The Portland daily press., 1879-01-07
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Regular Monthly Meeting of the City
Council.

The regular monthly mesting Of both branches
of the City Council was held last evening and
the following business was transacted:
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
The full board was present. The Mayor ore
sided.
Petitions presented and referTed-Of Nancy
Sullivan, house servant in the employ of D. Z,
Perkins, 3S4 Cumberland street, for 800 COM
pensauon for Injuries received Sunday night,
Dec Is, 1873, from falling on an lev sidewalk
on Congress street in front of Mechanics Hall.
Orders PdSSed-That the City Treasurer paw
to the Treasurer of the WiIows Wood Society
the sum of S240. being the annual interest of
the Clspp Trust Fund fer the benefit of the
poor widows aud others, to be distributed as
the directors of said society may determine in
conformity with the will of the donor; tn at the
plans of numbers of streets as reported by the
City Civil Engineer for reuumberng of St.
John, BramhalI, Walnut and Willis streets, be
aud tue same is hereby accepted, and that the
City Clerk give notice to all parties interested
by publication in the daily papers of this city
that the ordinance in relation to numbering of
streets will be strictly enforced, this order to
take effect on and after March 1, 1879; that
duplicate city bond in aid of the Ogdensburg
road be issued to Hiram P. Hunt of Gray 10
place OF one lost by him, provided he give a
bond to indemnify the city from all loss; laying
out Marston street; widening West street and
extending Gilman street; that the committee on
laying out new streets be instructed to take iu-
to consideration the expediency Of widening
Congress street from Munjoy street on thu
southerly side thereof, and Howard street on
the northerly side thereof to the Eastern Prom
enade, and If they deem it expedient to make
such widening; that the committee on public
baild ines be authorized to place clock in the
tower of the Pine street school house at a cost
not to exceed $3.50.
The joint standing committee on judicial
proceedings and claims, to whom was referred
the petition of Hon. Francis Fessenden and
others praying that the City Council would
take into consideration the expediency of ask
city charter authorizing the appointment of a
board of public works, reported that they gave
aIhearing to the petitioners and requested them
to prepare an amendment which should carry
out their views, which at subsequent meeting
was presented. The proposed amendment
(Which was published in the PRESS few days
since) was reported by the committee to the
City Council for their consideration which
brought the whole subject before them. The
report was accepted. After remarks by several
members of the board it was voted to recommit
the matter to the committee. Evidently the
bill as drawn was not received with favor by a
majority of the board. IN connection With this
matter the following was passed:
Resolued. That our Representatives be and
they hereby are requested to use their efforts to
procure legislation best adapted practically to
redress the grievances complained of by the
petitioners, and that copy of the resolve be
transmitted to each Of said Representatives.
The idea of resolve originated in the
lower board.
The same committee to whom was referred
the petition of Chas. Merrill and others in the
matter of employment Of foreign steyedores in
this city, reported that the City Council
having no power in the premises the committee
recommend that the petition be placed in
the hands of one of our Representatives to be
presented to the Legislature of the State for
the consideration of the honorable body.
Accepted.
The same committee to whom was referred
the petition of A. W. Lougfellow for an abate.
1878 on the Longfellow property on North and
East Commercial streets 90 Munjoy Hill
reported that the matter especially is within
the jurisdiction Of the Assessors to whom the
petitioners should apply. Accepted.
License was granted to Michael Mcdonald
to keep fish market on the corner of Green
leaf and Oxford streets
The resignation of Charles Walker as
member of the Board Of Oversees Of the
Poor on account of is being impossible for him
to attend to the duties of the ottice, was pre-
sented and accepted.
An invitation from the chairman of the
Board of Overseers of the Poor to the city gov
,rnment to visit the aims house and appur-
,enaIces on Wednesday; the 9Th inst, at p o.
clock p. m., was presented and accepted.
A petition of Thomas P. Place for permis-
lion to erect a wooden building on Varnum
street, to be one and one-half story high, SO
eet long, % feet wide, aud to be used as
table, was referred with power.
Liceuse having been refused j. W. Robinson
o erect wooden stable on Green street, and it
appearing to this board that he was preparing
o build notwithstanding the refusal, consider
ble talk 10 regard to thu matter was INDUCED
q. The result Of the talk was that the matter
8 now in the hands OF the city marshal to en-
orce the mandates of the board.
Andrew O'Nsl appeared before the board
md applied to have his license to drive hack
which had been revoked, renewed. The alder
nan of Ward ardently appealed to the board
% renew if, but it was all in vain.
COMMON COUNCIL.
President Chapman in the chair
When the b Ii in reference to the establish
of Board of Public Works came up
n this board, Mr.. Melaugh of 2, moved its IL
lefiuite postponemeut for two reasons. First,
because it gave the Mayor the appointing pow
or, and everybody. he said, knew that it was
The power behind Mayor that appointed. He
nstanced the case of public ctflcer-and
7ery good one too, he said-who had told him
ne dared city go eminent to discharge, him
IN account of his political influence Second,
because the bill required property qualifica-
ion and it was well known that rich men would
not accept berth like Street Com missioner's,
md none of those officers Of late years, had
aver possessed real estate.
Mr.. SWEET of 4, seconded the motion for the
easons mentioned By Mr. Melaugh, and be-
,ause he considered this Boss Tweed scheme
which had the intent to take the power out OF
he hands Of the people and centre it ia one
nan. Mr.. Andrews of 4, wanted TO finish up
he matter to-night, and not have to come here
Igain in a week and waste the public money
n burning gas only to kill bill which, even if
amended, would not probably meet the APPROX
Il of the city government. 1t was finally vot-
ID to recommt the bill-14 yeas, 5 nays.
All matters coming from the upper board
we're passed in concurrence.
IN JOINT CONVENTION.
The Mayor presided.
Several ballots were taken to elect member
# the Overseers of the Poor to fill the vacancy
ccasioued by the resignation of Charles
Walker, as follows:
FIRST BALLOT.
hole number. .23
to choice. 10
henry ), iIlckey ."''.s.'.'..'....'...
franklin Sawyer. neutrality-suspicious..
hanson s. Clayss,.. ..........
Blank, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, ,,,,.,,,,,.,
SECOND BALLOT.
w hole numDer.
Necessary for choice. IL
jlay ssss.s...l IL
mickey.
sawyer.
Aid. Clay declined.
THIRD BALLOT.
Whole number. ...:................... ...H
NQPn