The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-09
Citizens Object To Paying Assess
mentS.
Annual Appropriation
Bill Passed.
Other Business at Last Nights
City Meeting.

TIE regular monthly meeting of the
city government Of South Portland,
which was held Thursday evening, was
Of great general interest and attracted a
good sized gathering of citizens. The
roll clll showed Alderman Willlrd absent
and after the minutes of the previous
nesting had been read and approved the
petitions Of tho Cumberland Illuminating
company and the Consolidated Electric
company we're taken from the table and
it was voted to fl days of hearing on the
same as follows: Consolidated Electric
company, tuesday, June "a. 7.3o p. m. I;
Cumberland Illuminating company, Fri
day, June s0th, $50 p. m.
SANFORD STREET SEWER ASSESS
MENT
A hearing w9s then given the AUDITORS
OF the Sanford street sewer in the mat
ter Of assessments and a prolonged discus
sion followed which was enlivened by
several personal colloquys There were
three different sets seemingly represented.
Some were willing to pay an equitable
assessment, others did not think they
should pay any assessment at oil, while
the opinion was expressed that the
sewer should be completed before the
AUDITORS were called upon to go into
their pockets.
Judge Il. II. Hartford opened the dis
cussion saying he was unfortunately one
of the AUDITORS and in his opinion the
sewer was larger than was needed and
the assessments were higher than many of
the poor people could stand. He called
attention to some errors In the bills and
, said los feet of pipe had been charged for
which had MOI been laid. He believed in
improvements and was willing to bear
his proportion OF the cost and ready to
pay what was just, but this sewer was in
reality a trunk sewer and it was an in
justice to tax the Sanford street AUDITORS
for the drainage of the village because
they technically had lost the right of APP
peal. He touched upon the constitution
ality of the law and cited the Massachu-
sets case. He should feel satisfied II the
council would examine the equities of
the case and assess accordingly. He
would then be willing to bear his part.
Mr.. Johnson-I am willing to pay
when the sewer is completed not until
| then.
DR.. Kincaid wanted what was honesty
and fair dealing but did not think the
AUDITORS should pay cent. They were
| tbs victims of the sharp practice and
chicanery of former town officers The
AUDITORS originally called for $1,000 to fix
up the old sewer and instead of that $500
was appropriated to build collateral
trnnkPsewer which drained hundreds of
acres. He held that the town was bound
to maintain the old sewer and keep 1T
open and even If a new sewer was built,
an eight incn sewer would have answered
the purposes of the Stanford street abut-
tors.
kincaid and thought thers was senti-
msnt in favor OF raying fair and 20 uit-
able assessment.
A long running talk followed in whfon
Judge Hartford. DR.. Kincaid, Mr.. Wer-
ner, Mr.. johnson and others participated,
including Niles Nelsonswho objected to
paying an assessment until the sewer was
completed When this was accomplished
he was perfectly willing 10 pay as good
sewer would save him $500 year.
Mr.. Richardson said the sewer was I'LL
hing up to distance of $50 feet near High
street and it was said that the engineer,
AR. Jordan, had given an opinion that
unless the sewer wis extended it would
I'LL mp in tftee years
City Solicitor MouIton presented the
legal asre rs of the case and the matter
was finally laid on the table,
APPROPRIATION BILL.
Alderman Spear repor.ea an order ye-
lating to appropriations for the municipal
year lSs9-looo, and for laying tax for
t e same year:
state tax, 81, 944. 0S
County tax, 2,4l41l
State of Maine, Sa00
Common schools ~ 600 co