The Portland daily press., 1899-02-07
IN COMMON COUNCIL.

IN COMMON COUNCIL.
Absent. Mr.. Goudy.
Councilman Waloron presented a
petition from about one hundred mothers
and school teachers Of Portland asking
the city government to prohibit the sale OF
comic valentines In the city OF Portland
on the ground that these valentines were
often immoral and degrading. The
petition was referred to the next city
government.
Councilman waldron presented an order
prohibiting janitors. of public buildings
from opening public halls leased for enter
tainments until the halls had been paid
for. The order was tabled in the lower
board.
The resolution from the board of alder
men against the passage of the bill now
pending before the Legislature creating
board Of three overseers of the poor in
Portland and calling upon the Portland
representatives TO use all honorable means
to prevent the passage OF this bill created
quito little discussion when 1t came up
in he council.
Councilman Burke from ward four took
occasion to remark when this resolution
came up for action that he represented the
minority in the council and that he
should oppose the passage of the resolu-
tions. He said that under the present
system the minority in Portland paid
their proportional tax for the support OF
the poor of the city, but had no represen.
tatlun on the board Of overseers OF the
poor He didn't think the present system
of caring for the poor was the. best one
that could be devised and therefore he
was opposed to the passage of the resolu-
tion.
Councilman Lefsvor said he didn't be-
leve in the board of overseers being re.
duced TO three members, therefore he
would support the resolutions
Councilman Phillips said that the bill
now before the legislature means puttint
| the poor department under u commission.
Enough had been done to belittle the city
government already without taking this
department entirely out of their power.
He moved that the resolutions have "a
passage.
were passed by vote of thirteen to six.
The bill reported by the special commit
tee appointed to devise some means Of i'm .
proving the fire department and with an
accompanying order instructing the repre-.
seutatiyes of Portland in the legislature
TO use all honorable means to secure it !,
passage, came up in the council for discus.
sion.
BILL TO IMPROVE FIRE DEPART
MENT.
The bill Invested of its legal introduce
tion. ETC., was as follows: 1.-The chief
engineer of the fire department OF the city
Of Portland shall hereafter be elected By
Joint convention of the city council BIZ
ennially ON the second Monday of March
or as soon thereafter as may he for term
of two years and until his successor is
elected and qualified. Any vacancy in
Office occasioned by death or resignation
shall be filled by the city council voting
in joint convention. Said chief engineer
may be rsmo we'd for cause on concurrent
vote passed in each board of the city
council by assent of two thirds of all
| members thereof. The first election under
this act shall be held on the second Mon
DAY of March in the year of our Lord,
1899 or as soon thereafter as may be.
Sect. .. All provisions of the city
charter and all ordinances OF said city of
| Portland Inconsistent with this act are