The Portland daily press., 1898-02-08

Body Snatchsng Case Given Lief to
Withdraw.
Pursuant to the call of the committee
of five on behalf of the citizens party
gathered last evening in Odd Fellows
hail. Westbrook, for the purpose of per-
fecting the organization of the reform
party movement. Mr.. Fl. K. Griggs was
unanimously chosen as chairman and Mr..
W. W. Webb was selected as secretary of
the meeting.
The first business was to listen to the
report Of the committee of five appoint
at the previous meeting to select a city
committee.
Mr.. Frank A. Webb on behalf OF the
committee then submitted the following
names: Ward one, o. L. Cousins, George
Hamilton, Arthur Bray; Ward two. A.
L. Skillings, John @. Knight, Ernest
Bragdon; Ward three. Charles I. AInes,
Charles London, Charles H. Towle; Ward
four, VIM. Stiles, George Gray, Ambrose
Goozey; Ward five, II. K. Griggs, s. b.
Bailey, Frank Allen.
The report was read was accepted. Mr..
W. c. Wentworth moved and it was voted
that the committee be given power to I'LL
vacancies.
| It was also voted that the COMMITTEES
have power to add to their numbers. Re-
marks were then called for and the chair
man, Mr. H. K. Griggs was the first to
l nd nm
national issues vote that way. have
believed for many years that it is impos-
sible to run this or any other city
economically ON strict partisan lines. ]
know whereof l speak when / say that
this town has and does suffer because OF
management on partisan lines. There are
lots of people that want to see this move
ment succeed, but are waiting to see
what is to be done. I am heartily In
sympathy with the movement.
MIR. G. W. Wentworth was then called
for and said: II have not come here to
pose for an office, neither do expect one.
l am in hearty sympathy with a move
ment that looks towards the divorce Of
partisan politics from municipal affairs.
I stand for all that guarantees to man
right to an opinion and the right to
vote as he chooses. l want to see every
man have a chance to vote without fear
Of party intimidation. Z"
The chairman then announced that the
meeting was opened for discussion.
Mr.. John Killian believed there should
be a change in municipal affairs. He
thought the reform party ought to have o
platform and said he would like to see a
committee of three appointed to fix upon
q platform that would aim at rigid
economy in the management Of city
affairs, and a move in the direction of
encouraging manufacturers to locate here,
and favoring the municipal ownership of
an electric power plant. "We could then
get our lights at one half the figures we
pay today. From 1880 to 1890 there were
twelve different manufacturing in
dustries in this city. Up to date we have
| lost six of those industries. Furthermore
| am of the opinion that we can manage
our city with less police protection. Our
population has decreased and our city is
more orderly than few years ago." He
also thought reduction Of insurance
rates could be obtained.
Mr.. Leander Burgess was then called
upon to furnish figures on the cost of
municipal lighting. Mr.. Burgess read
from letters received from various parts
of the West and in New England, show
ing that the city lights in those places
were secured Mt saving of from one to
six hundred per cent, 1or the same SER
vice, that Westbrook now enjoys. He
said that if the city wanted to start into
the movement that he had been assured
that the city of Deering would go into
part ownership of plant for the lighting
of their own streets and public build
ings.
Mr.. Killian then moved that q commit
tee of three be appointed to consider a
platform of principles and report the same
to general caucus.
Mr.. Adams thought that this scheme
was impracticable, as 1t was piling a
large load onto the men that ara to hold
Office, before the party is really formed.
Mr.. Wentworth and several others ex-
pressed the same opinion.
The motion on the appointment of the
committee was defeated.
1t was then voted that the city commit
tee proceed to call the ward cauouses
and the general caucus, and afterwards
proceed in the usual way to file the nomi-
nation papers of the several candidates.
The meeting was then declared ad-
iourned until such time as the committee
shall call the oaucuses.
CITY COUNCIL MEETS.
The regular monthly meeting of the
city council was held last evening.
Mayor Cloudman was present. President
Woodman was in the chair. Absent, AL
dermen Black, Hardy, Riggs, Morris and
ponlerleau. A communication from S.
Il. Lisk asked for permission to erect
poles for the transmission of electric pow
er on several streets in this city, was re-