The Portland daily press., 1895-01-08
THE COMMISSION RAIDED.
Continued from First Page.

and Councilmen Payson, Pagan and
Henley.
After having read the bill, Alderman
Little moved its passage.
Thereupon, Alderman Randall, iep-
resenting the minority of the COMMITTEES,
consisting of himself and Couneilmen
Pagan and Henley, presented the follow.
ing minority report:
The undersigned members of the said
committee, after a careful consideration
ct the question of esta blishing by legls-
alive enactment the proposed commits
sion on streets and sewers, with such in
form alton as they have been able to OBJ
change, made permanent by legislative
enactment, is advisable for the follow
ing reasons:
First-It has not been demonstrated
that more and better work has been
done under the commission with an ap-
preparation of SIS, 900 than was formerly
done under the old system when the ap-
preparation ranged from $50, 0OO- to S60,-
0O0
Second-The experiment of commits
sion should befgiven further test before
divesting the city council OF all voice
and control over it's streets and sewers.
Third--The claim that 1s made in be-
half of the commission is a mere asser-
penses have beens given. No statement
has been exhi bited to show how or
where the appropriation OF $50, 600 has
been expended, or whether it has been Ju-
diciously managed.
We therefore respectfully report that in
ourfopinion at this time, hasty legis-
lation permanently establishing such
commission, is uncalled for, and recon-
mend that the city council take no &C.
tion towards the permanent establish
ment Of said commission until further
investigation and experience proves it's
wisdom.
Mr.. Thompson said in regard to the
assertion as to figures, this was not the
time Of year when figures could be given
so we'll as at the end of the year. but
he had some comparisons which he
wished to make. Until this year there
has never been system of bookkeeping
which would enable you to tell within
hundred thousand dollars what had
been done with the money expended on
streets.
Mr.. Thompson then went on to present
figures showing the advantages of the
present system.
Concluding, Mr.. Tho mpson said that
he believed that this commission pre-.
sents the proper way to do business.
You have at the head of the department
an accomplished and scientific engineer,
knowing how to build roads and make
sewers. With him are associated twoswell
known gentlemen Of good business abil-
ity. I believe that this is matter far
preferable to that Of taking up annually
a man of no special qualifications. The
streets should be managed in business
way, and not as a matter of policy or
politics. 8z
Alderman Peters combatted the pro-
position that the street commission had
made any improvement, either financial
" or otherwise, over the old method.
The claim that 1000 more yards of per-
manent work had been done than the
year before was a subterfuge. Other
work had.been neglected. while streets
in the middle of the city had been
worked on in order to make a show and
establish the commission. Furthermore
he was opposed to commissions on prin-
ciple. They were getting ready to
abolish them in Boston. Why should
Portland take up an exploded idea?
Alderman Dam said be should vote
against the commission, as he had found
most of his constituents, whom he had
talked with. opposed to it.
Alderman Randall also said that he
was opposed to commissions on principle
Alderman Smith said that he had been
absent from the city, and was not fully
informed. It seemed as though this
question should have careful consider
alton as the purchase OF a fire boat.
Therefore he would propose a public
hearing to take place, and offered an or
der fixing Monday evening, January
14th, as the date.
This idea was strenuously opposed by
Aldermen Randall and Peters. They did
not believe there was demand for it.
MIR. Peters said public hearings were u.s.
ually ex-parte. Mr.. Randall thought
the present meeting was public hear
ing in sense.
Alderman Thompson said he was
ready to vote at once; but several prom
inent citizens, who were surprised at
finding opposition, had expressed wish
for hearing.
Alderman Little confirmed this. He
said that the movement against the COM
mission had been under cover, and
when it was learned that it existed,
prominent citizens had asked to be
heard.
Alderman Dam thought If action here
did not give the people chance, they
could petition to the legislature for re-
dress.
Mayor Baxter spoke briefly in favor of
a hearing. He said it was not so that
the commission idea was generally con-
demned in Boston, and read extracts
from the Boston Advertiser to show that
they had done we'll.
The vote for having hearing was
then taken as follows:
Yeas-Aldermen Dam, Thompson,
Little and Smith