The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-08

tori TO BE Investigated.
The city government meeting last night
was protracted until after midnight. De-
bate followed debate on almost every sub
ject Some of the matters were discussed
for many minutes at time, and III the
most heated manner.
| The munifioent offer of school build
ing to the city by the Walker estate was
set upon hard and committee was ap-
pointed to Investigate" the adyisability
Of accepting the gift.
After a stormy session in joint conven-
tion Hon. Charles &. Libby was elected
to serve the city upon the commission to
arrange for the annexation of Deering to
Portland.
| The police pension ordinance was again
hung up and referred to committee for
revision.
| The city stated the terms on which the
two electric roads can have the per-
mission of the city government to cross
Tukey's bridge and gave the roads ten
days to either accept or refuse tie con-
ditions.
| An order was introduced by Alderman
Leighton which practically calls for an
investigation of some of the doings OF the
Investigate" of the board Of aldermen.
IN MAYOR AND BOARD OF ALDER
MEN.
| The aldermen were all present when the
meeting was called to order with Mayor
Randall in the chair. 1t was the longest
session of the year so far and d very
stormy one at times.
OFFER OF THE WALKER ESTATE.
| A communication from James P. Bax-
ter, John H. Fogg and Seth l.. Larrabee,
the trustees of the Joseph Walker estate,
was ssread by the Mayor. The trustees
stated that they had secured an option
on the piece of land at the corner Of Cas-
co and Cumberland streets, known as the
Casco street church property and in order
to advance education in the city of Port
land were prepared to erect on this lot
a suitable building to be used as man
ual training school, providing that the
oity government agrees to accept and
maintain the building for such a pur-
pose. With the communication were
plans and estimates of the proposed build
| ing.
Alderman Rounds sa id that he was not
prepared to vote to accept the building.
He wanted to have a committee appoint
ed to look intossthis question and make a
report at some future time to the full
city government. He also thought a
hearing should be given the citizens in
order that the aldermen and council
might vote intelligently. q
Alderman Leighton did not see the rea-
son for delay in this matter. He believed
the city should accept the building and
| agree to maintain the school. He had
looked at the plans and figures and
thought it would be wise for the city to
accept the building at once. The cost OF
maintenance would be slight, and Port
land needs building of this kind.
| Alderman Ilsley did not feel like voting
on the matter at once. He had no op.
portunity to look into the matter and he
wanted to be informed in regard to the
proper cost before he voted. He did not
think it necessary to appoint a commit.
tee, but thought public hearing on the
matter should be ordered.
Alderman Rounds again explained why
he did not care to vote on the matter
at once He said he had heard that the
trustees of the Walker estate were pre-,
pared to give the city four walls and ex
pected the city to finish the building
This would cost a great deal and hi
wanted to know whether this was true
or not, and if true how much it woult
cost to finish the building. He had alst
heard that a great deal of Inachiner,
would be required and he wanted t.
:, know how much it would cost to bu,
this machinery. He thought q commit
tee should be appointed to look up thes
facts, report to the board and then hav
a hearing so as TO learn the wishes o
: the citizens In the matter.
Alderman Ilsley seconded Alderman
Rounds's motion.
Alderman Kehoe thought the idea c
giving hearing to the men who wente
to make the city handsome present wa
absurd. The city has been offered some
thing for nothing, and he thought tn
only reasonable thing to do would be t.
accept the gift thankfully. Any ordi
nary business man would vote to accep
the gift freely. Everyone is in favor c
manual training school He though
the board should be influenced by a
action taken by them sometime ago whe
) a railroad company offered the city $40,
900 for a certain privilege which sur
the aldermen refused to accept and sine
then the offer has been withdrawn. Thi