The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-23
THE CITY GOVERNMENT.
A New Commission Bill By Alder
man Randall.
1T PROVIDES FOR A SINGLE
HEADED COMMISSION

To Be Appointed BY the Mayor Subject to
the Approval of the Board of Aldermen
and Council-A Bill to Reform the
Oyerseers of the Poor.
The city meeting Tuesday event ng at
| tracted one of the largest audiences seen In
| the council chambers this year. The pending
| action on the street commission bill was
| the source of attraction, and all shades OF
| oninion on the subject were represented In
| the audience.
The moment the records of the last meet
| ing were disposed oftAlderman Randall was
| on his feet and requested the reading of
the bill to establish by legislative act the
present commission ON streets and sewers.
The city clerk read the bill, which was
published in full in the PRESS at the time
it was first presented ITO the city govern
ment, at the regular January meeting.
AS soon as the reading was completed
there occurred the following:
Alderman Little-Mr. Mayor.
Alderman Randall-Mr. Mayor.
The Mayor-The gentleman from five has
the floor.
Mr.. Little being recognized. there upon
offered an amendment to the effect that
the commission bill should become law
| when ratified by majority of the legal
| voters of tn city.
Mr.. Randall said that he had an amend
| ment also to offer to the bill. He had been
opposed to this commission, and had SO
| stated openly and candidIy. But for hay
| ing minds of their own he and his associ-
ates had been assailed by those who had
| no right to impugn the motives of himself
| and his associates. The idea that he or his
associates would desire TO urge system
which would squander thousands of dollars
! was absured.
| MIR. Randall then presented his amend
ment which was virtually a new bill, as fol-
STATE OF MAINE.
In the year of our Lord one thousand.eight
| hundred and nfnety-fiye.
| An Act to establish a commission of Pub
| lie Works in the City of Portland.
! Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives in Legislature assembled
| as follows:
Section 1.-The mayor of the City of Port
| land is hereby authorized and empowered
| to appoint on the second Monday of March,
| A. D., 1896, or as soon as thereafter as may
| be, subject to the approval of the board
| of aldermen and the board of common
| council, a commissioner of public works
| who shall be a civil engineer and who shall
hold office for three years at the first ap-
| pointnent under this act, and until his sue
cessor is qualified; each succeeding appoint
n,ent thereafter shall be for the term o.
three years. He shall receive such salary
as the city council may determine. In case
acancy should occur. it may be filed
in the same manner for the unexpired term.
| He may be removed by the mayor for cause,
subject to the approval CT the Loard OF
aldermen and board of common council.
| The mayor of the city of Portland is here
| by authorized and empowered to appoint on
the second Monday of March. A. D.. 1896,
| or as soon thereafter AS may be subject to
| the approval of the board of aldermen and
| board of common council superintendent
| of streets who shall hold Office for one year
| at the first appointment under this act and
until his successor is qualified, ard there
after he shall be appointed annually 10
/ serve for the term of one year and until
| his successor is qualified. In case of
vacancy. the unexpiI ed term shall be filled
| by appointment il the sames.manner. He
| shall receive such salary as the city council
sLal1 determine. He may be removed by the
mayor for cause, subject TO the approval of
| the board of aldermen and the board of
common council. He shall perform such
duties astthe commissioner of public works
may from time to time direct.
| Section 2.-The commissioner of public
works shall be required to give bond in
| the sum of five thousand dollars for the
faithful per Torrance of his duties. said
bond to be approved by the mayor and board
of aldermen.
Neither the commissioner of public works
| nor the superintendent or streets shall be
interested directly or indir sctly in any con-
tract entered 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 exercised
| by and shall perform all duties now IL
| cumbent upon the city civil engineer of said
| city of Portland, and shall have charge of
| the maintenance and repair according to
law of all streets and public ways in said
city of Portland, including sidewalks and
bridges, and of all public sewers ana drains,
and of the construction, maintenance and
l pC-
| longing TO the city; shall have charge of
| the construction of new streets and bridges
| when laid out and ordered to be oonstructed
by order of the city council. shall have
| charge of the construction 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 conven-
| lent to conduct the business of his depart
| ment; shall employ all assistants. foremen
! and clerks. and make all contracts for the
| supply of labor Subject to the provisions of
| section five of this actj and mat srial neees-
| sary to carry on the works in his charge.
| Section 4.-The city council shall annual
| ly appropriate such sums OF money as they
may deem necessary and sufficient to carry
on said work. Such appropriation shall be
drawn from the city treasury in such man
ner as the city council from time by ordi-
| nance may direct.
Section 5-Annually at the organization
| of the city government of said CITY or as