Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-12-02

Whether Great Falls shall have an
auditorium erected by funds raised
through the issue of municipal bonds will
not be determined In the immediate
future, it was decided by the board of
directors of the Great Falls commercial
club at it's meeting Monday afternoon.
The matter came before the directors on
the report of Grant Call, president OF
the commercial club and also chairman
of the citizens committee named several
weeks ago to investigate and report on
the advisability of bringing the audi
torium proposition to the attention OF
the voters by asking for bond issue
for the purpose.
Mr.. Call stated that the committee
had met and organized in compliance
with the recommendations of the board
when the subject was first brought up
and that the time had come to take Q
further step if it was deemed wise to
60 further now. He said he wanted to
] be advised in the premises and wanted
the directors to express their views on
the subject. There was some discussion
| during which various members stated
| their views and it was apparent that the
sentiment was almost unanimous that
this was no the time to launch the
proposition.
The first opposition to bringing the
proposition up now came from Mayor
| Louis Newman, who has previously
declared himself heartily in favor both
of the auditorium idea and also of max
ing it memorial to the soldiers of the
great war, and who again Monday point
ed out that it was his belief that this
is not a propitious time to launch the
plan. He said he was convinced the city's
finances We're not such now as TO stand
the added burden, notwithstanding the
court decision some weeks ago had
changed the basis of the bond limit and
that 1t could now be handled through
bonds and still be within the legal limit.
The mayor asked that the matter be
given serious thought before it be
launched.
After three or four had expressed
views negatively to the proposition to
proceed with the building a motion was
unanimously supported that the subject
be laid on the table Tndefinitely, and
that was done.
The directors also heard reports from
the bridge committee and the committee
named to attempt to bring about re
sumption of coal mining at the camps in
Cascade county. The bridge committee
merely reported progress and the COM
mittee on attempt to get the mines re-
opened detailed the work that had been
done and expressed the hope that the
mines may again be operating in a
short time.
The report of chief Importance be-
fore the directors was that made bv
Judge Lew L. Galloway, concerning the
work of the committee of which he is
chairman and which was named by a
mass meeting several months ago to
investigate and report on the advisability
Of changing the form Of city government
from the present either to the commits
sion form or 10 the commission
managerial form. Judge Galloway came
before the commercial club to submit
the proposition that the club provide
funds to pay for the renting of theater
for the purpose of having the proposed
change which the committee has decided
to recommend, explained to the voters.
He asked that the club provide the
funds, not as assuming the responsibility
Of directing the campaign for any plan
but merely for the purpose of seeing
that the people be given chance 10
understand what was being proposed and |
thereby gaining information which would |
enable them to vote intelligently upon |
the proposition when the election was
held
Judge Galloway said that his commit
tee, which consists of himself former /
Mayors n. r. Lease and 4. ]. Fousek, |
Edward :. Neen and Mrs &C. Sadler, /
with Il. B. Johnson as its secretary, had |
investigated the matter carefully and had
definite information from more than 200 /
points where changes had been made |
from the old form to the commission or |
commission managerial form and that the /
committee had been convinced, as the |
other cities have been convinced. that /
such a change not only is wise and /
desirable course but that it is the only .
way to give the city of Great Falls the |
machinery which will make |
possible the progress that all would like |
to see it enjoy. He said the chief fea-
ture Of either plan was that it freed /
the city government from partisan poll
tics and that was thing which he be-
lieved all would approve. Il eliminates
jealouses. according to Judge Galloway,
that usually feature the present plan of
a mayor and city council elected by
wards
Judge Galloway explained that the
reason for wanting to hold the public
meetings was to lay before the people
the nature of the plan the committee pro-
posed and let all understand just what
4 change would mean He said the COM
nittee felt that as the matter had to be
voted upon it would be wisdom to bring
The matter to vote at the same date AS
the city election next April in order that
the expense of a special election might
DC avoided. He said that when the COM
nittee has secured the names required 7
oy law to bring the matter TO the atten.
ion Of the city council it will be present
ID and the council, if the petitions carry
The requisite number of names must
order the matter submitted.
After the judge had concluded his
statement, there was a general discus
sion and when it was made clear that
he voting Of the money to hire the
heater was merely public spirited
,olcy on the part of the club which did
lot pledge it as the hacker of any prop
'sition but merely made it the agent to
lelp give the people n better under
standing of the case at issue. 1t was vot-
d to appropriate the money TO the COM
nittee.
Mayor Newman, who was present Mt
he directors meeting, addressed the di-
ectors on the subject Of Judge Gala
ways recommendations, saying that he
wanted to be understood as absolutely
eutral, so far as the proposed change
vas concerned. He said that without
tempting to win favor by his attitude,
e could truthfully say that II the people
wanted TO make a change. none would
,ora nromptly ohey tho r,andafa of Tho