The Portland daily press., 1882-04-04
FIREMEN's SALARIES.

| FIREMENS SALARIES.
Alderman Little read petition FRONT he Off
GERS of the Fire Department stating that they
| deemed the salary now paid them as INSULT
| Gent, considering the many risks they were
obliged to take, and asking that they be raised
| to 500 for common firemen and $110 for Off
| GERS. This petition was referred to the COM
| mittee on salaries.
UNEXPENDED BALANCES.
Alderman Winslow stated that the order in
troduced at the last meeting in regard to the
unexpended balances did not look right to him
and he questioned whether they could use the
money in the way contemplated. He read
the ordinances relating to it and moved that the
vote whereby it was passed, be reconsidered.
This motion was seconded by Alderman
Gould.
The Mayor stated that he had no question Of
the legality of the move, bat proceeded to put
the motion.
Alderman Thurston asked that before the
motion was passed, the matter might be ex-
planned and particulars given.
Alderman Winslow replied that there were
no particular points to be mentioned, only he be
lieved in following the ordinances.
The Mayor then said that an ordinance is
general rule to go by in ordinary cases, while
an order provides for special case. There is
no more power behind an ordinance than
there is behind an order. In the ordinance
relating to the sinking fund there were other
matters included and he did not think it right
to repeal the whole when only one point was
questioned. The order did not affect the sink
ing fund but simply provided that the unex-
pended balances of the different appropriations
DO used for the payment of tbepublic debt. he
saw no question in regard to its legality.
The motion was then put and voted down.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The license of f. Goth to keep and sell gun
powder was renewed
The bonds of A. M. Sawyer as constable and
Eli Wing as weigher of hay, were approved
Thomas Hebron, sexton of St. Stephens
Church, and James Merrymau, at the Boston
steamers, were appointed special police with
out pay.
John W. Colcord and Stephen Cammett
were drawn as grand jurors to the United
Staes Circui: Court, and Arad Evans and
Henry H. Day as petit jurors
Reuben Noyes was appointed undertaken at
the AlL1S HOUSE.
Reuel S. Macy was appointed trustee OF
Evergreen Cemetery, in place of /. D. Cush-
man, whose term has expired.
A communication was received from Charles
Parsons of Peaks Island stating that he had
nothing to do with the petition in regard to
Peaks Island avenue, presented at the last
meeting.
A communication was received from S. p.
Mayberry of Cape Elizabeth, stating that the
early records Of Falmouth, now Portland, are
missing. Search has bean made for them in
France, the public archives. and also in Can
ada but they can not be found. He petitioned
that the deposition of Capt. Nathaniel Friar,
prominent merchant in those times, stating
that there were such records, be placed on the
| public records, that it might furnish some clue
to historians in the future. The communion
| ton was ordered or the records
PETITIONS REFERRED.
| Of G. Tolman and others, that z. Il.
Jones be allowed to collect swill and house Of
| fall Referred with power to the committee on
| health.
OF B. F. Strickland, for permission to erect
a wooden building on Oxford street
| OF Chase Brothers. for permission to erect q
wooden building on Long wharf.
OF Joel w. Merrill for permission to collect
house offal. Referred to committee on health
| with power.
OF VIM. A. Hatch and fourteen others, for a
| sewer on Howard street.
OF the Women's Christian Temperance
Union, that the sum of 5000 be appropriated
| for the police matron. Referred to the joint
standing committee on appropriations.
Papers from the lower Board passed in con.
| currence.
In Common Council.
Papers from the upper board received con-
current action.
Mr.. Smith offered petition from J. Melaugh
and others, that Canton street be extended te
Portland street, which was referred and sent
up.
The committee joined on the appropriation
bill from this board are Messrs. Hallett, Lap
pip, Kelsey, Hawkes. and Shaw.
Mr. Trefethen offered petition that Sterling
street, Peaks Island, be graded which wal
referred and sent up.
SCHOOL VACATIONS.
Mr.. Noyes offered a series of petitions signet
by nearly a thousand parents and thirty-fou
physicians, urging on the scores of health, con
venience and benefit of the scholars, that thu
public school year begin September 18th ant
close June 23d. 1n support of his petition b.
presented the following reasons from leading
lawyers Of the city:
1st- The law concerning the discrimination
of the length of the school year in Portland.
| 2d-The city charter is silent on the subject
3d-There is no city ordinance concerning it
and the statutes on the subject seem to maxi
an ordinance unnecessary, if not improper.
4th-By act of 1875, Private Laws, chap. 81,
! the school committee of Portland has all thu
,a1 ax1A 0rnIr
intending school committees by the laws of tn
State also certain other specified duties no
including the regulation OF the length o
schools.
5th-All other powers, obligations and dutie
| in regard to the public schools are vested II
the City Council.
6th-The powers and duties of superinten
ding school committees as enumerated Il
sections 50 and 81, chap IL, r s., do not in
clude the regulation of the length of schools.
7th-But by sec. "a, chap. IL, r. S., a
amended by chap. "A, 1881, Private Laws
school districts have power to instruct tn
experimenting school committee at what tim
schools shall commence; and the schools shal
commence and continue as voted by the dis
trict unless in the opinion of the superintend
ing school committee it would be detrimental
, to the best interests of the district on accoun
of any contagious disease or other good reason
This last power Ito vote when the school
shall commence aid how long continue, an
8 instruct the committee) is among the power
! preserved, as above, to the City Conncil.
Mr.. Fogg seconded Mr.. Noyess motion
appropriate reference to the matter
Mr.. McAleny said he was to oppose the pet
ton, while he had great respect for the pet
, tioners. and the authorities quoted. He claim
ed that the petitioners whose names were rea
were those of citizens who could afford to tax
their children from home during the hot weatl
or. The masses however could nst. Furtht
: than that their children depended upon the
grammar school education for their instructio
for lifes duties, and, with well ventilate
school houses, in this climate, he did not sc
why injury should result Forty weeks of fly