The Portland daily press., 1897-02-02

.ANoA1AoA WuSH ii JOlub COHsoutiOu Was
called for. He wanted to know whether
the vote had been for meeting of the
Of the whole or for joint
convention. "The upper board seems to
be in doubt what they are down here
for"
M ayor Baxter stated that the vote in
the board of aldermen had been for
joint convention to consider the proposed
of the city charter and TO
elect subordinate city officers.
Alderman Ilsley said that he hadn't
voted for joint convention with that
idea. He had voted for a joint convention
to hear the report of the committee on
amendments, not to act on
them.
Alderman Kehoe-"What fear have
thess gentlemen of expressing them
selves on this matter. What should they
Care whether the vote taken on these pro-
posed amendments is formal or informalP
What we want is an expression OF opinion
of whether the city council is in favor OF
changing the charter or not. Let us not
shirk vote on this matter as we may
have shirked the question in the past.
Councilman Stone" For one objso5
to taking any action ON this matter until
1 have time to read the report over and
digest its contents. ;"
Councilman Mayberry was in favor Of
acting on the proposed amendments In
JOINT session. Individually, the MEM
bers of the common council are as capable
of voting on this matter as are the MEM
bers of the upper board said Mr.. May
berry. "Should we dissolve and vote on
these amendment separately we would be
no nearer the goal than we are now. IF
the common council favored the amend
ments and the board of aldermen were
opposed to them we should be just as far
from obtaining an opinion OF the city
government as before. Let us obtain an
opinion of the joint convention and we
shall know what the majority of the city
government favors y
Alderman Pagan said-"H the common
council wants to recommend these
amendments to the Legislature they may
do so without the concurrence of the
aldermen. To act on thess amendments
in Joint convention would be Illegal"
A motion was then passed for the city
clerk to read the proposed amendments
and he did SO without being interrupted
Counoilmen Stone at the conclusion of
the reading called the attention of the
board to several technical errors in the
draft.
Councilman Mayberry said he hoped no
time would be wasted in discussing the
technical errors in the draft. What was
desired was to know where the city gov
eminent stood in relation to the proposed
The draft would certainly be
put in proper shape before it was sub
mittedsato the legislature and all errors in
it would be corrected.
Alderman Ilsley said-"But it is to dis
Assem- bled here. The proposed amend
ments should be presented in proper form
by the committee before we act on
tbem."
A1fy Do1Ay SuAA SA1O OoAAr WI
ton must know what changes were pro.
posed and he thought the convention
should vote on these proposed changes
without discussing the language in
which they were e7 pressed.
Alderman Kehoe moved that article
one of the proposed amendments provid-
ing for city government consisting Of
8 mayor and twenty-one aldermen be
recommended to the legislature for en-
actmenu. The motion was seconded and
q rising vote taken which resulted, ayes,
10; nays, II.
Councilman Virgin said he was in
favor of improving the present city
charter if possible, but he believed the
report of the committee on amendments
should be put in proper form before it
should be acted upon.
Alderman Leighton said that the COM
mittee would have the draft Of the
amendments put in proper form before it
went to the legislature, providing the
city government expressed itself as being
In favor of the proposed changes in the
charter.
Alderman Kehoe moved the second
section of the draft be recommended to
the legislature. He withdrew his motion
for motion introduced by Councilman
Dow, but Alderman Ilsley's motion took
precedence.
Alderman Ilsley moved the report of
the committee be referred back to them
and that they confer with the city
solicitor, put the proposed changes in
proper form and report at the next meet
ing either special or regular of the city
government Alderman Thompson
seconded this MOTION, which after long
discussion pro and con, WAS put to vote
and was carried by vote Of sixteen to
ten. The joint convention then dissolved.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
A communication was received from
Inspector of Buildings J. @. Ward, stat
ing that in compliance with an order re-
Gently passed by the city council he had
caused the doors of public halls to be
changed SO they swing outward. The in.