The Portland daily press., 1886-03-25
action the town adheres to its former vote to

action the town adheres to its former vote to
reimburse. Mr.. Dyer.
Article was quickly disposed Of. Fl street
being accepted by big majority.
When Article Z was reached, Mr.. j. ID.
Hartford said that there seemed to be some
misrepresentation in regard to the vote for
the establishment of sinking fund. Every
dollar which comes into the hands Oh the
selectmen is, by the vote. apparently swept
into the fund Mr, Hartford moved that the
vote be rescinded, and the motion prevailed
He then moved that committee OF nve pc
appointed to consider some plan Tor sink
ing fund and report at the next annual
meeting. ...,
Mr.. c. E. Staples objected to this plan: He !dLe
denied the right of the meeting 10 appoint
the committee as there was no provision IN
the warrant for such action.
Mr.. Hartford and the moderator main
tanned that this motion, being informal,
would not be binding, ana the motion coaia
be passed with pr0prlety.
Mr. Staples said that the vote would have
TO he recorded by the clerk as part of the
proceedings of the meeting and that the
Gnestion would then be considered as bust
the warrant and which would invalidate the
entire proceedings.
MI. Hartford then withdrew his motion
and Mr.. Staples again took the floor. He
said that he understood the vote looking to
the establishment of sinking fund had
is that the town is not in favor of taking
any action. We are drifting as we have
been drifting for the past fourteen or fifteen
years. The speaker understood the action OF
the town to mean that the debt was to be
left to take care of itself.
The Selectmen were instructed, on motion
of Mr.. j. III. Hartford, under Article to ex-
pend the surplus of the $500 appropriated
to repair the town landing, in the construc-
ton of a drop.
Article 8, Ito see what action the town
will take in regard to public ferry landing
in the City of Portland" evoked considera-
Bile discussion. Mr.. Staples asked what ac-
ti0n it was possible for the town to take.
The moderator thought that instructions
could be given the selectmen to favor the
laying out of the ferry landing
Mr.. Staples held that the selectmen were
officers In the town only and could not &c
outside, that being the business OF the town
agent.
Mr. Hartford took the opposite ground and
both parties referred to the revised statutes
in support of their opinions.
A motion to dismiss the article was lost
and on motion of Mr.. Hartford it was voted
to instruct the municipal officers to use al
reasonable means in their power in aiding
in getting ferry landing in the City of Port
land.
Mr.. Spear, in reply to Mr.. Staples
said that the hearing on the question Of lay
ing out the ferry landing would be held un
der the authority of the County of Cumber
land. At the last hearing, the City of Port
land was represented by counsel, and why
should not the town of Cape Elizabeth have
the same privilege.
Somebody reminded Mr.. Spear that the
| town of Bridgton was also represented an(
Mr.. Staples said that his objection was that
| the selectmen could not go as municipal
| officers, but might appear as committee.
Article 10 was the last article in the war
rant and provided for the appropriation o.
| $50 for the observance of Memorial Day.
Mr.. Staples thought that the sentiment was
doubtless in favor of decorating the soldiers
graves, but this is not work done usually
by hired men. This is not question OF
which the town may vote, no authority belns
given to appropriate money for such pur
poses. Mr.. Staples had no doubt that thu
graves would be properly decorated as they
always have been. He moved shat thu
article be indefinitely postponed.
The opinion of one gentleman was that
was strange that they could not vote sucl
an appropriation when it was done every
year in hundreds of towns and cities over al
the land.
The moderator supported the opinion o
Mr.. Staples, and the motion made by tina
gentleman received a passage. Severa
doubted the vote, but the required number
of seven doubters to make another vott
necessary were not there.
This concluded the business and the meet
ing adjourned at 4.15 O'Clock.