Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-01-06
NEW ATTORNEY
FOR THE CITY
Legal Adviser Of the City Council
Loses His Job Because He Was
Not at the Meeting.
QUESTION OF THE TOWN PUMP
Was Verbally Threshed Out But No
Decision Could be Reached
Other A%idermanie Business.

Bank meetings. shows, ct cetera
considerably delayed the regular
meeting OF the city council Monday
night, but about 10 o'clock the mayor
and four OF the common council got
together and proceeded TO do bust
ress. Most of the business was of a
Conversational nature. but much of
he talk was OF a real live character.
Towards the latter part of the even.
ing a question OF the legality of some
proposed action came up and II was
disc overed that the city attorney was
not present. Thinking it would be a
good lesson to certain city officers.
who ought to attend council meetings.
but who do not, the mayor promptly
declared the Office of city attorney
vacant. l.. H. De Kalb was forthwith
appointed to fill the vacancy and the
appointment was unanimously ION.
drmed. The appointment and con-
6rmation, however, are subject to the
qualification of Mr.. De Kalb.
"Rills from the Town Pump occu-
pied the greater part of the meeting.
Mr.. Bright, OF the Citizens Electric
company, was present to talk over
with the council the power question.
Alderman Littlejohn lead out by say.
ing that in his opinion the pump was
never operated In the proper manner
and this was responsible for the
breakdown. Mr.. Bright countered to
the effect that in his opinion the
pump was W properly installed,
and that without any doubt that was
the cause of the smashed cogs and
broken shaft, Each gentleman cited
an array of pump, cog and shaft ex-
perts to prove his contention. The
council at large discussed the advis-
ability of purchasing a reserve pump
to use in case the one now being
fixed breaks down. Some opposed
the scheme altogether, some thought
1t would be a good thing and some re-
fused to say what they thought. All
agreed that 1t is a calamity to have
a $4,000 water works system which
Is absolutely useless on account OF a
broken pump shaft, but all seemed to
be in the position of the man who
made famous the query, well, what
are you going to do about it?"
Finally, Alderman Symmes moved
that a committee, of which the may
or should be one member, be appoint.
ed to confer with Mr.. Bright, and, II
possible, come to some understanding
concerning the pumping, The mayor
appointed Alderman Symmes and Lit.
tlejohn to act with him on the com.
mittee.
The bill Of City Health Officer DR..
Treacy provoked the usual discussion.
Last winter when the scarlet fever
was epidemic in the city, one or two
big bills from the city health officer
caused the council to pass an ordi-
nance the force and effect of which
was that those who were quarantined
and whose places were disinfected
ohouiu pds ~ uiil VI luC utditn VI
ficer. The ordinance was never a
success as the people would never
obey it. Between the ordinance and
the people. the city health officer was
almost what his title implies, an of.
ficer working for his health. Monday
night DR.. Treacy's bill was laid over
to give the ordinance committee an
opportunity to look over the various
health ordinances to see IL the coun.
ell had the right to pay the bill.
The committee appointed to inves.
tigate the merits Of the application
of w. Fl. Culver for a reduction OF
water rates for the opera house re-
ported adversely on the request,
which was, therefore, disallowed. A
committee of Pinkley, Laux and
Hemphill was appointed to examine
the opera house al to its exits and
projections against fires.
The report of City Treasurer Cor.
don o. Shafer shows that Lewistown
Is in first-class shape financially. Dur
ing the month the treasurer received
$~l0,95S.57 from the county treasurer
This was apportioned as follows:
General fund, S4,3S3.54; road fund
s3,2S7.67; library fund, s1,O95.S9;
sinking fund, 5 2 .191.77. The report Of
Police Magistrate MACEDONIAN showed
fines in the amount of $50 collected
during the month. The report ol
Street Commissioner Bebb showed ex
penditures during the month ofs94.72
The following bills were allowed
Fourth and last payment on contrac'
of water works extension, John Eli
son, $281.68; z. w. Norton, labor
$40; Judith Hardware Company. sup
plies, $44.10; Mrs. Mary A. Sloane
salary as librarian, SIS; G. Bradbury
labor, $3.50; John Raw, salary, $16.25
C, d. Woodwork, hauling dog, soc
c. ID. Woodwork, drayage, 81; Mon
tana Lumber Company. $49.42: ]. c
Bebb. salary, 800; ID. r. Atchison
salary. $56.25; Gordon o. Shafer, sal
airy, $25; Ed. Stacey, labor. SIS; 7
l.. White, labor, $3.50; Lewistowl
Telephone Co., messages, $2.36; "
N. Everitt, deputy city treasurer, $40
A. Hopkins & Sons, supplies. S7.45
Citizens Electric Company, lights
1920; Citizens Electric Company
power, $50; Carl Won Tobel, cleanin
sidewalk, soc; +. F. MacG0wan, sa.
airy and office rent. $35; Albert Pau:
salary, $35; George VI. STAFFORD, sa
airy and labor, sl03; James McNultl
labor, s36; william Mclean, worl
SIS.