The Portland daily press., 1894-12-07
THE ALMsHoUsE MEETING.
Mr. Fobes States the Situation Wednesday
Night.

OF the Board of OverseerS OF the Poor
and the City Government. at which
the latter were invited, according to
yesterdays Argus, quite different story
can be told. Mr.. Charles S. Forbs, a
member of the Board of Overseers. was
seen by a PRESS representative yes
terday. and made the following state
ment as to just what took place that
evening, and certainly his words are en-
titled to.as much credence as those of the
other member who declared at that
meeting that the whole matter should be
ventilated in the press, and who pre-
sumably was the inspiration of the Ar
gusts attack upon the board.
MIR. Fobes said that at a recent meet
ing of the Board of Overseers it was
proposed that mem bers of. the city gov
ernmen committee on removal of the
almshouse, should bs invited to the
monthly supper last Wednesday night
as matter of courtesy, and to give
them an opportunity to see the con-
dition of the almshouse. Mr.. Fobes ex-
pressly stipulated that the
INVITATION SHOULD NOTsBE FOR
NAL,
that it should in no sense be an official
visit for the purpose of official action,
because the Board would not be justified
in forestalling the City Government
sub-committe appointed to confer with
Board of Overseers' committee as to
changing the location of the almshouse.
MIR. Fobes said that he would invite the
alderman from his ward, Mr.. Smith.
Capt. Chas. Fl. Chase said that be would
invite the aldermen from his ward. Mr..
Thompson. Mr.. E. P. Chasessaid that he
would invite the Mayor and SO on.
Wednesday night Mr.. Fobes was the
first to arrive at the almshouse, getting
there at about six o'clock. With Capt.
Chase came Alderman MCGOWAN (not
Alderman Thompson). Other guests
were Councilmen Mannix and Kent,
and Rev. Matt S. Hughes. After the
supper the party made an inspection of
the building, and everybod saw as
much as he cared to. Finally most of
them repaired to the dining loom again
were some other places.that Capt. Chase
desired him to show the committee.
Alderman MCGOWAN accompanied Mr..
Rounds. Mr.. Fobes asked Alderman
Smith if he didn't wish to 60 also, and
they followed. The four inspected every
part of the building. except the water
closets in the women's quarters.
When Mr.. Fobes returned to the rest of
the party, it was about five minutes of
| nine. The board was just finishing their
routine business. Chairman Sawyer
| asked if any member had any more
ally Capt. Chase said that two of the
mem hers, MIR. Fobes and Mr.. Rounds,
were absent. Mr.. Fobes, who sat behind
him and whose entrance he hadn't seen,
announced thatshe was present. Then,
Capt. Chase. said that he had understood
that one member had something to offer,
but it was late, and he didn't know as
it was we'll to ask the Board to wait
any longer, but he would suggest that
they wait two or three minutes.
Then motion was made and seconded
to adjourn. There was no jumping up"
to put the motion. That sort of thing
doesn't happen in meetings of the board.
The above is Mr.. Fobes statement of the
adjournment, and doesn't look very
much like trick to prevent the sub
committee from the City Government
from performing any official action.
Immediately after the adjournment
MIR. bounds appeared, and wanted to
know what was before the meeting.
When learning of it's adjournment he
was very = angry, and entered upon a
TRADE of words. saying among other
things that he had been purposely shut
out and sat upon. 1t was the second
time that the thing had happened when
there were visitors, and khe would have
it
VENTILATED IN THE PUBLIC
PRESS.
After heated discussion Alderman
McGowan asked if committee ON the
part Of the Board of Overseers had been
or was to be appointed to confer with
the subcommittee from the City Gov
eminent in regard to changing the
almshouse. Chairman Sawyer replied
| that no communication had been re
| ceived by the Board requesting the ap-
pointment of such committee and it did
not come within his province toaaappoint
such a committee withouta request to do
so. Mr.. Rounds said that the purpose
| of all this was to block the movement
| for change of the almshouse until
after the first of March (when the
term of office of the Board expires.
| Councilman Mannix fared up and de-
| Jared that action should be taken upon
this matter at the meeting of the City
Government next Monday night.
A lderman McGowan asked if a COM
mittee could not be appointed that night
and whether the word of Alderman
Smith, Councilman Mannix and himself
could not be relied upon, as indicating
that such committe was desired to be
appointed.