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

How Mayor Baxter Held His Own and
Turned the Tables on the Four Return
ed Aldermen at Last Evenings Meeting
Fifty Thousand Dollars Appropriated
for the High School Building.
There was a special meeting of both
branches of the city government last
evening. The board of aldermen
had a business like appearance.
Alderman Brackett was no longer
at Saccarappa; Alderman Tolman had
returned from Mecca, and Aldermen
Guptill and MCGOWAN had re-
turned from the thraldom in which
they are supposed to have been held re-
Gently by the Falmouth and the Young
Mems Democratic Clubs.
Since Alderman Tolman returned from
Washington the recent fugitives have
been putting on war paint with the most
ferocious daubs. So it happened that
while they recently fled like sheep, last
evening they were on hand as bold as
wolves.
How they attacked Mayor Baxter and
how he met and thwarted them, forms the
most interesting portion of the story of
last evenings meeting.
The reading of the records of the last
meeting by City Clerk Dyer was the first
proceeding. This record, among other
things had the following minute:
Motion made by Alderman Guptill that the
board adjourn. Motion lost.
On motion of Alderman Josselyn. voted to re
consider the vote passed at the regular meeting
of this board held on the first day of May,
1898, by which vote the nominations made by
the mayor OF certain persons to serve as special
policemen during the pleasure of this board,
was referred to the committee on police.
On motion OF Alderman Strout, voted to con-
firm the nomination of special policemen as
made by the mayor at the regular meeting of
the board held on the first day of May, 1898.
The record was no sooner read than
Alderman MCGOWAN was on his feet,
and began: "As the minutes read by the
clerk appear to be incorrect, wish to
offer an amendment in the form of an Or
der, as follows:
Ordered: That the records of the minutes of
the Special Meeting of the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen held May 10, 1893 Cat 5 O'Clock in
the afsernoon) as read by the city clerk be
ohOiiuCu Wy CApuuSiilS cttCll duu every line on
page 36S of the city records $50 far as they re-
late to the meeting of the Board of Mayor and
Aldermen) after the following: motion made
by Alderman Guptill that the Board adjourn,
Motion lost" and substituting for the lines SO
expuuged the following: The number of mem
Ders present having been reduced below a quo
rum (Which fact was announced by the Mayor
the meeting was thereby adjourned.''
Mayor Baxter said:
81 trust that the gentlemen will not
press this motion. If they will refer to
the rules of the Board they will find that
they had been drawn evidently by law
yer Of experience and knowledge. This
lawyer knew it had been decided legally
that the city clerk is a sworn officer and
that the approval of his record is not
subject to the vote of this board. There
fore this Board cannot amend that rec
ord. The whole matter is out of order
and | shall decline to put any such mo-
ton" was Mr.. Bakers firm conclusion.
1t evidently somewhat astonished Mr..
MCGOWAN; but Councilman Kehoe. his
great rival in parliamentary law was
looking on, so he returned to the charge.
waving Gushing on high:
Your Honor, While great and good
man may have framed the rules of this
board, you will yet admit that another
great and good man, Mr.. Gushing, has a
rule Then Mr.. MCGOWAN proceeded
to read rule of Cushing's which told
how parliamentary bodies may amend
their records.
To this Mr.. Baxter replied: 81 am
well aware that there are differences of
opinion. But the Supreme Court of the
state has decided this question. Cush-
m T,l1Iac
law; but various bodies have rules Of
their own which do not always conform
to Gushing. In this case the decision of
the Supreme Court of this state, and the
rules of this body do not conform to
Cushing
Mr.. McGowan returned to the charge.
He though that if the Mayor was partic-
ular about the rules of this body, he
should also be particular about Rule TO-
which seemed to him (Mr. McGowan) to
have been violated in permitting a vote
of reconsideration at any time other than
the next STATED" meeting,
To this Mr.. Baxter replied that he be-
lieved the action taken in perfect CON
formity with the spirit and intent of Rule
10.
Mr.. MCGOWAN returned to charge the
at another point. He read a long ex-
tract from Cushing's Manual on the sub
ject of quorums. He commended that
there was no quorum at the time the
special policemen were confirmed.
AS reply to this, Mr.. Baxter request
ed Mr.. MCGOWAN to read that section of
the rules of the board which require
member to ask to be excused, and that
that excuse shall be granted before a
member of the board may retire. Mr..
Baxter recalled to the minds of the four
aldermen so recently fugitives, that not
one of them had been excused during
the meeting in question.
After this the Mayor reminded the
Board that it was time to proceed to the
report of the estimates committee.
said: GAS Your Honor has refused to
put the motion, would most respectful