The Portland daily press., 1886-09-28
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Hearing Upon the Petition for the
Market Square Site.
Prominent Citizens Speak Substan-
TALLY as at the Former Hearing.

1
TALLY as at the Former Hearing.
The hearing in the Old City Hall, yester-
| day afternoon, upon the petition 10 Tue
Mayor and Aldermen for the condemnation
| of the property for public park preiiiiiih"ry ,
| to granting a site for the soldiers monument
was largely attended and the remarks OIL tne
| different gentlemen who spoke for or agalhs'
| the petition were received with applause
| The meeting was called to order by the
| Mayor, and the City Clerk read the notice'
for the hearing. :,
W. NJ. Sargent, Esq, presented In behalf
of certain clients the principal OF whom Is
| G. T. Skillings) written remonstrance
| against the measure. The remonstrance al
| leges want of jurisdiction on the part OF the
Mayor and Aldermen that while the law re-
| quires thirty signatures to petition Tor the
| taking of such property for public park or
square, this petition has only twenty-four,
| the others being signatures. OF firms, which
does not meet the requirements OF the
] statute; that the notice of the hearing was
n0F 7rRhished or posted in accordance with
the law; that the description Of the bounda-
ries does not include The whole OF said Mar
ket square lot, &C. -, -.
dered on file.
Gen. Neal Dow, called on by Major John
NJ. Gould, thought that the site is not suit
able one for the monument and reck0ued
the cost to the city if the petition is granted
Mr.. Eben Corey did not want to see the
old building removed. He spoke of the high
rate of taxation and thought some other site
would be better than this one.
Major John NJ. Gould advocated giving
the money required to build the monument
to needy soldiers.
Ex-Mayor NJ f. King said he regarded
with great anxiety the movement looking to
the destruction of this building. lie sin
cerely hoped it would be permitted to stand.
Rev. Mr. Southworth thought the Old
City Building part of the assets of the city,
worth $4,000 today and with prospective
value of $4,000. He denied the right OF the
Aldermen to give away part OF the city's
assets.
Gen. S. J. Anderson spoke against tearing
down the building. He did not favor the
site for the monument and said that the
vote taken last spring represented an ever
changing public sentiment ~
Ex-Mayor Deering said that he was in
favor of the site and spoke of the necessity
which he thought would soon exist for the
establishment of voting precincts as the
present ward rooms do not, in Mr.. Deering's
opinion, offer sufficient facilities for the Y0t-
ing of the residents of the respective wards
The speaker thought that armories might be
established in the market building at the
corner of Market and Milk streets. He had
uOb lOuuu III OL1eT Clues LUdL LU6IT mO0u-
ments were placed in out of the way places.
Hon. Henry b. Cleaves stated that he had
been requested to appear in behalf of the
petitioners and the executive committee of
the Monument Association. An attempt
has been made to prejudice the case by
statements to the effect that the city with
its large debt cannot afford to take the action
requested by the petitioners. The remon-
strants ask that the monument shall be
placed where it cannot be seen. Mr.. Cleaves
kOaVV hQnf
been made to get people into the hearing to
show that the monument is not wanted on
the proposed site. The public sentiment on
this question is known; the people by vote
OF 1850 to $50 having expressed their desire
in relation to the matter. The business men
of the city have said by their petition that
this is a suitable place. The expense OF the
work is to be taken into account but the
statements which have been made as to the
sum required are not true and the erection
OF the monument will greatly enhance the
value OF the surrounding property.
Judge Webb said that the financial side Of
the question did not consist merely Of the
actual expense required of the city but in
cluded the direct loss of revenue and the ne
ceSSlty OF providing new quarters for the
bodies now occupying Old City Hall. II
voting precincts be established, as suggested
by Mr. Deering, the present ward room OF
Ward Four would serve as one polling
place. Judge Webb said that the matter had
never been freely discussed, the discussion
which had been carried on being, in his
opinion, one-sided and in favor of the Mar
ket square site. He said that the law au-
thorizing the condemning of the land as
public park or square did not contemplate
covering it with masonry however laudable
the object and that the course contemplated
In the petition was, as had been remarked
by eX-Mayor King, one of misdirection. The
soldiers who put down the rebellion fought
for the welfare of their fellow-eitiZens and
were they convinced that placing the monu-
in bat rNNFh haa fNrrf
benefit of the people of Portland, they
would Lot desire its location there. The
speaker referred to the disputed title OF the
land and said that while the wishes OF
large number of citizens should of course re-
eeiye due consideration, the question was to
be decided according to the convictions of
the aldermen.
Mr.. Cleayes did not understand that the
soldiers had set up their will in this matter,
and denied that the discussion in the public
prints had been unfair. The city is not
asked to eYade the law, and the Skillings'
claim, said Mr.. Cleaves, is a bugbear OF
which | have heard ever since l came to
Mr.. Deering, referring to Judge Webb,
statement as to the intent of the law, said
he happened to know that the law had been
originally passed to enable church in one
of the cities of the State to remove an offen-
sive building in front of their edifee, the
land thus taken being only about half the
area of the Old City Hall.
w. III. Looney, ESQ.,, had been asked to ap-
pear and speak for the remonStrants. He
denied that there had been free discussion
of the question before the vote upon it, and
claimed that there had been reaction Of
opinion on the part of those who voted ''yes,"
and that the vote was not taken in way to
afford equal opportunities to beth Sides Mr..
Looney said that the Grattan Literary Asso-
citation, after debate upon the question, had
decided that it was not desirable TO demOlish
the Old City Hall.
Mr.. A. ID. Sweetsir said he is a taxpayer,
and is willing to see his taxes increased S25
year in order to have the monument in Mar
ket Square.
Mr.. g. L. Jose asked if there was neeessi-
ty for immediate action.
Mr.. Cleaves replied that the Monument
raising $1,000, they must decide upon a de-
Mr.. Jose thought the vote on the question
was conducted with indifference, and should
say there was a reaction in public opinion.
park for the monument
Mr.. Cleayes said that the course taken by
Mr.. Jose in desiring & continuance Of the
question would tend to kill the petition.
Alderman Briggs suggested that the hear
ing be suspended, and Alderman Kicker sug-
gested continuing it in the evening and at
larger hall.
No one else desiring to speak, the hearing
was adjourned to Monday evening, Oct. 18th,
at 7.30 o'clock, at Reception Hall.
Bates College.