The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-13

worknnof the Police Examining Board
| we are continually adding to the force
| men of superior capability, which cannot
| fail to improve its efficiency. cheerfully
endorse the recommendations in the
Marshars report. -,
| give you in detail. the work of his depart
| ment. The work accomplished the past
| year has not only been important In
| character, but has been executed IN an
| unusually substantial manner. In my
| former inaugural, I recommended the
| construction of a fire proof vault III the
| Engineers Office for the safe storage OF
| the city's valuable maps and plans.
| This Recommendation was adopted, ana
| during the past summer vault was
constructed in-which all the valuable
belongings of the department have been
placed | notice that the Engineer recon-
mends the completion of the commercial
street sewer at an early Gate. This sewer
is greatly needed, and, in my opinion,
it's completion should no longer be de-
layed. l wish also toscall attention to
the catch basins, which are now under
the charge of tn e Sanitary COMMITTEES.
l see no good reason why they should
not be placed in the care of Sewer Com
mittee, who might Eemploy more teams
to clear them out, and when not in this
service these teams could be employed
on other work.
The City Solicitors report will show
you that considerable business of a
legal nature has been transacted in
this department.. Claims, many OF
them of frivolous or seml-fraudulent
character. aressssbeing . constantly made
against the city. A prompt examlnatlon
by the City Marshal or City Physician Of
ten prevents their prosecution. Many
such claims have been made which do
not appear in the Solicitors report.
At the beginning of the past municipal
year the relations between the city and
the Portland Water Company were I'M
pleasantly complicated. am happy to
I have BEEN amicably adjusted. and that
pleasant relations have been re-esta bllsh-
ed. In this connection | would refer you to
the report of the Water Commissioners.
The City Liquor Agency calls for re-
mark. You will observe by the accom-
panying report that the sale of liquors
this year has been considerably less than
last. I am aware that this has been ac-
counted for upon the assumption that
more has b5en sold outside; but this, as
have designated it, is assumption pure
and simple. Having always been
friend of the Prohibitory Law, believing
it to be a blessing to the people OF the
State, and having freely criticised form
er mayors for not securing a better en-
ted in having it enforced during my adj
ADMINISTRATION. The Marshal entered up
on the work of his Office with firm
purpose of performing his duty to the
Community, and among the multifarious
questions which confronted him was
how to suppress the liquor traffic. More
attention has been given to this subject,
which has been under almost daily con-
sideration by him and myself, than any
other connected with his office; but,
although much has been done many
places continue to exist where liquor is
secretly sold, and must continue to ex-
ist while present conditions prevail.
Law cannot prevent, the most that 1t
can do is to restrict crime. There is a
law against theft, but thieving prevails,
hence when it is demanded that the
Marshal shall annihilate the liquor
traffic, Sisyphean task is imposed upon
him. Experience has made the law
breaker an expert in eevasive methods.
Being carried about the person in small
packages, which can be.easily replenish-
ed or ingeniously secreted In obscure
places; with spies everywhere to convey
Intelligence of the approach of an Off
Ger, the difficulty of making seizures of
liquors is great indeed, although eviden-
ces of its sale may be abundant; but
how much greater with the Imperfect
instruments which often have to be en-
DlOyGu. Ef6u WuCu ny gnu Iva oohO q
Seizure is made and place closed. the
proprietor may in a few hours be doing
business upon neighboring premises.
I am satisfied that the Marshal has done
m UGH good work in suppressing the
LIQUOR traffic; bat 1 wish it had been
possible to have wholly suppressed 1t,
This, however, should not be expected
under existing social conditions.
In the administration of the affairs of
the Agency the ensuing year. shall
introduce a system of checks, which l
think will be of Importance. A record
will BIZ kept containing the names of all
purchasers, and the quantity purchased.
The Agency will be debited with the
stock on hand and all stock received,
reports which will be required monthly,
will show if any wastage has occurred.
In concluding this subject.I wish to say,
that it is my opinion that the Commit
tee having charge of the Agency, has
conducted it fairly and eauitably.
1t is proper that / should refer to the
work which has been done on Public
Buildings during the past year. In adj
dition to the usual repairs, which are an
nually necessary, and the construction
of the new high school already mem
toned, an extensive addition to Greedy
Hospital was made to accommodate the
increasing number of patients in that
institution. An aQUlGlOn was also mdue
to the Hose house at the West End, and
a considerable sumsexpended in complet-
ing the school house there. A building
for years greatly needed has also been
erected at Evergreen Cemetery. The
CITY Building too, has required an un-
usual exenditure of money. Early in
the summer an inspection of the boilers
revealed the fact that they were unsafe
to perform the duties required of them,
and was reluctantly compelled to re-
move them and supply their place with
new ones This change was made at a
cost of So, $50, as in addition to the boil
ers it was necessary to reconstruct the
boiler house, and extend the chimneys.
A severe storm also caused serious
damage to that part of the building oc-
cupied by the County offices, which
caused considerable outlay. Complaint
had long been made that the heating
apparatus at the Central Fire Station
was defective, and upon examination it
was found almost useless. This necessi-
tated an entire reconstruction of the
plant. 1t has seemed proper for me to
mention these Improvements, as they
have made considerable drafts upon
the Treasury
{l,a oil