The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-07-30

terrain society on Chestnut street was
laid on the table. Another order in
reference to the same matter was intro
duced in the lower board and referred to
the committee on claims.
PETITIONS. DISPOSED OF
Petition to construct Larch street from
Cumberland to Walnut street, and linden
from Washington to Larch, referred to
the commissioner of public works.
Petition for constructing of plank
sidewalk ON Charles street, Peaks island.
Referred in concurrence.
Petition of Mary Jane Frazer to move
building from franklin wharf to Fore
street. Laid on the table.
MAYOR vETOES PHOTOGRAPH
ORDER.
The lower board sent up message ask
ing after the order that passed both
boards appropriating money to buy
photographs from Gay to advertise Port
land. and followed it up with an order
The mayor replied by sending them this
veto:
Portland, Maine, July s, 1895.
Gentlemen of the Common Council
I return to you without my approval
the order for the purchase of twenty two
photographs for the sum of five hundred
dollars. or as stated to me, twenty at
twenty five dollars each, the two being
gratis NV reasons for this action are as
follows: Shortly after the passage of
this order / was waited upon BY Portland
photographers who desired an opportunity
to put in competing bids. l was in
formed that they were doing the same
kind of work, that is, sending to Boston
small photographs which were there 7e en-
larged, and that they demanded as citi-
zens and taxpayers an equal right Of com
petition with others. In furtherance of
this demand they presented a petition
to this Board to that effect; which was
laid on the table. / was also waited upon
by one of the Boston firms making these
photographs, and learned that this kind
of advertising was being done on an ex-
tensive scale; that some private corpora
tions purchased such pictures by the
thousand that thousands We're being dis
tributed at the present time in western
cities; and I was further advised that
twenty five dollars each was much too
high a price for such pictures Under
thesei circumstances [ feel that I cannot
properly sign the order, although | am
DESTROYS as anyone to make Portland s
advantages known to the world AS a
number of citizens, evidently not under
standing the obstacles in my way, have
written me requesting my approval OF
this order, desire to say that although
may not deem this method of adyertis-
ing the city the best, l shall be glad, out
of Difference to their opinion to join them
as citizen in such an enterprise on 6
larger scale, which shall provide for the
employment of man for at least a year
not only to see that the pictures contract
ed for are furnished and judiciously
placed by the contractor, but who shall
also visit the places at intervals to SET
that they are not removed, as 1 am ad
vised that private corporations advertising
| in this manner are obliged to keep con
slant supervision of the pictures afte
they are hung in public places, in orde
| to ensure their retention in place, worl
which the city cannot well undertake
Should you conclude to pass this order,
would suggest that someone in the in
| terest of the city be empowered to SCI
| that the contractor places them in tn
best places, and to see also that they ar
| not removed
JAMES P. BAXTER.