The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-04-26
SCHOOLS GO IN FOR CIVIC I'M
PROvEMENT.
OFFICERS ARE ELECTED
New ORGANIZATION Placed on Perma-
nent Footing-HeIena Sends Greet
ing and Encouragement.


Improvement league is manifesting a
vigor and earnestness that speaks we'll
for it's future and gives promise OF
much resultant good. Already the
membership is considerable and grow
ing rapidly, and judging from the
manner in which the league is taking
hold of it's self imposed task only a
little while will be required to give
substantial evidence of the benefits
to be derived from maintaining and
fostering an organization OF that
kind.
Last Friday evening the first regu-
lar meeting was held and notwith-
standing that different events conspir-
ed to keep away many who would have
been present otherwise, the attend
ance was large and the enthusiasm
great. AS temporary chairman Judge
Matheson presided. The constitu-
ton and bylaws tentatively adopted
at the initial meeting were submitted,
together with the signatures OF those
who had agreed to accept them and
affiliate with the league. The latter
were elected to regular membership.
Schools Will Help.
The following letter from c. S.
Brother, superintendent of the city
schools, was read:
Billings, Mont, April %, 1904.
Judge Matheson-Dear Sir: l re-
greet very much that 1 am unable to be
present with you this evening in your
meeting called for the purpose OF
giving further thought and considera-
ton to the organization OF the civic
improvement society. This move
ment deserves the sympathy and ear
nest cooperation of everyone who de-
sires to make Billings a more beauti-
full city, and l take this opportunity
Of assuring you of my willingness
to contribute in whatever way l can
towards the advancement of this grand
movement.
81 feel assured that the public
schools ear render a great service to
this organization by putting the chill
rem of our homes in possession of the
primary facts concerning the prepare
ton of soils, landscape gardening,
planting of seeds, and the care and
cultivation of plants. To the end that
we may effectively reach every child
in school, l wish to call your attention
to the fact that l have under consider
alton an outline containing instruc-
lions covering the points mentioned
above. These outlines will be placed
in the hands Of every teacher, and
each pupil will receive some helpful
suggestions in the matter OF carrying
out the ideas of this society.
81 would respectfully call your at
tention to n clause in your consti-
tuition, which, to my mind, should be
modified SO that it might include more
children. l refer to that clause which
imposes a fee of Is cents upon eevry
child who desires a membership in the
society. It appears to me this will
eliminate the very class of children
we are DESTROYS of reaching. l would
kindly suggest that membership OF all
children be conditioned upon we'll pre-
pared and nicely arranged flower
beds, clean yards, etc., evidence OF
&ho ca ~ ~ h1 f,,,v,;ob1l ~ %Lo oo-,
mittee before membership is allowed"
Officers Elected.
The following permanent officers OF
the league were elected:
President, ]. D. Matheson.
Vice president, 1. d. O'Donnell.
Secretary, W. Thaw Denniston.
Treasurer, Henry White.
Constitution Amended.
1t was evident that the suggestions
contained in the letter of Professor
Brother were considered as worthy OF
adoption, as several offered amend
ments to the constitution and bylaws
in accordance with the ideas contained
in the letter.
After some discussion it was agreed
to amend the clause relating to dues
by which all children under the age
of Is years are to be released from
the payment of dues, conditional
upon their promise to faithfully live
up to and carry out the ideas of the
league as far as lies within their
power. BY doing this it is hoped that
every child that has reached the age
of understanding may become inter
ested and enlisted in f%urtherance of
the cause for which the society has
been organized.