The Portland daily press., 1898-12-06
NEW ORDINANCES.

lie streets, under penalty of $40, was
passed to be ordained.
Alderman Sprague offered an ordinance
imposing fine of from S. to $40 for
sauntering or lettering on a street corner
or sidewalk five minutes after being or
dered by the mayor or any officer in au.
| therity, to move on.
| alderman Dow asked if the city ord
narices do not already contain some
similar provision, and Alderman Sprague
said this one covers mora ground than the
one now in vogue.
sit looks to me, said Alderman
Rounds, las if this ordinance might be
misapplied if person had any grudge
against another. The old ordinance con-
shutting three loiterers a crowd is good
enough. Our streets are not SO crowded
that we need any such q measure as this.
How are we to judge whether man II
wilfully standing on q street.
/ The matter was referred to the commit
tee on ordinances.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REFORM.
| Alderman Rounds presented an order
auih orizing the appointment of special
committee of the two boards to prepare 9
bill for the legislature, with a view tc
menrs in tho fire department.
This brought out lively discussion, in
which Aldermen ManEix. Rounds, Dow
and LaInson participated. They were all
anxious to know what changes in the fire
department. were contemplated. Alder.
man Mannix thought he saw the shadow
of a cat under the meal, but Alderman
Rounds assured him that the committee
Oh fire department intended to act in good
faith, and did not want to have any
| measure adopted without the approval Of
the full board.
Alderman Dow said he was in favor OF
some changes in the fire department.. one
needed change is to give the chief engf-
neer authority over the men in the de-
partment. The authority at present is
scattered among too manv people.
Alderman Rounds said it had long been
a by-word that the fire department. is
'srotten,'' and he wanted something done
to bring about reform. "They used to
say that the street department was
rotten he added, ''but I suppose that
now we are running under the beautiful
public works system, everything is all
right. We want the fire department to be
all right too. Besides. we want to give
the soIons at Augusta something to do. 2
The order was given a passage, only
| A Herman Mannix voting in the mega
tive.
IAN order for the appointment of a
special committee to revise the rules OF
the fire department and report at the
January meeting was passed.
| An order was passed authorizing the
purchase of 1000 feet of hose for the fire
department.
BALLOT LAW CONDEMNED.
1 The anti-ba1lot law, introduced last
year by Alderman kehoe, and referred to
this city government, was called up by
Alderman Rounds, who moved its pas
sage The resolution declares that the
present law is not in reality the Aus
trailian system, that under its working
many votes are thrown away, and thai
the advantages under the system are not
commensurate with the cost of its opera
1tion. The resolution concluded with q
request that the legislature either give
Us something better or wipe out entirely
the q resent ballot law.
Alderman Rounds delivered lengthy
dissertation on the "mongrel" ballot law
He couldn't see any secret ballot about
it. Many are getting fat slices by
reason of its existence. For his part he
liked the old fashioned open ballot system
better, for snid be, II don't consider
| this is free country unless every voter
can go up to the ballot box and cast hii
| ballot, right side up"
The resolution was given passage
amended by striking out the last fen
words.
BUILDING PERMITS.
Building permits were granted to w.
| II. Phillips 81 Lafayette street, for ar
addition to a dwelling; W. g. Davis, o.
Congress street, shed; James Mills, 81
Bramhall street. addition to building
N. d. Palmer, ~ Greenleaf street, shed
Metallingical corporation, smelling works
on Cutter street.
PETITIONS FOR LICENSES.
Morris E. Gum asked the privilege Of
running a steam boiler at the corner o.
Elm and Kennetec streets. Smith &
Rumery wanted similar privilege, al
SIG Fore street.
Viotualing licenses were asked for by
Calvin S. Swasey. 90 Middle street; Mrs.
Mary Paquette, Al India street, brokers'
licenses were petItioned for by n. Bern
stein, All Fore street; Simon Kubinoff, 8
State street.
OTHER MATTERS.