The Portland daily press., 1895-01-15


did another wise thing in selecting tor
street commissioner a man who had had
four years experience on the streets OF
Portland.
Nj. Wescott then took up the statistics in
regard to the work of the commission, and
presented an analysis of figures to show that
Street Commissioner Prince did as much
permanent work as the street commission
has done.
Mr.. Wescott said he believed it would be
we'll TO continue the present street commas
sion as it is; but he did not believe IN SAT-
ding the city with commissions by legisla-
tive acts.
ALDERMAN RANDALL
said that he and his associates in making
the minority report had not attacked the
present commission, or done anything 10
menace it. He and his associates mad acted
as they believed in the interest of the CITY,
and not at the dictation of any one. Con-
GLIDING, Mr.. Randall said, Amy inslnua-
lions that ! or any other member OF the
| committee was Influenced by improper mo-
tives, is untrue and unjust" (ApplauseJ
| He thought it proper for this commission
| to 90 on for two years more, and then II 1t
| does as well as is claimed for 1t they could
| 20 to the legislature and have 1t made per-
manent.
SIDNEY W. THAXTER. Esq,
| said he would agree that in many respects
| the city charter ought to be amended; ana
from time to tine, as it was needed, IL was
we'll 20 go to the legislature for changes
in the organic law. Great changes hao
taken plaoe.in the duties.of the street COM
missioner. OF old there were only the side
walks and surface of the streets to De careo
for. Now we have sewers water works.
gas lines, and soon we ought to nave teie-
graph wires underground tApplause). Win
80 many things under the surface OF the
street. it is very necessary that the care
should be intelligent and wise. We nave
large and powerful corporations in this city.
which have certain rights in the streets;but
we ought to be very. careful that they are
confined to their rights. and that they are
not allowed to tear up the streets without
replacing them in as good condition as they
were before.
CAPTAIN GEORGE W. vERR1LL.
said that he had a citizens interest in this
question. Portland was excellently sltu-
ated for economical administration. Form
erly the annual expenditures had oeen
about$6O 900 for the streets; but since FORT
land had been making permanent improve
ment the expenditures had been SoU.ooo OF
9O,00O year. Mr.. Verrill compared THIS
expenditure with the less expenditures OF
cities like Worcester, Mass, and concluded
that Portland paid too much for her street
work. Mr.. verrill criticized the commission
for it's work in the year just passed, holding
that it had not used good judgment In Sc
lecting the streetsfo be.improyed. More
over, he thought that if we should have
snow in large quantities this winter the
financial resultwould show less economy
than was expected. He believed that Leg
islative action on this subject would be pre-
mature. He was glad the city government
had done as it had, and lie would put his
presence against that of Mr.. Jordan in sup
port of the alderman from six.
MIR. PETER DAILY,
the contractor, at this POINT arose and re-
fering to Mr.. Jordan, declared that the lat
ter's criticism of bis work as a contractor
was unjust. Mr.. DAILY also attacked the
method of hiring men In the street depart
ment, which he said was controlled by fav-
oritism.
Ex-ALDERMAN DANIEL GALLAGHER
was next called from the audience Like
Mr.. Daily, he was wholly against the COM
mission His speech was highly original.
and was accompanied by succession of
laughter and cheers He began Il don't
see how man can have the face to come up
here and tell US about this great permanent
work. It makes me sick. / am opposed to
this commission. don't believe in one, two
or three mems power. These commissioners
don't amount to nothing. We have no COM
mission this year. lfIl have called Oh them
several times and could accomplish nothing
with them. This commission was to Ike the
streets out of politics and it has put them
into it. 1t is farce all through. There
has been just two intelligent men in Gal
/, Iagher's opinion, that has spoken tonight.
don't want any engineer to tell me how
10 build street. know how to do it.
There is no engineer here who knows about
this except Mr.. Wescott. He and Mr.. Ran
dali are the only practical men here. We
don't want any doctors and lawyers to tell
us how to build our streets. We can do it
without their help"
Mr.. Gallagher sat down amidst generous
applause. Some one asked him whether
there was more politics in street work now
than when be was alderman, to which Mr..
Ga llagher replied: Il must speak to you
plain. never allow any politics to come
in in transacting city business" Immense
laughterJ
After the hearing adjourned there was
an attempt to bring the matter to vote IN
the Board of Aldermen; but only Alder
men Thompson and Little favored immedi-
ate action. Aldermen Dam. MCGOWAN, Pet
ers and Randall favoring kpostponement to
Tuesday, the 20, to accommodate Alderman
Smith, who was away.
So the question was deferred until the 22nd.
SUPERIOR COURT.