
> missioners had as yet not arrived a
o any conclusion concerning the cours'
\ they intend to pursue. They wer'
still discussing the matter and hear
, ing more of the wishes of the PEG
pie. 1t was thought, however, tina
something definite would be done be
fore the board adjourned for the day