The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-11-02


and Marks Voting No.
Action in Regard TO the Maturing
Municipal Debt.
The regular monthly meeting of the City
Council was held last evening.
In Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board came to order at the call Of the
Mayor, all the members being present
THE SOLDIERS MONUMENT.
Inc question Of condemning Market
Square as public park or square in order
that the proposed Soldiers Monument might
De erected there was introduced by Alder
man Sawyer. As the only member who had
served In last years Board, Alderman Saw
yer spoke of the length of time the matter
had been before the Board and referred to
the formation Of the Soldiers and Sailors
Monument Association, its object and eff
forts and final selection of the Market Hall
site. He urged the claims of the Associa-
ton in remarks of some length, repeating the
arguments used during the hearings on the
subject and adding that the Soldiers Asso-
citation had spent in relieving distress in this
city since the war nearly enough to pay for
the Old City Hall, which is valued at 1884,
600 by the Assessors. Twenty years ago the
question of laying out Lincoln Park was un-
der discussion. there was strong opposi-
ton to the movement. Alderman SAWYER
regarded the matter as settled by the people
last spring and deemed it only his duty to
his constituency to vote in favor of the Site
Alderman Sawyer then introduced the fol-
lowing resolution:
In BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN.
Nov. /, 1886.
In the matter of the petition of }, s. Wins
low d Co. and others, praying that the mn-
nlcipal officers of the city of Portland stake
such measures as are necessary to dedicate
ana devote the lot known as Market square
70 ,ae Use o. the public as public park or
square AFTER hearing given to all parties
interested, it Is hereby decided and
hesotred, That, in the opinion of this
board, acting as, and being, such municipal
ofncers, said lot so known as Market SQUARE
is suitable for public park or square.
Alderman Beale was sorry that the matter
had been brought up before conference
had been held and thought that the Board
should act unanimously one way or the
other.
Alderman Sawyer thought it was time to
lace the thing fairly and squarely and go
upon record.
Alderman Kicker asked if the motion be-
fore the Board was not simply an expression
OF opinion as to the suitability of the lot.
The Mayor said that this might be an en-
tering wedge, preceding some other measure.
Alderman Sawyer said the resolution was
first step. No secret is made of the pur-
pose for which the site is desired. If the
resolution passed he should offer an order
providing for taking the lot as public
square.
Alderman Briggs said that according to
his resolution, Alderman Sawyer was cor
rect in his statement of the method of pro-
ceedlng, and read from the statutes under
which the action is taken.
The Mayor then read the order which
Alderman Sawyer handed him. The order
follows:
In BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN,
- Nov. /, 1886
Whereas, by an order of the CITY Council
passed August ., 1886 and approved by the
Mayor, August 3, 1886, the municipal officers
OF the City OF Portland. were directed to
sa aS.s, tne lot OF land in said city known as
they deem the same suitable therefor:
ana hearing having been given to all inter
be il FNu'
Ord Ordered. that this Board, acting as, and
pelng the municipal officers of said city.
hereby take, accept, allow and establish said
market Square for public park or square
Tor the use OF the City of Portland and we
nave considered and estimated the damages
sustained q IN their property. by the several
owners thereof by taking the same Market
Square as public park or square, as follows.
TO the City OF Portland the sum of nothing.
Alderman Briggs could see no reason why
the Board should not be ready to act. The
public and members have heard enough of
the matter to understand it.
Alderman Kicker said that he had entered
the Board considering himself instructed in
the matter, had not heard anything to change
his views and was perfectly willing to 20 on
record tonight.
Alderman Briggs said that no action tax
en- by the Board would deprive any person
Directing of any legal rights and that he
could see how the matter might be carried
through to the Supreme Court if any one had
any claim.
Alderman Beale said he was opposed to
the Old City Hall, but did not think the
place suitable for monument.
Alderman Marks said that while n q ono
thought more of the valor of the soldiers
than did he, but that the action to be taken
should be for the futureas wellas the present.
he referred to the legal objections recently
raised, asking If the city would be required
70 assume the meeting of legal proceedings
which might be instituted. Alderman Marks
thinks that since last spring there has been
great change in public opinion. He spoke
Of some OF the chief objections to the site
raised at the last hearings, and recommended
a conference with the Association.
Alderman Wilson said that If the ex-
preston of opinion at the polls last spring
had been the result of an article in the cleo
lion warrant he should have acted under it
or resigned his seat, but under the circum-
stances he opposed the granting Of the site.
Alderman Sawyer moved that the vote be
taken by yeas and nays. The vote resulted
in defeating the passage of the resolution. as
Briggs.
No.Aldermen Beale, Wilson, Mcmahon
-~@~~s% W Pnoo bnC lCoUluJlOu ScLLle0
the question, and no vote was taken on the
accompanying order.
Alderman Marks then introduced the fol-
lowing:
Whereas, in view of the great diversity of
opinion existing among our citizens In re- |
gard to the location of the proposed Soldiers |
Monument in Market Square, and the unani- |
nous expression in favor of its being built |
on some site it is
Moved, that committee of three on the |
part OF this Board, the Mayor being one.
with such as the Council may Join, Be an,
pointed to confer with the Portland Soldiers
and Sailors Monument Association or such |
committee as they may appoint, for the pur-
pose OF ascertaining whether said differences
may not be reconcled.
Alderman Sawyer said that it seemed to
him the proposed action was boyish. The
Monument Association have raised the
money to build the monument and asked for
the site which they desired. This has been
refused them, and the Alderman did not |
think it becoming in this Board to attempt
% tell the Association what site they shall
select.