The Portland daily press., 1896-04-02
ESPECIAL. TO THE pREss.l

Questi on.
ESPECIAL TO THE pREsS.l
| Biddeford, April 1.-The first seInblance
of a "kioking over the traces" in Bidde
ford's reform city government occurred
tonight in the election Of an inspector of
buildings. The board of mayor and al
dermen has the filling of that position,
and as four OF the seven aldermen are
Of the Citizens party, nobody seemed to
doubt the chances of George II. Herring,
the Citizens candidate for inspector.
But when the ballots were counted,
only three of them were for Mr.. Herring,
the election falling to Edward @. Stone.
who held the office Of building inspector
under the Republican administration
last year. 1t is presumed that the mem
bsrs of the board are all able to figure out
where the decisive ballot came from,
but they did none of their figuring aloud.
An order was passed authorizing the
committee on accounts to approve $500
worth OF last years held-over bills In the
pauper department..
Another order instruoting the heads
of all the departments to submit to the
city council written monthly statements
of their doings. in order to dolbly in
sure against overdrafts of appropriations
were passed.
A fixing Of the salary list was one of
the attractive features announced for
tonight's session of the city fathers, but
it failed to materialize, and the inference
is that in the caucus held prior to the
| meeting there was not unanimous ap-
proval of the finance committees re-
Communications in that direction. The
report of the finance committee embodied
a general scaling down of the salary list,
and oheckingsof the system of allowing
office-holders to draw extras, The COM
mittee's report did not cover the mayors
salary, concerning the proposed reduc-
tion of which there is a diversity of opin-
ion. The city charter specifies that the
-osyor shall receive $500 for his services.
A number of years ago when the old
Democratic ring held full sway. there
was railroaded through the city council
an ordinance increasing the mayors
salary to $500, at which figure it has
since remained.
The fixing of the salaries goes over till
| the regular meeting of the city council,
| the second Monday in April.
Biddeford Citizens Party to Become Per-
manent.
| Biddeford, April 1.-At a meeting TO-
night, preliminary steps were taken for
a permanent organization of the Citizens
party, which has the balance of power
in the pres Mt city government. A COM
mittee WAS chosen to present resolutions
at the next meeting.
Bourbon Out of Job.
Biddeford, April 1.-The office of depu-
ty state inspector of factories and work
shops, which has been filled since last
| summer by ]. S. Bourbon, Biddeford,
has been declared vacant. For the pres
ent Inspector Chalk will be without an
| assistant.
Lasters Leaving Auburn.
Auburn shoe strike today. General
Secretary Eaton of the Boot and Shoe
Workers. Union, telegraphs he win be
in the city tonight. The lasters say 2S of
the 80 1asters who left the Pray Small
Company Saturday, have gone elsewhere,
seeking work. The Pray Small Company
say that they are hiring new lasters
daily and the factory Is running in all
departments. The Manufacturers Asso-
citation is assisting the Pray Small Com
pany in securing lasters. The company
has put in several lasting machines.
Maine Meth odist Conference.
Auburn. April 1.-The annual session
of the Maine M. e. Conference will open
at the High street M. E. church in Au-
burn on Tuesday, April 2, at 10 a. m.
Bishop Stephen NJ. Merrill, D. D.,
LII. D., of Chicago, Ill. will preside and
the conference will continue through the
week with forenoon, afternoon and even
ing meetings each day and will close on
Monday, April 13, at 9 a. m. 1t promis-
| es to be the most interesting session of
the Maine Conference ever held.
Waterville Boy Robbed His Father.
Waterville, April 1.-George A. Butler,
charged with stea ling $13S from his faith
er, Tuesday night was arrested in Oak
land about 2 a. m. Wednesday morning
he was arraigned before Judge w. G.
Philbrook and pleaded guilty. He was
| ordered to furnish $500 bonds for his ap-
pearance before the April term of the su-
perior court.
Sudden Death at Gardiner.
Gardiner, April 1.-Mr. s. L. Gould,
prominent citizen of Gardiner, died sud-
denly Wednesday morning of heart dis
ease. He was ON the street in the ealry
part of the forenoon and though in feeble
health, his death was unexpected. His
age was about rs years.
Lewiston and Auburn Together Again.
Lewiston, Apil. 1.-The new temporary
bridge between Lewiston and Auburn,
connecting Court and Main streets was
completed today. 1t was passed upon