The Portland daily press., 1882-09-05

A standing committee consisting of Alder
men Tukesbury, Winslow and Little was ap-
pointed to whom all petitions for engines, boil
ers, Sc, are to be referred. A petition of
Geo. III. Knight to erect boiler at the corner
OF Centre aud Commercial streets was referred
to the committee.
John A. Whalen was granted license to
keep billiard saloon.
The bonds of Geo. e. Hartman and j. W.
Carney as fish inspectors were approved.
j. w. & E. II. Deering were granted Ii
cense to keep and sell gun powder.
1t was voted to reconsider the vote whereby
the board non-concurrsd with the Council in
the passage of the order to pave West Com
mercial street and the order was passed in con-
currence The same was done with the order
to build hook and ladder house on Brackett
street.
The outfall of the intereepting sewer on
Commercial street was established according
to the description published in the daily pa
pers. This places the outfall at distance of
eleven feet from the original location. The
propositions submitted by the proprietors of
Long wharf, viz That they build one-half and
the city the other, of the sewer wharf; that the
wharf be substantially built that the wharf be
kept in repair by them after being planked by
the city; that the addition to the wharf be the
property of the proprietors of Long wharf, the
city preserving the right of way; that the city
keep the flats well dredged and the proprietors
not to be taxed for the additional strip of
wharf, were adopted. For this the proprietors
of Long wharf waive all claims for damages
PETITIONS REFERRED.
OF A. T. Almer to erect steam engine at
No. 212 Federal street.
OF J. l.. Brackett to erect steam engine at
foot of Preble strest.
OF j. FL. Hamlen & Son to erect wooden
building on Browns wharf.
OF the Western Union Telegraph Company
to erect posts on Centre street. Referred with
power.
OF G. J. Walker, at 167 to III Middle street,
to erect steam engine.
OF James White to erect a new wooden
building on Brackett street.
OF II VT. LeLacheur ana several others to
erect wooden building to be used as chapel
at the corner of West and Vaughan streets.
or Lawrence Bradigan to erect a wooden
building at the corner of Cotton and Fore
streets, to be used as a file factory.
OF Moses Morrill,, at sos Congress street, and
p Heating, at 132 Center street, for licenses as
victualers
OF M Moulton to erect wooden building
on Potter's Lane.
In Common Council.
Papers from the upper board passed in con-
currence.
Mr.. Lappin offered an order that sidewalk
be laid on Washington street, at the head of
Fox street. and one across Washington street
at the bead of Fox street. Referred with
power and sent up.
Mr.. winchester offered report from COM
mittee on unimproved real estate, and order
that the city treasurer give usual warranty
deeds for lot of land on St. John street, sold at
Report accepted, and order passed and sent up.
THE SCHOOL BOOK QUESTION.
Mr.. Noyes offered the following order:
Ordered, That the School Committee be au-
thoriZed to purchase the necessary number of
readers for the use of the pupils in the prima-
ry and grammar schools, and the same be
charged to any unexpended balance of appro-
priations for schools.
Mr.. Noyes said the plan of the city's furnish
ing the school books had been tried in other
cities and towns of the State, but couldn't say
with what success. The ground on which he
should favor this bill was that it would enable
more children to attend school than can now,
because Of the expense of text books, and be-
cause there is a class who will not accept what
they call pauper aid.
Mr.. Thaxter on the part of the school COM
mittee, read from printed school report of
Fall River, the reasons why the committee be-
lieved in the proposed plan. First, it is more
economical; second, it will break down the
barriers between rich and poor. The city will
buy the books, the superintendent will be re-
sponsible for their care, who will in time, make
the teacher of the school reponsible, and he
the pupils. In Fall River the cost has been
for seven years but LIS per capita for schol-
ars attending school, or 66 cents per capita for
scholars enrolled. This sum included station
ary. Portland scholars by the present methoA
have to pay 10 cents per capita for readers
alone. A great variety of reading will be OBJ
tanned by the method.
Mr.. Burrage took the same view as Mr.
Thaxter. He thought the chief opposition
would come from booksellers because the COM
mittee could make better terms with the pub
fishers.
DIR. Fillebrown spoke strongly in favor of the
measure. He said as far as contagion was con-
cerned nobody seemed afraid to use public lib
rary books, and further that when children
knew they would have to pay for books if they
misused them it made them careful.
Judge Kingsbury opposed. He considered
this but an entering wedge to get the city to
assume the cost of all text books in the future.
There was no limit in the reading of the order.
He didn't believe in the condition of the city's
finances in giving away money. No citizen
had asked for this scheme, or made complaint
demanding it. He referred to Westbrook, a
town that tried the plan for $500, and were
saddled with $500 debt. He had been told
this same result was obtained in Lewiston.
He thought this was too important matter to
act on hastily. He didn't believe the city
should find the capital and the committee act
as booksellers. If books were to be furnished
when the scholars got to the school, then cloth
ing might be asked for to get them there.
DIR. Files, of the school committee, held
similar views to Judge Kingsbury. He said
for fifteen years books had been sold at the
wholesale price in Portland
Mr.. McAleney favored the order. lie
thought the most of the pupils in the schools
were working peoples children, and that the
text books were sore expense
Mr.. Lappln agreed with Mr.. McAleney.
Mr.. Kelsey thought it a too important sub
ject to decide without proper investigation, as
did Messrs. Fogg and Kicker.
The order passed-13 yeas, 9 nays-Messrs
Hallett, Kicker, Kelsey, Fogg, Brown and