The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-08
SOUTH PeI,yLANb.
The Town Netting Was Lively As
1t AiWays Is.
CAPTAIN BOYD AND MIR. SMALL
APPEARED As DIRECTORS.

APfEAnEU rs UGJ ECIV1s
The Meeting Acted on Half Hundred
Articles and Then Adjourned to Elect
the Town officers on March Fourteen
Animated Discussion of the Town
Finances-The Question OF Schools
Propositions to Move the Town House
and Remove Trees in Knightville Re-
jected.
Thejfrst annual mseting OF the town
of South Portland under the new bylaws
was held yesterday at the..fown hall. At
| 9 O'Clock a. m. Town Clerk Noah b.
KNIGHT raped for order and read the war
rant for the annual meeting. which con-
tained So articles.
e, G. Reynolds was chosen moderator,
receiving So votes out of 60 cast.
Mr.. T. B. Haskell moved that the re-
port of the selectmen, assessors, overseers
of Door and treasurer be accepted but in
yited attention to the appropriations, as
something like $4,000 was called for,
which would involve tax rate of SCI or
SaS on thousand.
Mr.. Heckbert animadverted upon the
conduct of town officers in piling up de-
ficiencies and then calling for additional
appropriations II this goes on year by
year there would be no encouragement for
people to come to this town.
~ lof7
attention to the action Of the school com.
mittee who spent $500 for music in de.
fiance of the refusal Of the voters to war.
rant the appropriation and moved that
the report of town officers be rejected.
Then followed cross fire on various arti-
cles in the REPORTS led by John B. Chase,
which kept Selectman Spear on his feet al
| intervals for an hour or more. Capt.
Boyd was inclined to add fuel to the fire
and one great question involved was how
Mr.. Tilton managed to get the contract
| for certain pipe. Other matters Of equal
Importance had to be cleared up before
the meeting squarely got down to bust
ness.
The accounts and bids for the Knight
Vile sewer were called for and produced.
| Mr.. Heckbert.--" What is the use of q
town meeting if selectmen persist in
spending money without the sanction OF
the voters in town meeting. 1t is dis
grace shame and outrage"
Mr.. Boyd-"I second the outrage.
Towns go into bankruptcy by just such
| action as is proposed ny our seleotme n. "
The motion to accept the report of the
1t was voted to accept the report of the
experimenting school committee; to APP
propriate $4,000 for the maintenance and
support Of common schools, and to raise
$4,000 for support of poor; and $4,000 for
roads and bridges; Mr. Small wanted the
salaries of selectlnen brought within the
warrant to prevent sgrab salaries.
Mr.. Heckbert-It is the patriotic duty
of selectmen to attempt to bring their
salaries to a minimum.
Mr.. Boyd (sarcastically select
men have worked erduously for 300 days
at 81. so per week the maximum salary
fixed by statute.
Mr.. Chase-Something must be done to
check the exorbitance Of scleotInen. 1t
should be stopped. 1t cannot go on lad
finitum'' Look at Waidohoro.
Mr.. Heck BERTHE selectmen now re-
ceived as much as the average citizen for
his years work and $500 is enough flor
these men even If they work on Sundays
and create for us deficiency.
It was voted that $500 be raised for
town charges. 5000 of which is to go for
salaries Of selectmen; $500 for winter and
spring highways; $4,000 to pay interest on
town debt; $500 for collectors commits
sion; that the compensation of collector
be fixed the same as last year; that q
discount Of per cent be allowed on
taxes paid within three months from date
of commitment; to dismiss article Ii
which charged interest on taxes OF paid
within four months; to raise $500 for
discount on taxes; that the selectmen be
authorized to hire temporarily s12, 900 the
avails to be used in paying current eA-
penses of the town.
Mr.. Haskell chairman of the committee
S->A
town of Cape Elizabeth then submitted
his report. s., 05a.69 was the amount
found due by the committee from the
town of Cape Elizabeth and suit had been
instituted to recover the same. Accepted
and spread on the record.
1t was voted to issue town bonds to the
amount of 5000 to pay the bonds and
notes of the old town of Cape Elizabeth,
falling due during the year. 1898, or other
wise provide for their payncnt-s1e0o for
support OF Free High school; $1,000 for
repairs on school buildings; $1,000 for
school appliar ces; $500 for school text
books.
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