The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-02-06
THE FIRST COMMISSION.
Important Reform in City Admins
tration.
PROCEEDINGS OF LAST EVEN.
INGS CITY MEETING

Commission of Three-Other Matters
Before the Two Boards.
The city government meeting last eve
ming was characterized by the transac-
ton of considerable routine business,
and by the consideration of the draft OF
an ordinance. presented by Alderman
Brackett, for the purpose of establishing
a commission to have general charge OF
the streets, sidewalks and bridges and
drains and sewers. The proposed ordl-
nance will be best explained by its full
text, which is as followis:
Be it ordained by the mayor, aldermen
and common council of the city OF FORT
land. in CITY council assembled as toll
lows: L,
esta blished consisting of three mem bers,
one of whom shall be the city civil
engineer, Elk officio, who shall also pe
chairman of the commission, ana the
mayor is hereby authorized and sem
powered to appoint, subject to the APP
proval of the board of aldermen. the two
other mem bers, one of whom shall be
chosen from each political party. The
commission to be styled the commission
of streets and sewers.
Sec. 1.-THE last two members OF the
commission shall be appointed for one
and two years respectively, at the hrsJ
appointment under this ordinance, and
thereafter one shall be appointed each
year, to serve for the term of two years.
In case vacancy should occur 1T may be
filled in the same manner for the unex.
pired term.
Sec. 3.-Said commissioners shall have
charge and control of the streets, side
hrid nd
said city, and are hereby vested with all
the power which the committees ON
streets, sidewalks and bridges, and
drains and sewers heretofore have had,
except as otherwise provided for in the
city charter. Under the direction Of this
commission all appropriations made for
streets, sidewalks and bridges, drains
and sewers shall be expended.
Sec 4.-The street commissioner shall
perform the work now done by that
officer, and shall be under the supervision
and direction of the commission. The
salary If said street Commissioners shall
be fixed by the city council. The COM
missioners, except the city engineer,
shall receive as compensation for their
services, three dollars for each attend
ance on meetings of record, not exceed
ing seventy-fve meetings during the
year.
at the beginning of the next municipal
year.
When this draft had been presented
Alderman MCGOWAN asked whether it
made any provision for an examination
of Iaborers, in accordance with the civil
service suggestion already made, and up
on learning that it did not, advocated
the grating on Of such plan.
Alderman Strout thought that the sug-
gestion of the gentleman who had spoken
last was good, but not wholly timely.
This was new and important step, and
we should attempt at first only what we
can do successfully, and what can be
understood and appreciated readily. This,
Mr. Strout hoped, was only the entering
wedge for larger reforms, which would
result in the creation of a board of pub
lie works for tine city by the next leglsla-
ture.
Alderman MCGOWAN thought the first
step too modest. He wanted to have the
flesh and blood on the skeleton. All
great changes had been radical, and the
idea of giving infants food to our c1tl-
zens was reflection on their capacities
large doses of reform. Therefore the
speaker was not in favor of this measure,
which should have engrafted on it a civil
service provision for the laborers.
Alderman Strout replied that the
measure as it was would mean great
change, and much labor would be re-
CURED to carry it out. If this and that
scheme were to be tackled on, the plan
was likely to fail altogether.
Alderman Josselyn said that he was
fully in sympathy with the civil service
reform ideas of the gentleman from 2,
but sometimes to advance fast 1T is
necessary to move slowly. The step is
experimental SO far as Portland is con-
cerned, and therefore it will be best to
act on this alone Then, if it is success
full. we can move farther next winter.
Alderman Bracket said he had not
had time to give the measure great
Thought. But he thought that the matter
of labor could be left to the commission.
Mr.. MCGOWAN then stated that on the
whole half a loaf might be better than
no bread, and when Mr.. Strout moved to
suspend the rules and pass the ordinance,
Mr.. MCGOWAN joined his six associates in
making it unanimous.
When the ordinance came into the
lower board with the endorsement of
passed to be engrossed, and was read by
President Randall, Councilman John B.
Kehoe was at once on his feet, asking for
light on the matter"
He wanted to know if it came through
any committee or was in other ways
vouched for. He thought if no one
could answer as to this, lit
ought to be laid on the table for investi-
CATION.
Councilman l.. M. Webb said he
thought the matter spoke for itself. 1t
had been talked over in both branches
and Brother Kehoe, himself, must know
something about it, having been known
to talk it over or talk it down. Mr.. Webb
was heartily in favor of it and thought
Mr.. Kehoe said he had heard the mat
fer talked over sometime ago, and
thought it was then dropped. He
thought that now when this city govern
ment was going out, having enjoyed
power and privilege for year., 1t was
poor business to tie the hands OF the
next city government The scheme was
one of doubtful legality; and he did not
believe in putting it through at the
bidding of some power behind the
throne.
Councilman O'Neill also of Ward 2,
said he was in favor OF casting aside the
defective plan of the past and putting
Portland in the line of progress. He had
heard something about plan OF civil
service reform in relation to the city