The Portland daily press., 1895-04-19

class of people to he benefited by the
Fourth celebration. would not be bene.
fitted by the fair.
The order passed the common council
with only four votes against it. 4
When the order came into the board of
aldermen, Mr.. Little brought up the
point about the New England fair, and
said he thought the city would do better
to go without the Fourth of July and
expend the money for the fair. The
fair would bring people for a week,
while the Fourth of July was only for a
day. He th erefore moved to lay the or
der on the table.
Aldermenl Thompson said that the gem
tlemen arranging for the New England
fair were in need of funds to erect stalls,
ETC.. and they had broached the matter
to him. He thought they would like to
have the city give about $1,000, and he
thought if the city would give that
providing it be Iegal-it would be of I'M
measurably greater benefit TO the city
| than a Fourth of July celebration.
The motion to lay the order for the
celebration on the table was carried on
viva voce vote. Mr.. Randall alone vot
ing "no."
CITY HALL STAGE.
| The use of the stage and scenery of
City Hall caused quite debate. 1t was
first brought up during the meeting of
| the evening before, representatives of
several organizations having protested
against the stage and sceneryss encum-
beranoes if left standing, and costly if
taken down.
The question was debated considerabl
Wednesday evening and came up again
in the board Of aldermen last evening.
Mr.. Thompson said that it took out
from the capacity OF the hall, ana it did
not seem right to place upon those hir-
ing the hall the expense of moving the
scenery. Alderman Peters agreed with
Mr. Thompson. He felt friendly to the
Grand Army, but thought the presence
OF the scenery detrimental.
Alderman Little thought that the
scenery needed should be owned by the
city. He did not think the city netted
mach out of the scenery, after the ex-
penses were paid.
City Treasurer Libby was called upon
to give figures as to the rentals brought
in by the hall. For year the total is
81, 232, of which So, 722 is brought in by
entertainments which use the stage and
scenery, and 81, $40 for others.
Alderman Dam said he might be in er-
ror. but he had always looked upon
City Hall as source of revenue; and it
was the intention of the Grand Army in
providing the scenery to make the hall
desirable for enter rtainments. The fig
ures showed that the stage and scenery
had been profitable to the city.
Alderman buddy said the cost of re-
moving the scenery was burden
which should not be put upon the or
ganizations hiring the hail. He thought
it an unjust charge, and thought the or
ganizstion that put the stage there
should bear the expense of taking it
down~~and putting it up.
AIueFIudu Ddiu SalQ ne W1SleQ 1t I'M
derstood that the placing of the stage
and scenery in the ball had enabled the
price of the hall to be reduced so that
those hiring It so that they could well
afford to pay the cost of moving the
scenery.
A Id ermar. Smith thought, as those
using the scenery were largely from out
OF town, that the expense of moving the
scenery should be put upon them.
1t was finally voted to refer the mat
ter TO the public buildings committee,
with the direction that they report at |
the next meeting.
The lower board concurred in this ac-
tion.
BUILDING INSPECTOR.
The recent Legislature passed a law |
providing for the election of building in
spectors in the various cities and towns. |
Portland had building inspector be. |
fore this law was passed; but it was
necessary to elect him over under the |
new law. So Mr.. JIG. Ward was elected |
by vote of to 2 for E. W. Hunt The |
new law requires much more of the in |
spector than was called for under the |
old ordinance. The old salary was $50. |