The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-12

president, with l.. Clifford Wade clerk. This
board suggested and the lower board accept
ed a joint convention to inaugurate the
Mayor and City Council elect.
After the convention this board permanent
ly organized by the unanimous election Of
Alderman Shaw for permanent chairman.
Alderman T. P. Shaw was elected gas
agent.
James S. Gould was appointed superin-
tendent of burials.
The following were appointed under
takers:
N W. Morse John G. Downs,
A. j. Rich James Wallace,
James H. Tobin, Frank NJ. Floyd,
Dennis TObin, Louis Bunce,
John f. TObin, Herbert Bachelor.
Herbert w. Rich, Henry T. Skillings,
Cornelius Ilsley, John 8. Cushman,
Frank Ilsley, Josiah H Dill,
Jeremiah Iisiey, j. H. n. Rand,
Jacob S. Winslow was appointed a mem
ber Of the commission on cemeteries and
public grounds for three years.
The following orders were passed:
ORDERS PASSED.
That the City Clerk grant the usual per-
mits for opening streets.
That the rules and orders OF this City
Council be the same as those Of last years
council until otherwise ordered.
That the joint standing committee on rules
and orders revise the rules and orders of
each board and present the revision to each
board for their action.
That the City Auditor lay before the City
Council as early in .Aprilas practicable the
estimate OF the receipts and expenditures of
the City Government for the current finan-
cial year ending March 81, 1890.
That a committee of two on the part of
this board with such as the Council may join
be appointed TO procure the printing Of 200
copies Of the Mayors address. Appointed
Messrs. Tompson and McClutchy and the
Council joined Messrs. Clark, Dow and Fits.
That the unfinished business Of the last
City Council referred to this City Council is
duly referred to the appropriate committees
when appointed.
Adjourned to 7.sO p. m.
In Common Council.
At1Oa. m. yesterday the board of Common
Council of 1SS9-9O was called to order prompt
ly by the Clerk of the last Council, Mr.. L.
Clifford Wade, and Mr.. Thomas E. Coyne, of
Ward 2, was elected president pro tenn.
There was an unusually large audience in
cluding many ladies.
The president appointed Messrs. Gala
CHER, Chapman and Gilliatt committee on
credentials who decided the gentlemen in
their seats-whose names have been previ-
ously pablished-duly elected and certifcat-
ed.
The upper board was notified of the tempo
rary organization of this board, and an
nounced the election of Alderman R. A.
McClutchy as temporary chrirman. Mes
sages passed between the boards offering
and accepting a joint convention for the
purpose Of taking the oath and hearing the
Mayors inaugural message.
After the dissolution Of the convention
this board proceeded to the election OF per-
manent president. On motion of Council
man Gilliatt. Mr.. j. Henry Crockett, was
unanimously elected permanent presid ent,
and on taking his seat spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the Common Council:
/ thank you for the honor you have con-
ferred upon me, and it is specially gratifying
that you have voluntarily disregarded party
lines, and made your choice unanimous
one. While we should endeavor to advance
the interest Of our respective parties, in all
legitimate ways, we may safely forget
whether we are Republicans or Democrats.
In considering the many merely business
questions which we shall be called upon TO
decide, assuming that he who serves the city
best will thereby do the most for his party.
1t is sometimes said that this branch of the
City Government is of but little value and
might well be abolished.
My brief experience in this body convinces
me that this is not the fact. Selected, as the
members usually are, from different parts of
each ward and from different callings and
professions, the needs Of all classes of our
citizens are more likely Ito be truely repre-
sented in this larger body than in the smaller
one, the Board Of Aldermen. Our work is
done, however, under peculiar disadvantages
nff ht1ut. L. roll faf., frs1
in the upper board and sent to us without
comment or explanation, the only inform
alton we have, in many cases, being what we
may gain from the reading Of the order or
resolve presented to us, the wording Of which
often fails to give clear idea of its intent or
purpose. This Is no fault Of the other board
but the tendency of 1t is to cause the men,
bers Of this board to rely too much upon the
judgment Of the other board, and, from
mistaken sense Of courtesy. to concur in their
action without taking time to investigate
each subject for themselves before voting
upon 1t.
This difficulty would be avoided to some
extent, IL our regular meeting was held few
days later than that of the other board, thus
giving us time to examine its decisions be-
fore we were called to- actupon them. While
our meeting Is upon the same night however,
special care should be exercised in our busi-
ness to make sure that we know what we
are doing. When in doubt upon any matter
the safe course would be to lay 1t over for
further investigation rather than pass it
without knowledge or defeat it because we
did not understand it.
While proper respect for the other board
would prompt us to assume that there Is
some good reason to be offered for every
thing they send to us, Ii is still our privilege
and our duty to investigate for ourselves.
Thus can the Common Council be made
an actual and valuable part Of the City
Government.
Gentlemen, trusting to your kind as
sistance and forbearance, it shall be my aim
to so serve you that the pleasant relations
now established may continue throughout
the year.
Mr.. Sylvester nominated Mr.. l.. Clifford
Wade for permanent clerk, by acelamation,
but at Mr.. Wade's request, this being a sal
aried Office, ballot was taken, Messrs. Syl-
vester, Cloudman and Fits being appointed a
committee to count votes. The ballot result
ed unanimously in favor of Mr.. Wade, he
receiving 2l votes. He returned thanks.
Mr.. Thomas p. Shaw was elected gas agent
in concurrence.
Papers from the upper Board received con-
current action.
Adjourned to 7.30 p. m.
In Joint Convention.
Assembled in joint convention. Alder
man McClutchy was called to the chair.
The clerk read the returns of the election,
showing that Holman S. Melcher was elect
ed Mayor by 1928 majority. Messrs. Nc
Cam, Gilliatt and Sylvester were appointed
a committee to wait on the Mayor-elect and
request his attendance. The committee fol-
filed their duty and the Mayor-elect took his
seat, accompanied by ex-Mayor Chapman,
Marshal Hawkes. and Rev. Mr.. Dunn Of
Free street church. The oaths of Office were
administered to the Mayor, Aldermen and
Councilmen elect, and then Rev. Mr.. Dunn
offered prayer.
Mayor Melcher then delivered his inaugu-
raj, which is as follows;
Gentlemen of the City Council:
Called to these positions of honor and trust
by the suffrages Of the people of this city, it
is becoming in us carefully to consider the
responsibilities resting upon us and ever
keep In mind the obligations imposed.
Representing different political parties
and under obligations to consider their in
terestS. we must remember that a h;obar