The Portland daily press., 1897-05-04
THE MAY MEETING
OF the City Government Was a Long
And Busy One.
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES
WERE DISCUSSED.

An Appropriation of 81, 500 Was Made
For New England Fair-The Bicycle
Ordinance Was Ki1led-The Committee
Appointed to Investigate Offer of
Portland Street Railway to Cross Tu-
ommendations--Other Matters.
The May meeting of the city govern
ment held last evening was a very long
session and considerable important bust
ness was transacted.
In BOARD of Mayor and Aldermen.
When Mayor Randall called the board
of aldermen to order at 7.45 O'Clock. all
of the members were present and there
WAS the usual number of spectators in
the chamber. The reading of the record
of the April meeting was dispensed with.
The board first disposed of an insane
case and then proceeded to transact other
business.
BICYCLE ORDINANCE KILLED.
Alderman Pagan brought up the
bicycle ordinance, which was laid on the
table at the last city government meet
ing, and which provided for the licensing
and tagging Of all bicycles. There were
many wheelmen present and some OF
them spoke against the ordinance.
Ex-Alderman Clarence ". Small said
that the ordinance was Objectionable to
the wheelmen. They object to being
tagged or licensed.
They object to having Easbicycle path
built on Washington street because they
want good roads and do not wish to have
any legislation enacted in their favor
alone.
Percy W. Richardson also spoke against
the bicycle path. but said personally he
was in favor of having the bicycles
licensed, although he acknowledged that
it.was unjust and. not wanted by ma
jority of the wheelmen.
The ordinance was finally laid on the
table Indefinitely.
THE TUKEY'S BRIDGE MATTER.
Alderman Pagan, the chairman of the
special committee appointed to investi-
gate the offer of the Portland Railroad
Company to pay the City of Portland the
sum of $40, for the right to cross
Tukey's bridge, repor ted for the COM
mittee. The committee made the fol-
lowing recommendations in relation to
the matter:
First-That the offer of tho Portland
| Railroad Company be not accepted.
Sec0nd-That the city shall be the sole
owner of all tracks, poles and paving,
on said bridge when completed.
Third-That the city lease to the Rail-
road companies desiring to cross Turkey 8
| BRIDGE for term of years the privileges
of using the tracks on the bridge and of
maintaining their overhead wires. That
the compensation for the same shall be
at the rate of cents per car for every
car which may cross the bridge in either
| direction.
| Fourth-That the tracks on said
bridge be placed as near the centre
of the bridge as possible and shall
| be laid by the commissioners of
| public works in q manner satisfactory
to the railroad companies. That the poles
shall also be erected by the commission
ers of public works.
Fifth-That the grooved rail be used
SO as not to endanger travel.
The report was accepted but no action
was taken on the matter.
$500 FOR NEW ENGLAND FAIR.
Alderman Mcdonald introduced an or.
der calling for the appointments of joint
| special committee from both branches to
| cooperate with the New England Agri-
cultural society in the promoting the
New England fair and that this commit.
tee be authorized to e1pend $4,000 in pro.
noting the fair.
Alderman Leighton moved to amend
the order by making the appropriation
$1,000. and providing that this amount be
only expended within the limits of ths
city of Portland.
| Alderman Rounds moved to make the
appropriation $500.
Alderman Mcdonald spoke to the or.
iginal order and said that it had beer
agreed tnat $500 of the amount appro
priated should be spent for the benefit Of
the Maine Firemen's association which il
to hold meeting here during the fair.
| The matter was discussed at some
length. Alderman Pagan said that he
should vote against any appropriation OF
this kind on the ground that it was not
legal to appropriate money for this pur-
pose.
The matter with the appropriation
placed at $500 was put to vote. The
order passed by vote of six yeas to one
nay. Alderman Pagan alone voting no.
INTEREST ON DAILY BALANCES.
Alderman Kehoe stated that at the last
meeting of the city government the
| finance committee had been instructed to
ascertain from the banks Of the city what
interest they would allow the city on de-
posits of daily balances, and what terms
they would give for snch deposits. Alder
man Kehoe said that several of these
banks had made offers to the secretary OF
the committee on finance. The Char man
National bank had offered to pay interest
| dot ha1o q 1 q :,