The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-06

GEORGE II. LIBBY,
Treasurer and Collector.
MINOR MATTERS.
The New England Telegraph and Tele-
phone Company were given permission to
erect poles on Portland and Clark streets,
and Il. IL. Hawkes. to erect an engine at 25
Cross street.
Invitations were received and accepted
from the Portland Montgomery Guards to
attend their ball, and the Electric Light
Company to visit their works.
A vote Of thanks was extended to the
Horse Railroad for courtesies extended.
A petitition for the paving of Silver street
was referred.
Cyrus j. Brown was appointed special
police.
The ordinance on hackney carriages was
am ended so that drivers needn't wear
badges In doing private work.
There was expended for Evergreen Gem
etery S15,5S7.9O last year, leaving on hand
$3.50.
In Common Council.
All present.
Reading of the records was dispensed
with.
The nine petitions presented for the paw
ing of Congress street between State and St.
John streets, which were referred by the up
per board at the April meeting to the COM
mittee on streets. sidewalks and bridges,
were referred in this board In concurrence.
Mr.. Rounds offered an order that Somerset
street be levelled to grade from Kennebec
to Pearl street, and cleaned up. Referred
and sent up.
Mr.. Westward presented the petition of j.
+. Moses and others for plank sidewalk on
Douglass street. Referred and sent up.
THE SALARY BILL.
The salary bin passed unanimously in con-
currence with the upper board. When the
salary Of eDglnemen was announced Mr..
Cousens of Ward l said that the salary Of
enginemen was cut down IA years ago. and
that while the salaries of other city officers
had gradually crawled back in the interven-
ing years to what they were then, only
very slight increase had been given to the
englnemen. He moved to raise their salaries
to 5000 per year.
Mr.. StIout agreed with Mr.. Cousens. He
thought 1t only fair to the enginemen to iD-
crease their salaries to the old figure.
Mr.. Conant disagreed with these gentle
men. He thought all neeessaries Of life were
very much cheaper now than IA years ago.
AT that time the pay roll of the fire depart
ment was less than $1,000; last year II was
$4,000, and this year it will be over S2S,OOO.
The enginemen do good service, but they do
not give but small part OF their time 10 ac-
tual service.
Mr.. Chapman said that the committee on
salaries would have been glad to have given
the enginemen 5000 but they had to consld-
er all the city officers salaries and the IL
nances. and this S25 was all the advance
that could be made the enginemen, and that
was done to show their appreciation OF them.
He further said that of the $500 advance in
salaries, the fire department would get
SI7OO Mr.. Cousens's motion failed OF pas
sage.
THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The appropriation bill received a unani-
nous passage in concurrence in this board.
When the appropriation for fire department
was reached, Mr.. Cousens objected to the
reduction.
Mr.. Foes SAID there would be no need of
purchasing hose the coming year as we have
$1,000 feet of first rate hose, and 5000 feet of
serviceable hose In the repair shops. This is
more than the department has ever had.
MIR. Cousens moved that the appropriation
be made the same as last year.
Mr.. Jordan then made detailed statement
oI what the department had asked for fIom
the committee, and that, taking their own
statements. II was deemed perfectly safe to
make the proposed reduction.
The motion OF Mr.. Cousens did not prevail