The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-13

pense. 85 AZ
AT this point some one called for vote
on the order of Alderman Rounds. An
aye and nay vote was called and all OF
the board voted against the passage of
the order excepting Alderman Rounds,
who voted for it and Alderman Pagan,
who was absent.
After the defeat of this order Alderman
Ilsley moved that the commissioner of
public works be instructed to ascertain
from the city of Deering just what it pro-
posed to do in regard to the proposition
its committee had made to the city of
Portland and that as soon as the purpose
of the city of Deering was understood
that a special meeting be called for the
purpose of acting on the matter.
This motion was passed without dis
senting vote.
Alderman Rounds then moved that the
city messenger be instructed to go out
and find the commissioner of public
works and summons him to appear before
the aldermen in order to ascertain what
he proposed to do about the matter.
He said that he wanted to find out
whether the commissioner of public works
was bigger than the board of aldermen,
and whether or not he proposed to do any
thing that the board ordered him to. The
gentleman from Ward said that the
commissioner seemed disposed to utterly
disregard all orders passed by the board
and the city council and he wanted to
know whether he intended to obey any
of them or not. IF the commissioner of
public works is more powerful than this
board, think it is about time that we
found out who has the most power, said
Alderman Rounds
Alderman Rounds's motion to send for
the commissioner and summons him to
appear before the board of aldermen was
lost and the gentleman from Ward was
the only member voting for it.
But Alderman Rounds was out to fight
the commission and he was on his feet
in a moment with another order aimed at
the commission. This order was to the
effect that the commissioner of public
works should not be allowed to make any
contracts for any supplies or materials of
any nature whatsoever when the cost of
the same exceeded $25, unless he was au-
thorized to do so by the city council.
This order practically paralyzed the al
dermen who were not prepared for such a
move and who had just began to realize
how desperately in earnest Alderman
Rounds was in his fight against the COM
mission of public works.
When vote was called on this order
Aldermen Rounds, Ilsley and Moore vot-
ed for its passage.
The Mayor called for those opposed to
the order, but only Alderman Leighton
stood up. Alderman Mcdonald and Ke-
hoe remained seated and refused to vote.
1.-THE gentlemen are obliged to vote
one way or the other" said the Mayor,
"unless they are excused before the vote
is called for''
Thereupon, Alderman Mcdonald stood
up on his feet and was counted with
those opposed to the passage of the order.
Alderman Kehoe remained in his seat,
but finally decided to vote against its
passage. This left the vote three in favor
of the passage of the order. and three op-
posed to it's passage Alderman Pagan,
it will be remembered, was not present
and the vote was tie.
Alderman Leighton-"If that order
passes it will lparalyze the entire board
Of public works.
Alderman Rounds-:The board of
public works has been paralyzed for the
last three years.