The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-04

ueI VI OomInefclal street.
Alderman Randall-''l should like to ask
the gentleman if the Grand Trunk railroad,
which he represents, did not sign a petition
Tor better fire protection?"
Alderman McGowan-"I do not sit here as
the representative of the Grand Trunk or
any other corporation. 1t is true that Agent
Smith and others signed a petition which
was circulated on the street,
Alderman Randall asked to have this
petition produced and read. which was
done. Mr.. Randall said she petition showed
that there was not proper protection along
the street,
In reply, Alderman MCGOWAN said that
one of the owners of the Mary W. Libby had
stated that with her present pump she could
put stream over the post office. If she had
that capacity and was not used for fires on
Middle street, what advantage would come
from stronger boat.
Alderman Little moved that the order
pass over the Mayors veto, which requires
a tWo-thirds vote. The yeas and nays STOOD
Yeas-Dam, Little, Randall and Smith.
Nays-McGowan. Thompson and Peters.
So the order failed to pass over the veto.
1t was then voted, on motion of Alderman
Thompson to refer the matter to joint
special committee. Aldermen Dam, and Nc
Gowan and Councilmen Mcdonald. Nicker-
son and Winship.
EYE AND EAR INFlRMARY.
A second order was returned without the
Mayors approval. Mr.. Baxter saying:
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen:
/ return to you without my approval
the following order:
Ordered, that the City Treasurer be,
and hereby is, authorized to pay to the
Treasurer of the Maine Eye and Ear In
Urinary the sum of one Thousand dollars
for the maintenance of daily dispensary
for one year in the out-patient depart
ment of the Intrmary supplemented with
boald, nursing and treatm emit in the in
patient department., for the relief of
those who are under the care of, and are
a charge upon. the city-the same to be
charged to the support of the poor.
By dispensary, / understand, is meant
a place from which medicines are dis
pensed to the poor. Your attention is
called to the fact that ample provision
already exists for supplying the poor
with medicines; any sick and needy
persons with prescription from the city
physician can procure through the Sec
rotary of the Board of Overseers of the
Poor medicines of the best quality OBJ
tainable.
The order further provides for the care
and medical treatment of the poor. If
the provision mentioned did not exist,
I question if it would be wise for the
city government to appropriate money
any class of the city's poor.
By statute, chap.24, sec. 10, it is deter
mined in what manner money shall be
raised for the relief of the poor, and
how overseers of the poor shall be chosen,
and Section II declares that "overseers
shall have the care of persons charpe-
able to their town, and cause them to be
relieved and employed at the expense of
the town, etc., The statute clearly puts
the poor under the care and charge of
the Overseers of the Poor, and the pub
lie money appropriated for the relief of
the poor is to be expended by the Over
seers.
This order, we must suppose, contem-
plates a lawful method of expenditure; ;
indeed, any order of the City Council
must be construed as contemplating the
expenditure of the public money by law
full or statutory methods. The only
effect of this order,' then, would be to
authorize the OverSeers to expend one
thousand dollars appropriated for the re-
lief of the city poor at the Eye and Ear
Infirmary, insthe manner contemplated
Dy Jne order.
ting one thousand dollars towards the
support of the Eye and Ear Infirmary
without my approval, because such APP
propriation WAS declared illegal by the
Civ Solicitor, whose written opinion
is on file in the City Treasurer's office.
/ return this order also unapproved, be-
cause Il consider it unwise for the city
60 place any part OF the money appro-
F<c h rnIiaf of 70 nv
the control of any private corporation
for similar purpose.
Mr.. Baxter also read the following
LETTER OF THE OvERsEERs' OF THE
POOR.
August Z, 1894.
Hon. James P. Baxter, Mayor:
the meeting of the City Council Monday
evening, July 30, whereby one thousand
dollars was appropriated for the Maine Eye
and Ear Infirinary and taken from the APP
preparation for the support of the poor, i
am instructed by the OveTseeIs of the Poor
to say that they protest against such action
the Intention Of the order contcmplates a
misapplication of the FUNDS appropriated for
the support of the poor to be spent. in
private charity according to the discretion
lnfImary. and not according to the discre-
tion of the overseers of the poor, under
whose charge said appropriation is supposed
to be. Again, the order states it shall be
for the maintenance of a daily dispensary
for one year in the out-patient department
of the lnfirmary, supplemented by hoard,
nursing and treatment in the impatient
department for the relief of those who are
under. the care of and are charge upon the
city.
Now, if the order contemplates tho care
and medical treatment of all those afflicted
with any disease who are, and may be q
charge upon the city land we believe it is
capable of such construction we have only
TO say that for such as are obliged to seek
hospital treatment the Greedy Hospital I'M
der our charge is open to all such, having
a dispensaTy connected herewith, and
patients therein are treated by the city
| physician, whose duty it is to visit the
| hospital every day and administer sucl
| treatment as the nature of their diseases
| max require, and nurses are employed tt
care for them, and all this without
| additional cost of the city, for the hospita
| and physician are permanent features O
| the poor department of the city. 1T persons
are to be treated at their homes tn,
| physician is obliged on an order from al
| oyerseer of the poor to render such treat
mept, and medicines are supplied at the ex
| pense of the city from four druggists, eacl
| one of whom is confined to territory with
| in a eitain area nearest his store, thl
| seeming to us the most convenient way o
| supplying medicines to the outdoor poor
| If the order contemplates treatment o
| those only who are afflicted with sucl
diseases as the name of the lnfirmary in
~. Iz-1e