The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-04
CITY GOVERNMENT.
A Quiet Meeting at Which Little But
Routine Business Was Transacted
The Matter of Plumbing Inspec-
tion-Ogdensburg Direc-
tors Selected.


last evening was characterized by no
business of special Importance, except
the continuance of the office of plum bling
inspector. The amount of routine bus1-
ness was not large.
In the board of mayor and aldermen,
Aldermen Tolman and Prince were
present a
Various Orders Passed
The following orders were passed with
out debate:
That the city treasurer ne directed to
transfer $4,000 from the liquor agency
funds to the High school appropriation.
Bargaining lot Mol ~, Roberts street,
to Ellen L. Doe at eight cents per square
foot.
Making assessment for the sewers, on
West and Chadwick ard ON Fox streets.
January 16, at 7.30 p. m. is the time for
the hearing.
That the committee on accounts be
authorized to approve certain board of
health bills, including that of Henry W.
Straw, plumbing inspector.
That permission be given AID. Sweet
sir, his agents and employees to fire and
discharge one hundred guns on Andrew
jackson day.
Laying out the extension of Marion
street from Washington street to Sheri-
dan street, in accordance with the report
of the committee, which Mr.. Guptill pre-
| scented.
That the city treasurer be authorized
to execute in behalf of the city of Port
land warranty deed of certain lands
lying adjacent to the land in behring's
Oaks, but on the northerly side of the
Portland & Rochester railroad location,
of George p. Wescott and VIM. II. Conant
orHS with al, 10
as it only carries out an arrangement
made some time ago
A Jewish Undertaken.
Mayor Baxter appointed Mr.. Shat Ber-
man of 1872 Middle street as an under
taker, and the council confirmed the APP
pointment.
Ogdensburg Directors.
An order was presented by Mr.. Guptill
and passed by the board empowering the
mayor to attend the annual meeting of
the Portland & Ogdensburg railway on
Tuesday, January 16, and in behalf of
the board of directors, cast the city votes
for the following board: Samuel j.
Anderson, Weston f. Milliken, Chas. H.
Amsden of N H., James F. Hawkes.. Thos.
P.Shaw, George W. True. John W. Deer
ing, James P. Baxter, Edward B. Win
slow, Theodore A. Josselyn. The three
new ones are the three last. and they
take the places of Darius II. Ingraham,
Phillip a. Brown and John e. Dewitt.
The Plumbing Inspector.
Alderman MCGOWAN brought up the
matter of plumbing inspection. He said
he had come to the conclusion, from
personal investigation. that Inspector
Straw had been a faithful official and
had done good and valuable work
Therefore he believed in taking steps to
ret ain him in Office.
Alderman Strout concurred in this.
He believed in the wisdom of having
plumbing inspection, and in the efficiency
of Mr.. Straw. Because some people who
has been made to reform abuses, were
against him, was one reason for believ.
ing him efficient. So it was voted to ask
for joint convention, and the council
concurring, it was held.
In the joint convention the question
of continuing the office of plumbing in
spector was formally considered. Mr..
Guptill explained that last spring an or
dinance was passed that plum bling
should be done under inspection by
authority OF the Board of Health. Mr..
him he (Mr. Guptill) had put in an order
to transfer $500. from the liquor agency
fund.
Mr.. Chute of the council, said that
when the bill for Mr.. Straw's service
came up, the committee on accounts
ing such an officer. Therefore they de-
c1ined to approve his bill While the
state law gives the Board of Health very
wide powers in relation to hiring persons
the compensation of such employees lis to
be fixed by the municipal authorities. 1t
might be well to have plum bling super
vised, but Mr.. Chute thought the matter
was being carried too far.
Mr.. e. G. Jordan was called on and
urged the necessity of inspection by
competent man. He said that much poor
pipe had been used in plumbing hereto
fore, with unsafe results, such as wore
experienced in the High school, The in
spector now requires that the work shall
be safe; and this sometimes makes the
work more expensive. But in the end it
is cheapest and most creditable to the
city. The plum bling inspector stands be-
tween the people and the inexperience or
avarice of the landlord. Mr.. Jordan
hoped Portland would not go.to the rear
in this matter.
Mr.. Straw was called on. He said he
had endeavored to perform his duties
with as little trouble to house owners as
consistent with proper work.
Mr.. Chute said he thought it not wise
to employ man to do the work of the
board of health. Last year we were
asked to spend money for a quarantine
station, which this year is not worth in
Surfing. This year it is plumbing on the
brain, and no one knows what it will be
next year.
Alderman Strout defended the quaran-
tine station. 1t was built to ward off
an imminent danger, and because that
danger did not come, was no reason for
condemning the precaution now. Mr..
Strout also defended the plumbing in
spection.
Councilman Knowles spoke of COM
plants he had heard against the in
spector.
Alderman Brackett thought Mr.. S traw
might be arbitrary. Many poor people
were complaining that they had to
change their waterworks Mr.. Straw
seemed pleased with his office but the
citizens didn't.
Councilman Pencil thought we could
get as good plumbing without inspection
as with it.
Councilmen Melaugh defended Mr.