The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-27
HAD A TILT WITH THE MAYOR.
some Lively Dialogues INDUCED in at
Deering City Meeting.

twenty minutes, but the clock was strik,
ing ten just as the motion to adjourn was
passed.
The first matter taken up was a report
of City Marshal Clark for the month end
ing May &c. 1t was accepted.
An ordinance forbidding the use Of
bicycles on sidewalks and an ordinance
relating to the construction of sidewalks
were given their second reading.
The order for bond issue, which was
given its first reading at the last meeting,
was passed as amended. Then the mem
bers of the council took recess and de-
voted half hour to the approval of bills.
When the board reconvened report of
the committee on sewers and drains was
submitted in relation to the proposed
sewer on Forest avenue, Pleasant and
Maple streets and Stevens Plains avenue.
The question of estimating it's approx
mate cost had been referred to this COM
mittee and the city engineer. The report
was to the effect that the cost of drain
pipe would be 81 ,690.56, and the cost of
construction, $7,517.25.
Alderman Cram wanted to know if the
question of damages had been considered
by the committee, to which Alderman
Aver, who had presented the report, re-
piled that the damages would be more
than offset by the advantages of the sewer
to the owners of property in that section
of the city.
The report was accepted and Alderman
Aver followed it with an order authoriz-
| ing the committee on sewers and drains
| to advertise for bids and to contract for
the building of the sewer in question.
Mayor Davis, after carefully scanning
the written order, said when this same
matter was brought up in the city coun-
Gil, last year, the city solicitor ruled that
the words "to contract" must be stricken
out, as the committee had no authority
to make contract for such a matter till
an order appropriating the money for it
has had two readings and passed. He
handed back the paper to Alderman Aver
with the suggestion that an opinion from
the city solicitor be obtained before the
matter is presented to the board for
action.
edo I understand that the Mayor de-
clines to entertain my motion or order?''
asked Alderman Aver, with considerable
emphasis.
The Mayor Not without suggestion
or ruling from the city solicitor. y
Alderman Aver Then, Mr.. Mayor, 1
appeal from your decision
The Mayor" That is a privilege you
have
Alderman Aver (raising and addressing
the board )-"The Mayors decision is that
my order is not legal. The question be-
fore this board is whether you will sustain
him or me. Will the clerk call the roll ?''
Clerk Jones began to call the roll.
Alderman Cobb of Ward One replied, in
answer to his name, that he thought it
advisable to await for an opinion from
the solicitor.
Alderman Aver" That is nothing but
quibble."
The Mayor-"No, it is not bubble.
Last year the solicitor ruled that the use
Oh UQ6 WOTu COutTtCU WAS nOU permits
sible in such an order. If he was right
then, the same thing would apply in this
case"
After some fur ther controversy vote
was again called for, and Alderman Cobb
voted Eyes" sustaining the position
taken by the Mayor.
Alderman Cram of Ward Two, said:
eff we have been doing business illegally,
we had better begin to do it right
Alderman Gowan sustained the Mayors
opinion, and Alderman Matthews advised
Alderman Aver to withdraw his order
and allow it to wait till the boards meet
ing next week.
''Well, I will withdraw it," reluctantly
replied the alderman from Ward -Four.
Then he presented two orders, the first
providing for the appropriation of sum
not exceedingly ,69o.56 forpipe and 81, BIZ
rs for construction of the proposed sewer,
both sums to be raised by temporary loan.
He moved that the orders be tabled for a
second reading. The motion prevailed.