The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-22
STEP TOWARD CITY OWNERSHIP
OF WATER WORKS.
ASKS PENSION FOR WIDOW
Resolution by Bennighoff in Accord
ance with Previous Notice-Trib.
ute to Brave Officer.

= Municipal ownership of public util-
tiles received it's formal recognition by
the city council last Tuesday, when
the first step was taken toward what
may eventually result in the city's
acquisition of the present water works
plant, or the possible construction OF
new system.
The matter was placed before the
council by Alderman McElroy At
ter few wor0s Of preliminary talk
he moved that the mayor be authoriz-
ed to appoint committee, consisting
of one alderman from each ward, to
secure the services of an expert en-
gineer, the committee and the en-
gineer to make a thorough investi-
cation of the merits and value of the
water plant owned by the Billings
Water Power company, and also to
look into the feasibility of establishs-
ing gravity system. No time was
fixed by the motion for report, the
action of Mr.. McElroy being more in
the nature of a tentative move to
ascertain the ideas of his colleagues
as regards ultimate ownership by
the city of water plant.
The motion prevailed and Mayor
Foster announced that he would name
the committee at the next meeting OF
the council.
To Pension Mrs. Hannah.
Pursuant to his notice given at for
mer meeting, Alderman Bennighoff
offered the following self-explanatory
resolution:
"Be it resolved by the honorable
council of the city of Billings, coun-
ty of Yellowstone, state of Montana:
Recognizing the fact that merit and
fidelity to duty in any position, how
ever humble, should receive it's just
need of praise, and is entitled to more
than empty flattery of words, and TAX
ing consideration of the fact that the
relation of the city to its officers is
that of the employer and employe, and
that the direction and management of
the affairs of the city is vested in the
mayor and councll, from whom only
can come just recognition for un-
usual acts of fidelity on the part of the
city's officers, and furthermore that
the mayor and council have learned
from experience that only the best
material obtainable should compose
the force of men in the employment
of the city, and especially in the de-
partment of police onicers, this coun-
Gil, as a mark of it's appreciation OF
the bravery of Police Sergeant Robert
| T. Hannah, who was killed on the
morning of July 2, while in the brave
and fearless discharge of his duty,
and in discharge of what the council
considers just debt to the widow and
children of this brave officer, does
hereby resolve that the city of Bill
ings shall pay the said widow q stip-
ulated sum each month, the payments
to continue SO long as she shall live
or remain a widow, the amount OF
the said monthly payments to be
agreed upon by the council in regular
form at date as early as the matter
may be brought before this body 1T
lis hereby suggested that the said
amount be fixed at $3.50
"The undersigned fully believes
that in the passage of this resolution
a precedent will be created that will
better insure the loyalty of the po-
lice officers to the city, as it is an i'm
piled assurance that the brave dis.
charge of their duty will receive just
and righteous recognition at the hands
of those who now and hereafter may
have the affairs of the city in their
1 discharge.
Respectfully submitted.
GEORGE F. BENNIGHOFF."
Il Matter Is Referred.
4 The resolution was discussed at
some length and the resulting dis.
cussion brought out general desire
on the part of the aldermen to give 1t
favorable consideration. When notice