Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-06

Mayor r. M. Armour's proposal for
semi monthly rather than weekly ses-
sions Of the city council was rejected
Monday night when seven of the lO
aldermen voted against its incorpora-
ton in the rules of the council. Alder
man Gilbert Boyd, r. R. johnson and
George Calvert, who from the first
have been strong supporters OF the
mayors recommendation, were the only
members Of the council to vote for
approval.
Mayor Armour's motive in advocating
semi-monthly meetings of the council,
according to his remarks made to the
aldermen, was the belief that the city
business could be transacted just as
efficiently by two sessions as by four
and also that the taxpayers would be
saved approximately $1,000 year
when the time came to reduce the COM
pensation of the council members. His
recommendation was actively opposed
by Alderman G. A. Bosley, who argued
that reduction in the salaries of alder
ment should be coincident with CORE
spending cut in the salaries of other
city officials.
Amendments Delayed
Two ordinances, both of which were
amendments to ordinances providing for
regulating the laying of water service
pipes and regulating the dairies and dis
tribution of it's products, were read be-
fore the council, but were referred back
to committees because it was thought
that neither carried sufficient provi-
sions to make them effective. The
ordinances were presented for first
reading, but this action was held over
until the next meeting of the council.
The ordinance regulating the laying
of water service pipes, which was sub
mitted at the request of City Engineer
NJ l.. Morris, provided that all persons
granted a license to engage in this
work must first furnish the city with
a surety bond in the amount of 81 800,
which would insure the city against
loss 1t also made provision that lead
pipe be used in all newly installed
services, or old services being repaired,
AS investigation has shown that cast
iron pipes have proved susceptible to
disintegration.
Boyd Wants Manholes.
Alderman Boyd, who is a member Of
the water committee, said the ordin-
ance should not be adopted until sew
eral more provisions had been added
and he explained to the council his
plans for better water service. In order
to prevent the digging up of paved
streets in the business district, he said,
every businessman should be compelled
TO provide manholes to make repair
work more accessible and less destruc
tive to the streets. The incorporation
of this provision, according to Mr..
Boyd, would eliminate the inconven-
fences that now confront the water de-
partment.
Mr.. Boyd also referred to the pres
ent outline of the water mains, which
are so situated that owners of proper
ty on the south side Of the avenue
must pay more than the north side
property owner in securing water con-
nections because the main is laid near
er the north property line. He suggest
ed that the city, in the future, bear
all the expense in bringing the water
TO the property line and thus render
the charges equal to property owners
desiring service.
Would License Diaries.
Further consideration was also de-
manded of the dairy ordinance, which
provides for the licensing of such en-
terprises and regulating the handling
Of milk and other products. This or
dinance was drafted at the request of
the health department for the primary
purpose of enabling that department to
maintain close check on all persons
engaged in the dairy business.
The ordinance provides that all
dairies having less than 20 cows must
paw an annual license of 81: dairies
having more than 20 animals, a license
of $3.50 a year, the proceeds to be
credited to the public health and safe
ty fund. Every person using wagon
or vehicle in distributing milk, accord
ding to the ordinance. must carry his
name and license on the vehicle. All
retailers sellers of milk must handle
the product in bottles, which must be
kept clean and sanitary at all times,
the ordinance demands.
;. Alleges Short Measure
Charges that some Of the gasoline
service stations in Great Falls were
giving customers less gasoline than
paid for were made by Alderman Bos-
ley, who asked If the city had any
legal authority to require frequent
inspection of these stations. Members
of the council who were conversant
with the law on this matter said the
inspection of gasoline stations was
duty Of the state and that complaints
must be lodged with the officer en-
trusted with that duty. 1t was brought
out that the county auditors office is
charged with the inspection Of scales
and pumps since the state discontin-
ned the services of an officer from
the bureau of weights and measures.
Mayor Armour told the council that
American Bank and Trust company
checks, aggregating several thousand