Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-11-23
CITY OFFICERS
IN CONVENTION
REPRESENTATIVES, OF OVER 20
MONTANA MUNICIPALITIES
MEET HERE
A. c. KIRKLAND MAKES AN ADDRESS

The sixth annual convention of tho
Montana Municipal League convened
at the city hall Monday morning and
three sessions marked the opening
day. the proceedings at each one being
very interesting, although the matters
discussed were Of a nature In which
those having to do with the city ud-
ministration are chiefly concerned.
Morning Session.
The attendance at the morning ses,
sion was not very large, but much In
tercst was shown in the proceedings.
In the absence Of Mayor Mitchell OF
Hardin president of the league, Mayor
Symmcs assumed the chair, as vice
president. and briefly outlined the
work before the delegates, cordially
welcoming them to Lewistown,
IT, H. FittOn of Lowistown was
elected temporary secretary in the
absence OF Il. =, Judd
The chairman was instructed to ap-
point 4 committee to draft resolutions
upon the death OF the late Mayor Luce
OF Ro2cman.
Mayor Symmes recommended that
the league should make an effort to
have the legislature pass suitable
measures relating to auto traffic and
police regulations. Ii was decided that
this important matter should be taken
up later by the Legislative committee,
Mayor Symmes then turned the
chair over to Mayor Spogen of Belt,
who said the cities did not seem to
hold with the courts, the decisions gen
orally being against the municipali
ties. This had resulted greatly in re.
ducing the revenue of his town.
City Attorney Krcmcr OF Bozcman
was appointed to take the place of
the late Mayor Luce upon all commit.
tees.
Robert Leavens, former mayor of
Billings. was placed on the committee
on legislation and park Fairgrounds.
important Suggestion.
Mayor Symmes moved that Gov. s.
V. Stewart be requested to impress
upon the minds of the Legislators In
his annual message the necessity for
n re-draft of the laws relating to
municipal improvement districts and
licenses for revenues.
The motion carried and MIR. Symmes
was appointed as chairman OF such
committee.
Mayor A. l.. Mitchell OF Hardin was
present at the opening Of the after.
noon session and presided w. b..
Sands OF Chinook was to have read
n paper on Taxation and Assess
ment." but was not present. and the
time was devoted to a general discus
sion of this subject. Tho feature of
the session was an address by II. l..
DeKalb former city attorney of Lew.
istown and one OF the original mem.
bers of the league on Judicial Decis.
IONS II was most instructive pre-
scntation of the subject, the speaker
beginning with a summary of tho his
tory Of municipal corporations and the
growth of municipal government
Modern cities had so much to do with
sanitation. health and the general ex.
erciae Of police powers that judicial
decisions became of more and more
importance to them. The speaker con,
fined his discussion closely to decis.
ions affecting the police powers. The
statutory charter of Montana was ne.
viewed and it's cOmprehcnsivenes
pointed out The principal difficulty OF
Montana cities was In regard to finan.
cial questions and this led to dis.
cussiOn Of the general subject of mn.
nicipal Indebtedness. In illustrating
the various phases of his subject Mr..
Dekalb reviewed n number OF Mon.
tann decisions at more or loss length,
among these being City OF Helena
against Kent; John against Great
Falls; Arnold against Miles City;
Palmer against City Of Helena; Ilel.
cna Waterworks company against City
OF Helena.
The address of Mr. Dekalb Was fol
lowed by an interesting general dis
cussion that lasted until S o'clock,
when adjournment was taken until
evening.