The Portland daily press., 1895-08-21
MAY GET INTO COURT.
Augusta's Controversy Over the Pro.
posed City Hall.
A PRIVATE CORPORATION FORMED
TO BUILD 1T.
Now IL Is Said the Constitution Stands In
the Way-Two Vetoes by the MayOr-A
Novel Condition of Affairs.
ESPECIAL. TO THE PREss.]

the Way-Two VetOes by the MayOr-A
Novel Condition of Affairs.
[sPECIAI. TO THE PREss.]
Augusta, August 20-Can city with a
debt so large that the five per cent con-
stitutional limit prevents it from erecting
city building, enter into contract with
corporation to take perpetual lease of
structure built for city uses by the
company. That is the question raised
here and which has been the cause of two
vetoes by the mayor and numerous meet
ings of the city fathers. Some time ago,
Augusta people began to fear that the
annual encampment of the Maine
National Guard might be held elsewhere
unless the Augusta military spirit was
given an impetus by the erection OF an
a1mory for the local company The ciuy
owns lot of land on the east side OF the
river and it was suggested that COM
pany might be formed to build an
armory there to be leased by the city and
which could also serve as a hall for con-
ventions and other large gatherings. 1t
an armory, why not as..city building was
asked and the company was soon formed
with Hon. P 10. Vickery, the prime mover
in, the matter as president, and Treby
johnson as treasurer, other prom1nent
citizens being the mem bers. A committee
consisting Of Mayor Milliken, Alderman
Coney and Dudley and Councilmen Lane,
Foster and Colburn, was appointed by
the city fathrs to make contract 4Wlth.the
new Augusta City Building company.
tba frorT1a hoOaTo and If fOlnH
that all was not to be smooth sailing.
Mayor Milliken Joined forces with the op-
ponents of the measure. Hon. j. Man
chester Haynes, in whose Opera House
block the city fathers are now quartered,
arrived home from Europe at about this
time, and he also opposed the plan, and
has been active in his opposition to 1t
since then. The new corporation found it
necessary to have some additional land,
and as the company was not fully formed,
the city fathers passed an order authorlz-
ing the mayor to draw his warrant for
the land. The mayor vetoed the order
and the council passed it
OVER HIS VETO.
In the meantime, plans for the proposed
building had been drawn by Architect
John c. Spofford and a contract between
the company and the city had been
drafted by. Hon Herbert M. Heath: As
the mayor refused to sign the contract,
orders were passed discharging the old
committee and raising new one consist
ing Of the same gentlemen except that
Mayor Milliken was replaced by Alder
man Cunningham. Tonight, Mayor
Milliken read a message vetoing the order
appointing the new committee and
vigorously opposing the plan for getting
the building.
There have been several hearings on the
matter, at one of which Mr.. Haynes spoke
in opposition. He said he waived any
moral obligation the city might be under
to remain IN his building and admitted
that the gentlemen in the new company
were actuated by desire to benefit the
city, but he thought their course illad-
vised The friends of the measure urge
that the city officers are not now provided
with sufficient room and that besides an
armory Augusta. sadly needs a hall suit
able for large gatherings. The message,
which the mayor read tonight, was
tabled until tomorrow evening when the
order will probably be passed over his
veto. The next steps, it is said, will be
an appeal to the courts by opponents OF
the plan, who have consulted legal
authority and claim that the proposed
action violates the debt provision OF the
SOl1 oUlUuuiOAA.
THE PLAN IN BRIEF,
as gathered from reading OF the con-
tract is as follows: The company will
erect building to cost not over sos, 600,
in accordance with plans acceptable to
the city. The building is then to be
leased to the city for 80 years. The city is
to maintain the building, keep it in re-
pair and insured for $45 600, and pay the
bills for restoring it if damaged in way
not covered by the insurance. All taxes
and fees are to be borne by the city and
in addition the city is to pay per cent
rental per annum. After ten years the
CITY may purchase the building paying
$4,000 annually, the rent being reduced
pro rata The company may elect the city
treasurer to a like office in the corporation
in which event he shall serve without pay
by the company.
Mayor Milliken talks pretty vigorously
in his message. He refers to the change
in the committee as the appointment "of
thessame persons with the exception of
the stubborn member who would not sign
| the previous contract.
The mayor calls attention to the words
in the preamble of the contract !:
"Whereas the business of the city is
; carried on at great expense and incon-
venience," and suggests that to be con-
sistent with the rest Of the contract, there
should be added: Ordered, that the ex-
pense shall be made much larger" He