The Portland daily press., 1885-01-28
CITY GOVERNMENT.
special Meeting of the City COuncil-The
Police Bill Passed in Commemorative
Portland Il Ogdensburg Matter.

special meeting of the City Government
was held last evening to hear the report of the
joint committee appointed to consider the bill
providing for the appointment of policemen by
competitive examination.
I'm Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board came to order upon the call of
the Mayor, all rhe members being present.
Mr.. Russell presented the following report:
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN,
January 27, 1885.
The Joint special committee to whom was
referred the bill submitted at the last meeting
of the City Council by the executive commit
tee of the Portland Civil Service Reform AS
ISOLATION regulating the appointment of the
members of the police force, have given a
hearing to parties interested, and have made
some amendments which are understood to be
acceptable to the presenters of the bill, end
have directed me to report that the bill as
amended has the approval of majority OF
the committee, and that they recommend its
approval BY the City Council.
JOHN s. RUSSELL,
Chairman.
The report was accepted and the bill passed
unanimously. 1t is as follows:
THE POLICE BILL.
To the Honorable Board of Mouor and Alder
men Of the City Of Portland:
The executive committee of the Portland
Civil Service Reform Association, in behalf of
said association and by its direction, respect
fully request your honorable body to petition
the Legislature of the State, at its present
session, for the enactment Of a bill regulating
the appointment of the members of the police
force OF the city of Portland, which bill shall
contain substantially the same provisions as
the draft hereto annexed, which is made
part of this petition. S. w. THAxTER,
Chairman.
SECT 7--Nn ehol ha ~
police or watch of the city of Portland, as
Policeman, pstrolmaD, Waterman or keeper: or
for any position of like rank, or for any posi-
ton of inferior rank thereto, unless such per-
son shall be citizen of the United States, not
over 40 years, nor under % years of age, and
shall have successfully passed competitive
examination as herein provided, within two
years before said appointment, and shall have
had continuous residence in the city of Port
land from at least two years before said ex-
animation to the time of said appointment
When any policeman, patrolman, watchmsn
or Keeper shall have arrived at the age of 60
years, be shall be honorably discharged. The
Mayor and Aldermen shall, as soon as may be
altef tne passage OF this act, provide for such
competitive examination by proper rules and
regulations, which rules and regulations may
thereaiterwards be amended by said MAYOR
and aldermen.
SECT. 2.-Such rules and regulations shall
determine who shall constitute the examining
III
examining board shall consist of not less than
three citizens, who shall serve without paw,
and not more than majority of whom shall
be from the same political party; but shall in
ciude the city physician, or some other COM
potent physician or surgeon, of approved re-
putation and standing. Said rules and regula-
tions shall provide for supplying all vacancies
In such examining board.
SECT 3-Al such examinations, except the
surgical part thereof shall be public and after
reasonable nuhlio nOfinas n hasp nod
rules and regul atoms; and the examiners shall
make and file with the city clerk, to remain as
part of the pubic files of the city, full reports
OF all said examinations, with such special de-
talis as may be required oy such rule sand reg
ulations, and shall state Ia said reports which
candidates have successfully passed such ex-
animation; and the relative standing of such
successful candidates. Except as otherwise
herein expressly provided, ali said examina-
tions and reports shall be as provided bv said
rules and regulations and amendments thereof.
SECT. ALL appointments hereafter for
any office or position described in section one,
shall be by selection from a list of not more
than three persons from said successful candi-
dates, who have been certified by the examin-
ing board as having obtained the highest rank
by the Mayor or with the approval of the Al
dermen, and all removals from such office or
position shall be likewise made by the Mayor
with said approval
SECT. 5-Every appointment of deputy mar
shais, captain of the watch and sergeants of
police and all other appointments to said police
or watch, except as herein otherwise provided
and except the City Marshal or other head of
police, and except detectives not employed in
the ordinary duties OF the force, shall be made
by selection on recommendation of the City
Marshal from those persons who have been
members Of said police or watch for a continu-
GUS period of at least twelve months before
such appointment.
SECT. 6-The City Marshal shall be- an
n0intAd nv and hnld offica dnrino tho v,Iaoeura
of the Mayor,
SECT This act shall not apply to police
men or watchmen not in the pay of the city,
nor special policemen employed tenn porarily on
extraordinary occasions.
SECT. 8-Except as herein expressly pro-
vided, this act shall not take away or impair
any authority or power relative to police or
watch vested in the City Council Aldermen,
Mayor, or any other official or official board of
the city of Portland.
SECT. 9-This act shall take effect nm an
prevail.
En Common Council.
Absent: Messrs. Thompson, Carney, Simonds
and Burleieh.
The report of the special committee on the
police bill was accepted and the bill passed in
concurrence.
THE PORTLAND b oGDENsgURG.
Mr.. Turner referring to the matter of the
PhohODo0
& Ogdensburg, said that he did not fully un-
derstaDd what was intended and would like to
be informed. He thought that members of the
city council should know what 1t was intended
to do and then they could take intelligent &C.
ton upon the matter.
Mr. Woodbury. said that he had asked the
advice OF legal gentleman for information in
the matter. His friend had told him that in
the bill drawn by Mr.. Putnam means had
been taken to foreclose the second mortgage
na6n Traln hta y. L..
OF New Hampshire the foreclosure would not
be made for three years. Mr.. Woodbury. then
called upon the Mayor for some explanation 10
regard to the matter.
The Mayor said: You understand quite well,
probably, the condition of affairs of the Port
land and Ogdensburg Railroad. Early last
spring, by request of the trustees of the second
mortgage bonds, the courts appointed a J g.
ceiver. Suits were then pending against the
road by the Mercantile Trust Company of
New York in which it was deemed best for
the city to intervene to protect its own inter
est. Some complicated questions have re-
suited from the fact that the company was
doing business under charters from two States.
This, with other reasons, seemed to make it
imperative that the Leg islstures of both States
should be asked for SONS special acts to enable
the boudholders to avail themselves of the re
suit OF the foreclosure which has been asked
for. The prosperity of the road depends upon
its ability to make connections with othe
EOaue, anu tuOIo power buoulu DO NSsb6u bOut
where to enable it to do SO. The bill pre-
septed by Mr.. Wescott was prepared by tn,
trustees' attorney. 1t did not in every respect
meet with the approval of all parties interes%
ed. AS all bills to SECURE attention this yea
must be presented before the end of this week
it was thought best to present the bill in it
present form and to procure any necessar,
changes while in the hands of committee o
the Legislature.
In the upper board Mayor King made a sim
liar explanation.
The board then adjourned.
Rev. Mr.. Blanchard's Leciure Last Eve,
ming.
The Rev. Henry Blanchard delivered the