The Portland daily press., 1893-08-11


| partmept--Curious Proceedings of AL
dermen MCGOWAN and ToIman.
A curious performance took place yes
terday afternoon in the meeting of the
committee on fire department. This
committee consists of Aldermen Tolman
and MCGOWAN and Councilmen Chapman
| Chute and Webb. Councilman Webb
| being absent, the committee was left two
and two politically, Aldermen Tolman
and MCGOWAN against Councilmen Chap
man and Chute. The Democratic alder
men thought they saw here chance for
some successful sharp practice. As their
sharp practices have SO far been failures.
they jumped eagerly at the chance. Al
derman MCGOWAN brought forward the
| following motion:
That in conformity with the decision Of the
| City Solicitor George Cady and Frank T.. Berry
| are properly constituted members OF the fire
| department of the city of Portland, and still
| hold their membership. and that they be as
signed to fill the two vacancies. now existing IN
| Engine Company No. g. and that the board OF
| engineers be so instructed and notified.
Councilman Chapman raised a point of
order against this, saying that it was out
of order because, under the city ordi-
nance, members of fire engine companies
are appointed by the board of engineers,
subject to approval by the committee on
fire department; that the committee
therefore, had no jurisdiction to assign
these men to places in any company, no
appointments having been made by the
board of engineers.
Alderman Tolman was in the chair,
and he overruled this objection. Then
he put the motion.
The vote was: Tolman and MCGOWAN
for, Chapman and Chute against.
Then Alderman Tolman said that I'M
der ordinary circumstances he should
declare the motion lost, but in the pres
ent case he should declare it carried. He
said that Mr.. Chute had moved to Deer
ing, and was no longer a member of this
committee; therefore his vote should be
thrown out.
In reply to this extraordinary procla-
nation, Mr.. Chute replied that it was
true that he was living temporarily in
Deering. He had engaged rooms at the
Preble House for the winter, and at
present intended to remain a citizen of
Portland. He said he had no desire to
act as member of the city government
of Portland minute after he had ceased
to be a citizen, but whether he was cit
izen or not was question not within the
| province of that committee to determine.
| Alderman MCGOWAN here tried to shut
Mr.. Chute off by raising the astonishing
point of order that member had no
right to take part in discussion affect
ing his title to seat.
Alderman Tolman then formally de-
c1ared Mr.. Chute not member of the
committee, and announced that the mo-
ton had been carried.
Having thus enunciated and estab-
lished the astonishing proposition that
the chairman of body may expel any
member at will, without vote of the
body, Mr.. Tolman proceeded to put
through another motion prepared by
Mr.. MCGOWAN, arranging for Cady and
Berry to be put on the pay roll. This
vote was put through as the other was.
Then the committee adjourned.
Deering Fires.
Previous to the votes on Cady and
Berry, Aldermen True and Harris OF
Deering had appeared and asked to be
allowed hearing on an arrangement for
rendering assistance from Portland in
case of an emergency in Deering. The
matter was discussed generally. No
definite arrangement was made, but the
sentiment of the committee was that the
Portland fire department. was ready at
all times to respond to an emergency call
from the proper authorities of Deering.
1t seemed advisable, however, to leave
the matter of compensation to be deter
mined in accordance with the circum-
stances of each case.
He Was Too Certa;1l.