The Portland daily press., 1898-06-07
SOME LIVELY DEBATE.
Alderman Rounds, the Public Works
Board and the Streets.
THE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE
CITY FATHERS.

| Aid Voted Tor the Neouy Il AAuihes Oh Fort-
land soldiers-No Additi onal Appro.
priation Made for the Men on the Mon.
tauk-A Gas Bill for One Dollar for
Lighting the Soldiers Monument-The
Question of Salaries-Mr. Goudy Re-
signs From the FoErth of July Com.
mittee-A New School House.
| The May meeting of the city council
was enIivened last evening by the oratory
of Alderman Rounds on a number Of SUBJ
jects Mr.. Rounds made a determined,
but unsuccessful effort to get chance to
| take hand in the revision of the rules
governing the commission of public
works, and he also had good deal to say
about what he declared to be the neglected
condition Of the down town streets.
Among the measures acted upon favor.
ably were an order providing for aid to
the families of soldiers Notwithstanding
the opinion Of the city solicitor that such
action was illegal, an order appropriating
$500 Tor plans for a new school building
and some matters of minor Importance.
An order appropriating s525 additional
for the equipment of the men on the Mon
tauk and the ordinan 20 in relation to the
pay of city employees were tabled.
THE PORTLAND VOLUNTEERS.
An opinion was read from the city
solicitor on the orders presented at
previous meetings providing for the pay
ment of ten dollars month for not ex-
ceeding three months to Portland volun-
teers and also providing for the rendering
of aid to the families of Portland soldiers
when in need. The city solicitor found
that the appropriation of money for these
purposes would be illegal and that the
rendering of aid to the families Of soldiers
in the manner proposed would make then
paupers in the eye of the law. The
opinion was received and then an order
for the appointment Of committee to
give aid to the families of soldiers if they
should require it was pa ssed, the amount
to be expended not to exceed $1,000. There
was some reference made to the opinion
of the solicitor in this connection, but it
did not prevent the passage of the order.
THE MONTAUK'S MEN.
Alderman Smith for the committee on
the outfit for the men of the Montauk re-
ported that they had contracted for mess
gear, two white working suits for each
man, neckerchiefs, lanyards, knives. oil
suits for boats crews, etc. Much of the
material was bought Of Portland houses
at cost. The amount spent was $1024.
Alderman Rounds called attention to the
fact that the suits for Is petty officers cost
$3.50, while the suits for the seventy sea-
men cost 1926. He thought this suggested
the method of distributing prize money.
Later in the evening, Alderman Smith
presented an order appropriating 1926 for
the blue flannel suits for the men, but it
was promptly tabled on motion of Alder
man Rounds. Requisition will now be
made to the navy department for the suits
and the men will have to pay for them
out of their wages. There was little dis.
cussion in the meeting, but good deal
during the recess about the matter. The
point was made that the action in appro-
priating the money was illegal, but in
view of the action previously taken the
tabling of the order did not seem to be on
this ground.
MR.. ROUNDS AND THE RULES.
Mr.. Roands's attempt to change the
rules of the commission of public works
was aimed at the section giving the com.
nlittee on public works the power to
10 oh
this was power which the city council
could not delegate. The proceedings were
made animated by passage at arms be-
tween Messrs. Rounds and Mannix.
In pause in the evenings occupation,
MIR. Lamson moved that the board take a
recess Then Mr.. Rounds asked that the
messenger be sent for copy of the rules
of the commission of public works. He
said he had given notice at the last meet
ing that he wanted change made in the
last rule authorizing the committee to
make changes.
Mr. Mannlx asked for information as to
the purpose of the gentleman from ward
three.
MIR. Rounds proceeded to explain that
1t had leaked out in some way that the
committee on public works were about to
make a change in the rules governing the
commission.
Mr.. Mannix interposed to say that the
gentleman was out of order, there being
no question before the house.
The mayor sustained Mr.. Rounds and
declared MIR. Mannix, who was persisting
in his point, out of order. The mayor
stated that Mr.. Rounds was answering
question which the gentleman from two
had asked.
Then Mr.. Rounds said he wanted the
rules changed SO that future regulations
should be made by the city council as the
law provides.
Mr.. Mannix turned the smiles of the
board in the direction of Mr.. Rounds
when he recalled the fact that the gentle
man from ward three was a member of
last years committee which made the
rules.
Mr.. Rounds-If the gentleman from
hoo kx1t ba 9TH