The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-03-01
A Compromise Bill that Meets Gen
eral Approval.
IT Is PRACTICALLY TIE BILL
FAVORED BY MAYOR BAXTER.
The Portland Men Sat Down and Rea-
soned Together and All Agreed to the
New Bill-Following is the Text of the
Bill.
Especial to the PRESS. J,

Especial to the PRESS.)
Augusta, Me-, February 8-The
hearing on the Portland street commits
sion bill this afternoon was not hear
ing. In other words, the friends Of each
of the two bills got together, and after
considerable discussion endorsed the
bill drawn by Judge Gould of Portland,
but considerably amended during the
conference. Among the gentlemen who
came to Augusta to attend the hearing
were Mayor Baxter, Aldermen McGow-
an, Randall, Peters, Thompson. Little
and Dam, Counoilmen Ilsley. Nickerson,
Pagan, Payson and Nash. Hon. Albion
Little, &c. Jordan, Esq. and Com
misssioners Fernald, leighton and Sta
pies. S. ". 1haxter, George S. Hunt
Hon. Charles F. Libby, ST. Small, George
P. Wescott, Judge Gould.
The conference was held ia the room
of President Seiders. The bill as
agreed upon retains in a som swhat
amended form the leading provisions OF
the bill supported by Mayor Baxter and
large number of other citizens. II
provides TOR two officers to be appointed
Wy tuc mdyOTs duu lUf Ul-UdIGlbhu
board of mem bers of aldermen and coun-
Gil to act as an advisory committee and
superintend the registration Of employ
es. When the question was put. all pres
ent oppressed assent to the bill. Mr.
E. c. Jordan had objected to some of it's
provisions, but finally Withdrew his OPP
position. The bill was filed with the
committed, and there was no hearing.
1t will he fayorably reported. 1t is as
follows:
In the year of our Lord, one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-fve. An
act to establish a commission of public
works in the City of Portland.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives, in legislature as
sembled, as follows:
Section 1.-The Mayor of the City of
Portland is hereby authorized and en-
powered to appoint on the second Mon
day of March, A. D., 1895, or AS soon
thereafter as may be. subject to the APP
proval of the Board OF Aldermen, a
Commissioner OF Public Works. who
shall be civil enigneer, and who shall
hold Office for three years at the first ap-
pointment under this act, and until his
successor.is qualified. Each succeeding
appointment shall be for the term OF
three years. He shall receive such sala-
ry as the City Council may determine.
In case any vacancy should occur, 1T may
be filled in the same manner for the un-
expired term. He may be removed by
the Mayor for cause, subject to the ap-
proval of the board of Aldermen. The
Mayor of the City Of Portland is hereby
authorized and empowered to appoint
on the second Monday of March, A. D.,
1895, or ns soon thereafter as may be.
subject to the approval OF the Board Of
Aldermen, competent person to be de-
signated as secretary for the Commits
nfp in nrk q n n
five of this act, who shall have charge Of
all the records and books of registration
of said committee, and of all accounts of
said commissioner, who shall hold Office
for two years at the first appointment
under this act, and until his successor
is qualified, and thereafter he shall be
| appointed to serve for the term of three
years and until his successor is qualified.
| In case any vacancy should occur, the
unexpired term shall be filed by ap-
point tment in the same manner. He
| shall receive such salary as the City
| Council may determine. He may be rev
moved by the Mayor for cause, subject
to- the approval Of the Board Of Alder
men. He shall perform such duties as
the Commissioner of Public Works may
| from time to time determine.
Section 2-Neither the Commissioner
Of Public Works, the secretary, nor any
fficer employed by said Commissioner,
shall be interested in any contract en-
| tered into by either or both of them in
their official capacity. or in behalf Of the
City of Portland, and contracts made in
| violation thereof are void.
| Section 3-The said Commissioner shall
be vested with all the authority now ex
ercised by, aud shall perform all. duties
now incum bent upon the City Civil En-
Rineer of said City OF. Portland, and the
Street Commissioner, which office is
| hereby abolished, and shall have charge
| of the maintenance and repairs according
| to law, of all streets and public ways in
said City of Portland, including side
| walks and bridges, and OF all pu bile
sewers and drains, and or the construct
| ion, maintenance and repair of all cul-
verfs and catchbasins belonging to the
| oity. He shall have charge of the con-
| when laid out and ordered to be CON
structed; of new sewers when the same
are laid out according to law; shall take
general care of all property belonging to
| the city which pertains to the duties
of said Commissioner of Public Works.
Said Commissioner shall be authorized
to purchase everything necessary and
his department.; shall employ all assist
ants, foremen and clerks, and make all
contracts for the supply of labor Sub
ject to the provisions OF section five Of
this aot) and material necessary to carry
on the work in charge of the said Com
missioner.
Section 4-The City Council shall'annu-
ally appropriate such sums of money as
they may deem necessary and sufficient
to carry on the works of said Commits
sioner. Such appropriation shall be
dawn from the city treasury in such
manGer as the City Council may from
time to time, by ordinance, direct.
Section 5-Annually, at the organiza-
tion OF the City Council of said city, or
as soon thereafter as may be, the Mayor
shall appoint two mem bers OF the Board
of Aldermen, both of whom shall not be
of the same political party, if more than
one party is represented in said Board,
and the President of the Common Coun-
Gil shall appoint two mem bers of the
Board of Common Council, not more
thu, one of whom shall be of the same
| yIlitical party, if more than one party
Is represented in said Board, who shall,
with the Mayor ex-officio (who shall be
chairman of said committee), constitute
a committee, to be called the Committee
on Public Works. Said committee shall,
at the end of every month, audit all
accounts of said Commission and make
| monthly reports to the City Council of
the progress of tn. work and of the ac-