The Portland daily press., 1893-01-03
CITY OF WEsTBRoOk.
Matters Considered by the Council at Last
Evenings Meeting.


Evenings Meeting
The regular monthly meeting of the
Westbrook city council was held last
evening. President j. w. Warren in the
chair and nine aldermen in attendance.
Alderman Pride for the police commit
tee recommended licensing John Killian
and Winfield S. Mcclellan as the West
brook Loan Company.
Alderman Cutter said the county COM
missioners had approved the road as
established from the Windham line to
the Duck Pond road.
Andrew Sinclair wants remuneration
at $40 week for seven weeks, the board
of health having quarantined his house
that length of time on account of scarlet
fever The claim was referred to the
committee on health.
Alderman Haskell presented the petit
ton of Cyrus Pratt for abatement, OF
poll taxes by reason of i'll health. No
action was taken.
An invitation to the installation exer
cises of Cloudman Post, G. A. R., Janu-
airy 18th, was accepted.
The members of the council signed
petition for gates at the three crossings
of the Portland & Rochester railroad.
This action looks to legal proceedings.
The city treasurer was authorized to
give quit claim deed to Mrs. Benjamin
Hussey for tax claim upon her proper
ty.
The Pay of the Police.
An order was passed fixing the pay of
the police for the ensuing municipal year
at So per day.
Alderman Cutter thought the present
council had no right to arrange matters
for the next city government. They
should be left free to act for themselves.
Alderman Winslow read a section from
the city charter, by which it would APP
pear that change in salaries cannot be
made by the council in power at the
time of such change taking effect.
The chair ruled that the order was not
in order but the matter could be reached
by an ordinance, and this would have to
be done by the present council to effect
the salary of the police next year.
Alderman Pride subsequently present.
ed an ordinance to fix the pay of the po-
lice next year at so a day. 1t had its
first reading and went over to the next
meeting under the rules.
A Question Concerning Gravel.
Alderman Cordwell stated that the APP
preparation for streets, ETC., had not been
exhausted and asked the opinion of the
council on a proposition from Mr.. Rob-
erts to supply the city with gravel at 81
per cord while it could be hauled across
the river on the ice. They have had to
pay $1.50 fir m the gravel pit in Deering.
President Warren stated that there
was no road to Mr.. Roberts, pit, but the
city had offered to build one and take
their pay in gravel at 81 per cord.
The matter was referred to the COM
mittee on streets.
Some Legal Points.
City Solicitor Lyons stated that the bill
of $1745 for damages by altering the
grade of the sidewalk in front of the lot
of Arthur Andrews had not been pre-
sented in legal form. The matter should
have be en- in the form of petition. The
committee could then view the premises
and assess the damages. The solicitor
stated thatin the case of Edna Bryant,
who sued the city for $4,000, in which
the jury rendered verdict of 1000 he
had filed motion for new trial on the
ground that the verdict was excessive
and not justified by the evidence. He
was of the opinion that the law court
would grant new trial to correct the
error of the jury. Other lawyers were
of the same opinion. He thought
perhaps fair compromise might possi-
bly, be effected.
As to the cost of carrying the case up,
the solicitor stated that it would be from
$50 to 800.
Alderman Cutter presented an order
authorizing the city solicitor to act as he
deemed best for the interest of the city.
Presented to the City of Westbrook.
The photographs of Mayor Valentine
and the thirteen aldermen, composing
the first city government of Westbrook,
have been taken by Mr.. Wight of that
city, tastefully grouped, handsomely
framed and presented to the City Coun
Gil. This was the government of last
year.