The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-04
CITY AT FAIRS.


BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
petition from Messrs. Shaw, Hammond &
Carney for the paving of Moulton street was
referred.
john B. Duran, William Turkey, Moses e.
Thompson and Dwight G. Colder were drawn
as special jurors of the Superior Court now in
session
petition of Samuel Thurston Ell ais. for an
oil lamp on Hanover street was referred.
Orders PaSsed-Tbat for the purpose of de-
frayipg the ordinary expenses of the city dur
ing the present financial year auG contemplated
IN the annual appropriations of the year, the
City Treasurer be authorized to hire on the
credit of the city, in anticipation of receipts
from taxes and income ct the cuirent wear
from time to time as may be wanted, such
amount OF temporary loans as may be neces-
sary for the above named purposes not exceed
ing $35, 600 per month that the City Treasurer
be directed to pay Bosworth Post the sum of
$40O to be used in decorating the graves on Me-
mortal Day.
COMMON COUNCIL
The report Of the committee on hay scales
was taken from table aud passed in concur
renee.
The order for voting Bosworth Post $500
| came down aud an attempt was N AIDE to cut it
concurrence
An amendment to the ordinance fixing the
price charged for weighing hay was proposed,
making the price 20 cents instead o. 80, but it
was refused its first reading.
IN JOINT CONVENTION.
frederick Fox was chosen Supernt epdent of
School Buildings.
Thn ham laI fho oft e,I,o
Convention to the matter of choosing tiuant
officer in tho following message:
In order to make progress in the organizat on
of the different departments of the city govern
ment have called you together, gentlemen, to
take some action, among other things, in regard
to the matter of truant officer. In the pre-
sent condition of things that officer is entirely
independent OF supervision, responsible 70 no
one, largely master of his own time, and doing
as much work as he pleases. and when he
pleases During the vacations of the schools,
amounting 10 twelve weeks each year. he has
all his time to himself. His salary is $3.50 for
about nine months of supposed labor, his
duties for that time being somewhat similar to,
but much lighter than those of the police;
while members of that force, laboring three
hundred and sixty five days in the year, part of
them by night, in wet and cold, away from
their families and deprived of tae privileges of
the Sabbath and furnishing their own uniform,
are paid but $3.50 per annum. A thoroughly
conscientious man wonl1 find enough to do ia
the performance of the duties Of the position
during term time of the schools, but in fact 1t
is one OF those soft places given in reward for
political services. The preset situation of the
city is such that it cannot be expected to pay
for the services of messenger for political
org anizatlOn, under the name of truant officer.
Besides, practically. it has been found impossi-
BILE for one man acting as truant officer 10 make
arrests of habtual truants all over the city.
When he becomes known to boys of that class,
be is easily evaded.
To remedy these evils, an amendment to the
Truant ordinance was drafted, requiring very
considerable examination and study, making
the Truant officer member of the police, and
subject to its discipline, and also seeking to
prevent the escape of habltual truauts, by au-
thorizing their arrest by the police, as well as
by the truant officer proper, under carefully
guarded provisions against abuse of the power.
This amendment, on being Introduced into the
Common Council proved not acceptable to that
honorable body, which refused the same pas
sage on its first reading without reference to
committee or suggestion of alteration This
prompt action seemed to indicate one Of two
things, either, first, such thorough investga-
ton and complete mastery of the whole subject
on the pant of the Common Council, as might
have enabled that honorable body to have sug-
gested some substitute more efficacious as
remedy than the proposed amendment, instead
of taking an immediate adjournment after the
vote of refusal; or secondly, an unwiiingness
on the part OF that honorable body to correct
what must strike every fair-minded man as a
grave abuse. This latter proposition the mayor
would be sorry to entertain.
1t is important as affecting the schools, and
other branches of the city government, that the
matter should be settled one way or the other
1t will now be in order, in the present conven-
ton, Tor any member TO move to proceed to the
choice of Truant officer, as the office is now
constituted under the ordinance as it stands at
present; or if it should be thought advisable
to make further attempts ia the direction of
the amendment of the ordinance motion to
dissolve the convention will be in order, and
each branch can consider the subject separately
and see if any conclusion can be reached.
The Mayor begs leave to remind the
City Council that more than three weeks have
elapsed since the organization of the present
city government, and that the machinery of
some OF the departments is not in running
der yet; the danger is that the whole municipal
year will pass away before this is fully accom-
plished. He would most respectfully submit
that this Is not the gear in our citys history, of
all others, in which to waste our time and
strength in trfling sputation on minor points,
or to stir up the dirty waters of ward politics
but to unite heartily and cordially ia the pro
motion of the city's best interests. The great
body of our citizens of both parties expect this
of US.
Under these circumstances, the Mayor will
feel it his duty to call the City Council togeth-
er often, so long as the business of the city
otomS W IequiFe
Councilman Andrews said he failed to zee
how the matter had been retarded by dilatory
motions and he thought it was not fac. He
closed his re marks by moving to proceed TO the
election of a truant officer. Councilman
Knowlton nominated Thomas A. Bowen, and
Councilman Clay, Charles L. York.
The ballot was taken and resulted in the
choice of Mr.. Bowen, who received IA out of 26
votes.
The Convention was thep dissolved.
SCHOOL AGENT
The following ordinance relative to School
Agent was passed in both branches to b. Or
dained:
Be it ordained By the Mayor Aldermen and
Common Council of the City of Portland, IN
City Council assembled, as follows:
SEC. 1. There shall be annually elected by
| the City Council, an official to be called the
| Superintendent of Pablo School Buildings, at
such salary as may be fixed by the City Uoun
| Gil He shall have an office in the City Build
| ing and shall be in attendance at his Office
| during at least two fixed hours on each secular
| day.
SEC. @ He shall have the care of the public
| school buildings and under the direction of the
Committee on Public Buildings, and out of the
/
| essary repairs to said sc'col buildings, making
no contractstheI efor exceeding twt nty-tive dol
| lars, without the order II SAID Committee on
Public Buildings, and to sttend to the heating
| of the same, aud see hat the jinltors employ
| ed do their duty IN all respect'.
| Sec 3. Under the directions of the School
! Committee, and out OF appropriations made
therefor, he shall atteLd to furnishing schools
| by contract awarded to the lowest bidder, with
stationery and other apparatus and ordinary
school supplies needed for the use of the
schools and shall attend the regular meetings
| of the School Committee, and report to that
| Committee, as well as 10 the Committee on
Public Buildings, the condition of the school
building, and also report to the School Com
mittee, such articles as are reeded for the use
of the schools. He shall keep separate accounts
with each school of all expenditures for repairs
and also for articles furnished and at the end
| of each school term, he shall make inspection,
AID shall return to the School Committee, an
account of all property belonging to the city in
such school room.
SEC. 4. All bills for the care, repairs and
heating of the school bulldogs, before pay
ment, shall be approved by the COMMITTEE on
Public Buildings, aud all bills for supplies and
articles furnished the schools, before payment,
shall be approved by the School Committee, and
finally, both classes of bills shall be audited