The Portland daily press., 1893-10-03

| relating to streets is hereby amenQeo oy
adding to said section Changes OF
| grade, permanent repairs and the con-
struction of all work on all streets, side
walks and bridges which properly comes
under the direction of a civil engineer
shall be in accordance with plans and
specifications prepared by the city engi-
| neer and approved by the committee on
streets, sidewalks and bridges. Il snail
be the duty of the city engineer to in
spect all work done on the streets in ac-
cordance with plans and specifications
| prepared by him as the same progresses,
ana to report any deviations therefrom
| to the mayor and the chairman of the
committee on streets, sidewalks and
| bridges.
Before a street is graded, paved or per-
manently repaired it shall be the duty OF
the city engineer to see that the various
pipes and structures under the street are
in proper order and to report to the COM
mittee on streets, sidewalks and bridges
the condition of the same; and 1T shall
be the duty of said committee to require
such report. When any street is to be
graded or permanently repaired it shall
be the duty of the committee on streets,
sidewalks and bridges to give public
notice of the same; and after such work
is done the street shall not be broken or
dug up for. the period of two GEARS, ex-
cept in case of obvious necessity, and
that said section as amended shall read
as follows:
Section 2.-Section twelve of the ordi
nances relating to streets is amended by
adding thereto, "No license shall be
granted by any person authorized there
to by the board Of mayor and aldermen
to any one to break or dig up any part OF
approval of the commissioner OF streets In
writing on such license, 10 that said sec
ton as amended shall read as follows:
An Act to amend the Ordinances of the
City of Portland relating to the city en-
gineer
and common council Of the city Of Port
land in the city council assembled, as
follows:
Section 1.-Section two of the ordi-
nances relating to the city engineer is
amended by adding He shall inspect all
work done in accordance with plans and
specifications prepared by him as the
therefrom to the mayor and the chair
man of the committee having the same
in charge, SO that said section as amend
ed shall read as follows:
When the report had been made Coun-
Gilman Webb asked if this came as the
report of a committee. Mr.. Chapman
said committee had been appointed on
| the matter, and that that committee had
referred the matter to sub committee
composed of the mayor and himself.
| That sub committee had drafted a plan,
which had, been presented to the COM
mittee and criticised somewhat. After
mending the report to meet these criti-
cisms, Mr.. Chapman said he had felt at
liberty to present the matter to the joint
| convention.
Councilmen Pennell and Kehoe called
to mind that the whole committee to
which the matter had been referred had
not been consulted. The matter had been
referred to the committees on drains and
sewers, streets and on civil engineer.
| Mr.. Pennell said he believed that no
| meeting of those committees had been
| called
Alderman MeGowan said he thought
! the chairmen had been called together.
Councilman Chapman said the matter
might not have been presented formally
by committee; but it was here now to
be discussed.
Councilman Pencil said he believed
for a matter, the matter should be left
| to that committee. He was not in favor
of bringing the matter up now.
Mayor Baxter said he had taken pains
to have the memb ers of the committee
notified of the meetings.
Alderman Josselyn said he believed
the matter introduced by Mr.. Chapman
one Of the greatest Importance. Better
streets were greatly needed; and the
present system of caring for them was
defective. He hoped the matter would
be discussed. There ought to be more
continuity in the carrying on of city work.
Alderman Tolman agreed with Mr..
Josselyn; and as there seemed to be
some misunderstanding, he thought Mr..
Chapman's report ought to be printed,
and then after consideration, be brought
up again.
| Councilman Pennell was for all i'm
| provements, but if we were to start out
he thought it would be better to have
commissions and put the streets, police
and fire department all under them.
Alderman McGowan thought commits
sions were desirable, but everything could
not be done at once. An act of the
legislature would be needed to get the
commissions established, and the legisla-
ture does not meet for over two years.
Meanwhile we could go on and do the
best possible. Mr.. MCGOWAN thought
also that it would be we'll to introduce a
system of civil service reform into the
management of the streets, such as is in
use in Boston. He suggested that some
Boston gentleman be asked to address
eq4 city government on the subject of
| this reform.
Councilman Laughlin believed the plan
wise; but before discussion he thought
the members ought to have printed
copies to study.
Councilman Chute also wanted the
matter printed. AS he had heard the
proposition read, he had not seen where
it was an improvement. He favored a
commission for the management of the
streets. So far commissions had worked
well, as in the case of the park commits