The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-10

IA F~S
was adopted without a dissenting
Under the provisions of the
all moneys derived from
taxes paid ny insurance companies,
fire, in accordance with the provi-
sions of section 681 of the civil code
of Montana, are to be placed in the
newly created fund, as provided by
section s of the same code, which pro-
vides for the organization Of fire de.
partments in towns, cities and will
ages.
AS a starter the sum of $131.51 was
ordered transferred from the general
fund to the newly created disability
fund. To further increase the fund,
if possible, the city attorney was in
structed to begin suit against Yellow
stone county for the recovery of the
sum of $239.O2. being the amount OF
taxes due the disability fund for 1902
and which has not yet been paid to
the city.
New Law 10 Applied.
Billings Telephone company
presented a petition for an extension
of it's franchise. which expires by
limitation October 3, 1909. The COM
pany wanted ito charter extended for
Is years from the uate named and
gave as it's reason that it desired to
erect a building in North Twenty
seventh street, hut aid not care to
undertake it, unless assured that
it's franchise would be longer lived
than the limit now placed upon it.
Alderman Hogue introduced a bill
for an ordinance having for it's object
an extension of the franchise held by
the Moffett telephone system,
The petition Of the Billings company
was tabled, as the council is not pos
essed, under tina state law, Of the
power to grant any franchise for a
public utility without permission to
do so has first been granted by the
people at an election held for the pur-
pose of voting upon an application for
such franchise. FOR the same reason
no action was taken on the bill OF
Mr.. Hogue.
Old Method Retained.
The time having arrived for the
city to enter into the various annual
contracts for supplying it with print
ing, lumber, ETC.. Alderman Stoddard
made a little talk on the subject Of
contracting. He advocated a change
in methods, wherever possible, and
moved that henceforth instead of en-
tering into contracts the city arrange
to have all work done by day labor
He wanted the innovation to apply te
| sprinkling of streets, constructing O
sidewalks. ewers and in fact all worl
of that kind.
His colleagues did not take kindl.
to the proposed change and when tn
matter came up for final considera
ton it was voted to advertise for bid
as usual. Mr.. Stoddard was the onl!
one who voted in the negative and tn
clerk was instructed to follow tn
custom that has always obtained ant
invite proposals for printing, lumber
sidewalk construction, etc.
The bids submitted will be opene'
at the first meeting of the council ii
May.
Miscellaneous.
Favorable report was made on tn
petition Of Mashaw and others for a
extension of the water main in Mort
T~hirty-second street, from FOurt
avenue, north, to Sixth avenue, nortf
Like report vas made on the petltlo
of Erickson & Scott, ct al, for the e'
tablishment OF an arc light at the II
tersection of First avenue, north, an
Twenty-sixth street.
Both reports were adopted.
The action of the fire water an
light committee in reporting adverse
ly on the petition for the extension
the water service from Sixth avenu'
south, between blocks 1874 and 2l4, I
South Twenty-seventh strete was SUI
tanned and the petition denied.
Monthly reports from the differer
CITY officers we're received n ha
ing passed inspection by the varlot
committees to whom they had bee
referred were accpeted.
A petition for a water main in Mort
Twenty-second street, between MO
tana avenue and Fourth avenue, mort
was referred to the fire, water al