The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-13
to live I'D to the law.

Alderman ROundS-'No, you are right,
and neither has the city government any
thing to do with the commissioner of
public works the way he is running
things. But we're trying to have some
thing to do with it,
LAS understand it" the gentleman
from ward three went on, 81 am here to
represent my constituents and to see that
they have justice done them. If don't
look out for their interests l don't know
who will, and this is just what I am try
ing to do now. Over four or five months
ago an order passed this board to pave
Fore street, and an order has also passed
through here to pave Centre street, but
nothing has been done about it, and 1t
begins to look as if these orders were to
be entirely disregarded by the commits
sioner of public works. Nothing has been
done on these orders which were passed
by the city council representing the citi-
zens and tax payers of Portland, but all
of this time the commissioner has been
going on doing other work and entirely
overlooking the orders that we have
stock of the entire city. Why not do away
with the city government entirely and let
the commissioner of public works run the
whole city. / understand that contract
for thousands of dollars has been made by
the commissioner and that the city gov
eminent knows nothing about it. y
Anything over $780, continued the
alderman from ward three, "that is to be
expended the commissioner on public
works gets out specifications and adver-
tises in the newspapers, but the big con-
tracts are never seen. l have seen no order
to macadamize Free street go through
this board, and don't remember that
any order of the kind has ever been intro
duced here, but the commissioner is do
ing this work and he passes over the Or
ders to pave Fore and Centre streets and
does not pay any attention to them. The
law says that the commissioner shall not
make any contract for an amount over
S25 without the authority of the city
council, but you come here and say that
he shall do SO if he wants to- I want to
put myself on record as not being in favor
of any such doings, and show that I am
not in favor Of it. What have we for
streets in Portland today? They are moth
ing but water ways, gentlemen. Why we
are liable to be indicted at any time for
the condition of our Streets
1.-THE streets in ward seven are very
;,,+, 4oJ A
Leighton.
Ward seven, why that is the only ward
in the city that has got anything. Down
town here in the two lower wards the
streets are nothing but cow paths. I was
elected to look after one of those down
town wards and mean to do it," said
Alderman Rounds.
AT this point Alderman leighton took
the floor to read an editorial from the
Argus, which stated that Portland has
more miles of paved streets than any
other city in the country. "And these
the commissioner of public works has
made no contract that is not right"
"Why there are less streets in Portland
to the valution of the city than in any
other city in this state, and they are in
the worst condition of any streets in the
state,'' said Alderman Rounds
At this point Alderman Kehoe, the only
Democratic member of the board of alder
men got on to his feet and said that he
was member of the committee of public
works. He was surprised at the action
that had been taken by Alderman Rounds
in this matter, and he hoped that the
members of the board would sustain the
mayor who was the chairman Of that
committee and defeat Alderman Rounds
order. AS far as he knew there could be
no possible reason for having such an or
der passed by this board.
Alderman Rounds was on his feet again
in second with fire in his eye. He said
that Alderman Kehoe had told him that
the commissioner of public works had
said that if he (Kehoe) wanted any work
done down in his ward he would see that
it was done if he (Kehoe) would vote
against Rounds.
Alderman Kehoe arose to reply, but the
mayor ruled that he was out of order.
"Well, the whole proceedings SO far
have been out of ORDER" said Alderman
Kehoe, "but as long as the thing has gone
SO far 1 would like to have an opportunity
of explaining" He said that he could
not remember of having said anything of
this kind to Alderman Rounds.
"But have stated what you told me
right here in open city government meet
ing" interrupted Alderman Rounds.
las far as can see,'' continued Alder
man Kehoe, "the committee on public
works is doing its work with great
harmony. and I hope that the members
Of this board will vote to sustain the
mayor, who is the chairman of that COM
mittee"
Alderman Kehoe also said that he
thought there was as much danger of the
gentleman from ward three being indicted
as there was to the city from this source
as the gentleman from three was mem
Der of the committee.
The order Of Alderman Rounds was