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

panies had torn up the pavement OF Fore
street and had left the street IN poor con-
dition, the city would expect these COM
panies to replace the pavement and Tx
the street up SO as to leave 1t in as good
condition as it was when they tore IL up.
The clerk having finished reading TINS
order Alderman Rounds asked the mayor
if he had report to make on tne maoeer.
Mayor Randall said that he had ana
thereupon made report. he SAID ne hao
transmitted copy of this order TO the
representatives of each OF the three COM
panies. The superintendent of the New
England Telegraph and Telephone COM
pany had written that he had referred the
matter to the Boston officials. The PORT
land and Cape Elizabeth railroad had not
replied to the letter, but treasurer
Daveis of the Gas company had sent the
mayor letter which was in substance as
follows: Mr. Daveis wrote that the Gas
company had not torn up the Fore street
pavement for many years, and did not
think they should be obliged to help pay
1or the paving of the street. Mr.. Davels
also wrote (and it was this statement that
Alderman Rounds called particular at
tentlon toy that he had only few days
ago been informed by the commissioner
OF public works that the city was about
to pave Fore street, and asking Mr..
Daveis to have the Gas companys mains
taken up and replaced with new ones SO
That. the pavement after it was laid would
not have to be Immediately disturbed on
account of leaks in the pipe.
Alderman Rounds took the floor again
after Mayor Randall had finished speak
ing, and said that as could be seen by
this report and by Mr.. Dayeis's order the
commissioner of public works had gone
ahead to pave Fore street at the expense
OF the city, when the city was negotiating
with the three companies named in the
order to have the work paid for by them.
lie said that the mmissioner was over
looking all action Of the board of alder
men and was doing just what he wanted
to, regardless of the city's interests. The
street commissioner or the commissioner
PeNOAto WI hc iitAo SOiiN epo oAiO
pense of the city and began to pave Fore
street when there was a good chance of
work being done by some one else. Alder
man Rounds said that this was an out
rage, and was about to go on when Alder
man Ilsley arose to a point of order.
The alderman from ward one said that
all of this was out of order as the call for
the special meeting had mentioned moth
ing of this kind. He was willing he said
to come to any meeting and fight with
Alderman Rounds against the commits
sion on streets but he was not willing to
do it tonight, for the whole matter was
out of order.
Mayor Randall sustained the alderman S
point and further discussion on the
matter was thrown out.
But Alderman Rounds was not to be
shut up SO easily. He had another order
ready in minute which authorized the
commissioner of public works to advertise
of granite blocks and grout for the streets.
The alderman from three said that the
commissioner had not been making oon-
tracts for the furnishing of this material
n this manner heretofore, and he thought
he should be made to do it,
When this order was put to a vote it
p assed the aldermen without dissenting
vote.
But Alderman Rounds was not yet
done. Before the meeting adjourned ne
had another order prepared which was in
substance as follows:
Directing the mayor to appoint COM
mittee of three from the board of alder
men to investigate the doings of the
street commission for the last three years,
the conduct of the commissioner and his
assistants and giving the committee
power to summons witnesses to carry on
the investigation.
Alderman Kehoe, Rounds, Moore and
Mcdonald voted for the passage of this
order, while Aldermen Ilsley and Leigh
ton voted against it's passage. The order
was carried.
The mayor appointed OH this investigat-
ing committee Aldermen Rounds, Nc
Donald and Leighton.
OTHER BUSINESS.