The Portland daily press., 1888-05-08
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The appropriation Bill as Passed at
Last Evenings Meeting.
Hearing on the Question Of the Po-
lice Matron Appointment.
a Committee Appointed to InvestI-
gate the Gas company's Affairs.

p committee appointed to lnveSti-
gate the Gas company's Affairs.
The Irregular monthly meeting OF the City
Council was held last night, and besides
passing the appropriation bill there was
large amount of miscellaneous matter trans
acted.
In Board OF Mayor and Aldermen.
Mayor Chapman presided. and the full
board was in attendance.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The committee on appropriations sub
mitted the following report with the appro-
priation bill;
Your committee on appropriations beg leave TO
report that they have held several prOtracted
sions at which hearings were given to representa-
tiyes OF the various city departments, who pre-
ser tbeiv shg qa fsqlisd
year. In considering these estimates your com
mittee have recognized the superlatlve import
ance OF restricting appropriations TO the narrow
est practicable limit. with view to reducing the
burden OF taxation. Acting upon this idea, the
requirements Of each department have been care
penditure eliminated which could be judleiOusly
spared. Thus many requests Tor permanent I'm.
elsewhere, although admittedt 10 be most desira-
Bile, yet were not granted because not deemed
sufficiently urgent TO warrant maintaining the
present tax rate.
With the appropriations, as reported your com
mittee is satisfied that all the departments si the
city can be successfully and satisfactorily admin
stered. Some liens Ia he appropriation bin call
cy SRSf msnd2p me eesr P aew rollers
steam chambers and pipes which must be replac-
ed, while that for public buildings allows $500
Tor insurance upon City Hall, besides making pro
visions for furnishing new armOrieS. In making
appropriations for schools sufficient sum Is voted
70 maintain them In their present efficient eOndl-
tlon; the request for new grammar school build
ing was not compiled with, but the committee
voted to recommend setting apart the hay scale
lot for such building another year. The increase
IN salaries over last year Is rendered necessary TO
pay the services Of the assistant assessors In pre-
pairing the ward lists for the several elections
der the improved plan, inVOlvef greater cost than
heretofore and passes under the direction of the
sanitary committee. The committee found 1t i'm
practicable to reduce the appropriation for streets
| below $685. 900 on account Of the unusual expen-
ditures required in grading the west end OF Con
| gress street. beyond the Maine Central station,
| and also, 81. john street, where the Horse Car
Company Is erecting new stables. In dtvid
| ing this appropriation. $4,000 were set
nary street expenditures and maintenance OF
| teams, and $4,000 for winter service, c0mmenc-
ing Dec. 1st The contract entered into last year
for the construction OF the Marginal way, necessi
tated the appropriation Of $4,000 for this public
Improvement, which is a cheap method Of abating
the Back Bay nuisance, and adding TO our taxable
area At the request Of the directors Of the Pub
lie Library, and upon the condition that this nst
tuition shall become Internationally free, the com.
mttee voted TO recommend an appropriation OF
5000 for this object. Your committee Is OF the
opinion that any Important increase IN appropria-
tons above the amounts reported, would not only
be cr0wding into this years work portion OF
what would properly belong In the next year, but
also result in defeating lower taxation the present
year; besides that any further reduction In ap-
preparations cannot be made without impairing
the efficiency OF many branches Of munieipal ser
vice, .and permitting, In ssome instances waste
through unavoidable neglect
II Is wiser to have the tax rate decrease stsadi-
ly and permanently through a series OF years,
rather than irregularly through alternate periods
Of sharp contraction and consequent expansion.
Here followed a table showing the
and the sums awarded them.
From this table 1t appears your committee re
port In favor Of apprOpriating S762, ,11449 which
is S1O6 ,475.OO less than called for and exactly
s35,665.S4 less than was appropriated last year
IL IS to be regretted that the whole amount OF the
latter decrease cannot be realized In tax redue-
tiOn, because the ctys income will fall OF some
what from loss OF rents, ete and larger overlay,
safe to assume II the elys valuation continues al
normal rate, taxes will be reduced 70 $50 pei
| $1,000 thlsyear, and, under certain other contin
| geneies, probably stiu lower
On motion Of Alderman Smith the bill wa;
| considered in detail.
Alderman Hobbs said that the committe'
/ on drains and sewers must have more thar
$500, and moved that it be increased Il
$4,000
Alderman Smith seconded the motion anC
| said he thought the money could be judici
ously expended.
Alderman Tukesbury said that he thought
the sum appropriated was sufficient, and
| Alderman Redlon agreed with him.
Alderman Hobbs then said that :: Tho
members Of his own committee would not
support him he would withdraw his motion.
Alderman Cunningham thought that the
motion of the gentleman from seven should
be duly considered.
The sum Of $4,000 was finally appropri-
ated.
Alderman Shaw said that he wished to
protest against the reduction In the sum
asked for by the Fire Department. I'VE
asked for $4,000 and protest against hay-
ing this department so crippled" He
moved that the amount OF $4,000 be In
| creased to $4,000, and Alderman Cunning
| ham seconded this motion. Alderman
| Smith said that he should like to please the
| gentleman from six, but he could not see
| what the fire department wanted, or could
| do with $4,000.
Alderman Shaw replied that II the sum Of
$4,000 should be appropriated all would ls be
I'VE don't ask ii for ourselves, we ask II for
| the department and the city,.
Alderman Galley said with an appropria-
| ti0n of $4,000 he thought the department
/ should be able to purchase 2O00 feet OF hose,
as they did last year, besides buying the
| Hayes truck
Alderman Cunningham thought that the
sum asked for should be granted, and Alder
man Tukesbury agreed with him.
The sum Of Si7 800 was finally appr0pria-
| ted by this Board.
When the item of the reserve fund was
| reached Alderman Smith said that he could
see no need Of that sum and moved that II
be stricken out, and Alderman Cunningham
| seconded the motion, which was passed by
| vote Of six 10 one Alderman Tukesbury
voting In the negative.
Alderman Smith moved TO strike Out
$500 appropriated for water and hydrants
| insert $1,000 The motion was carried. Al
| derman Smith moved that the sum Of $50,
| 600 appropriated for the Marginal Way con-
| structiOn be used for that for which
it is appropriated only. The motion was
/ carried
Alderman Smith moved that the item OF
$1,000 for the Portland Public Library be
| stricken out. The gentleman Of six stated
/ that he had the highest respect for Mr.. Bax
| ter, but he considered that the city could moi
| afford the appropriation. The motion wa'
/ carried by vote of 10 3, Alderman Tukes
bury Redlon aud Hobbs voting liz the mega
/ tive.
The appropriation for contingent expense
which was at first passed over, was here tax
| en- up and the sum Of $4,000 was appropriat'
| ed.
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