The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-05-17


Guptill, MCGOWAN, Tolman and Brack-
ett The nays were then called for, but
| no one responded.
Then Mayor Baxter said: "Of course
if the City Clerk wishes to amend his
records he can"
This quiet remark reminded Mr.. GIMP
till that the Board had no business to at
tempt to boss the clerk; so he tried to
intensity the mandate.
Mr.. Guptill-'sI wish also to put the
question as to whether the city clerk
shall amend his record' And the four
recent fugitives stood up again.
This closed the incident for the time
But later, after considerable business
had interviewed, Mr.. MCGOWAN returned
to the charge again. He wanted it UNI
derstood that there was nothing politi-
cal in his action, only burning desire
for the public good. He wanted to
know if the minutes were being made up
properly.
He wanted the minutes of the present
meeting read The City Clerk read
his notes, but no reference was made to
the motions put by Alderman Guptill.
Mr.. McGown noticed this, and asked
if no record was to be made of that.
The City Clerk replid that his record
was not yet made UP.
Then Mr.. MCGOWAN went on to saw
that the transactions referred to were
part of the meetings. proceedings and
should be in the record.
II will see that the proper records are
made up" was the City Clerks re-
ponse.
McGowan-'I do not know that the
city clerk is a member of this body, and
do not understand that he has right
to the f1oor.'' Mr.. MCGOWAN then finally
made a motion that the City Clerk be
instructed to record the motions put by
Mr.. Guptill.
Alderman Josselyn said he thought
this proceeding strange one, and par
taking of the nature of an insult to the
clerk. The clerk was competent to
make up the records of the meeting
properly.
Alderman Tolman was on his feet at
this. He said he thought such criti-
cism came with poor grace from the gen
tleman from Seven, who at the last
meeting had moved reconsideration
and thereby put through ''snap' ac-
ton.
Mr.. Strout thought that if criticisms
of this sort were to be gone into some of
the acts of the last Mayor might be COM
mented On. But really there was no
question before the Board to justify this
debate.
Mr.. MCGOWAN attempted to argue that
because the House of Representatives
could order it's clerks to change the rec
ords, the Board of Aldermen could do so
also.
Thereupon Mr.. Strout pointed out that
the clerk of the House of Representa-
tives and the City Clerk of Portland did
not stand at all on the same footing. The
House of Representatives chose and
could discharge its clerk at pleasure,
while the City Clerk of Portland was a
charter officer, standing upon as secure a
footing as the members of the Board of
Aldermen themselves.
After considerable further debate,
which went over ground already trav-
ersed, the Mayor ruled Mr.. MCGOWAN S
motion out of order.
Mr.. Guptill appealed from the ruling
of the Mayor.
The Mayor declined to entertain the
appeal.
Mr.. MCGOWAN produced rule of
Gushing, to which the Mayor replied:
II understand the rule, but the whole
matter is out of order. 1t is reflection
on the clerk and not proper"
Mr.. Josselyn-Mr. Mayor, there is no
appeal before the board.
Mr.. Guptill-I made one.
Mr.. Josselyn-Very true, the gentle
man said something about such thing,
but there is no appeal. The fact was the
appeal was Tot seconded.
Here ended the attempt of Messrs.
Guptill and MCGOWAN to usurp the May
office.
But. meanwhile Alderman Tolman had
opened with another battery, in the
shape of the following report:
To HIS Honor the Mayor and Board of Alder
Conference.-The undersigned committee on
police to whom was referred the appointment
of special police at the last regular meeting of
this board beg leave to submit the following
majority report.
Upon inquiry and looking up the men nomi-
mated by His Honor the mayor we find upon
what we consider reliable information. that
some of them are not of that character as to be
suitable appointments.
Two of them we are informed are men who at
tunes are addicted to the excessive use of in
tOXlcatlng liquors.
One is said to have been removed from the
regular force for inetficiency, and one for hay
ing served beyond the age limit as required by
law. 70 ~ ~
One is reported to have been engaged in the
keeping OF saloon not in conformity with the
We do not see why the officers that are an
pointed Tor special duty should not be taken from
Tie llS6 OI names OF men Jflat nave been before
the police examining board as they are re-
CURED to do equally as important duty as the
regular officers and would recommend that all
officers who are to perform special duty be
taken from the list of applicants who have
passed the examination
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE TOLMAN, Committee
CHAS. f. GUPTILL, on Police
This report was accepted and placed
on file.
The Appropriation Bill.
The subject of the city estimates then
came up, Mr.. Guptill presenting the re-
port of the committee on estimates,
The matter of attorneys bills on the
water question was the subject rof some
debate. Mr.. MCGOWAN asked if the bill
of Mr.. Geo. F. Emery was included in
this. He was told that Mr.. Emery's b ill
had not yet been approved, there being
some question as to whether others of
the commission should not be paid if he
was to be.
This inquiry led to no result, and the
report of the cOmmittaa on aS+;mo+os