The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-02
CHARGES WILL BIZ MADJg.
Against Mr.. Staplrs for Misconduct
in Office.
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE IsE-
PORT TO CITY COUNCIL.

The Superintendent of Streets VIII Be
Given Hearing November Sth-
The Mayor Exercised His Veto Power
and Refused to Approve Leroy l..
Sustained the veto-Police Pension Or
dinance-Other Business Transacted.
The regular monthly meeting of the
city council was held last evening. The
committee appointed last July to investi-
gate the public works !. commission made
their report to the mayor and board of
aldermen and the common council. In
this report the committee recommended
Superintendent Of Streets Staples be
pressed and that hearing be given him
before the city council at which time he
will be called upon to reply to certain
charges of misconduct in office which are
to be formulated by the committee on in
yestigation. The order accompanying the
report Of the investigating committee
directing the city clerk to notify Mr..
Staples of the charges which We're to be
made against him and empowering the
committee on investigation to prepare
these charges was passed by the board of
aldermen without a dissenting voice, and
without discussion. The common council
debated at great length before accepting
the report of the Investigating committee.
The mayor exercised his power
of veto and refused to sign the or
der granting Mr.. Leroy L. Hight, teacher
in the High school an increase of $3.50
salary, and the board of aldermen sus-
tanned the.yeto.
The police! pension bill was brought up
and read and afterwards laid on the table
for Investigation. sssas, b..
A large amount of other important
business was transacted by the two
boards. 0snaovq see 4 1914 54s4 tfs
When the mayor called, the board OF
aldermen to order at 40 last evening, all
the members were present.
The seats were all occupied by spectators
who We're on the lookout for an exciting
meeting, but they were somewhat disap-
pointed.
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE RE-
To the Honorable Board of Mayor and
Aldermen:
The undersigned, comprising the COM
mittee appointed to investigate the doings
of the Commissioner of Public Works and
his assistants, by order of the board APP
proved July IS, 1897, respectfully ask
leave to submit the following report:
1t is with a sense of relief that the
committee reached the close of an in
vestigation which has continued for
months, ON the conduct of which they
| have spared no pains to make it thorough,
searching and exhausted. ees
Very many witnesses have been ex
amined under oath relating to the doings
of the commissioner Of public works and
his assistants, and has been patiently,
| carefully and impartially considered.
| Certain facts, however, have been in
evidence. which, unexplained. in
| judiciously reflect upon the official con-
duct of the assistant acting as superin-
tendent of the street department., and
your committee, realizing the ex parte
character of the testimony, and recogniz-
| ing the fairness of the impugned party
having an opportunity to be heard in de-
fence of his alleged misconduct, recon-
mend that the municipal officers further
| investigate the official conduct of that
officer, If in their Judgment 1t is deemed
expedient, by preferring formal charges
against him. and affording him an oppor-
tunity to refute the same.
Respectfully submitted.
(Signed. f. f. ROUNDS,
| az c. g. MCDONALD,
ADAM LEIGHTON.