The Portland daily press., 1899-05-25
Was Laid on Table
After Debate.
Other Matters Considered Of
Minor Importance.

An adjourned meeting Of the mayor
and aldermen of South Portland was held
Wednesday evening, all being present.
The records Of the last meeting having
been read and approved. the order for the
hydrant on Myrtle avenue end Thrasher
streets was given . second reading and
passed.
The ordinance authorizing the appoint
ment of q milk inspector and defining
his duties, was passed to be ordained.
A communication was read from James
Il. Taylor, secretary Of the South Port
land Veterans association, inviting the
mayor and aldermen tojoin:the associa
ton in the observance Of Memorial Day
and partake of the collation.. Placed on
dle.
Subject to the usual rsgu lations. per-
mission was granted II. b. Twitchell to
move q stable on his prem ises in Willard
A permit was granted William r.. Spear ,
chairman of the board of trustees Of Bay
ard lodge, K. Of p, to enter Preble street
sewer ct 81 Preble street and to Charles
Werner to enter Stanford street sewer at
81 Stanford street.
Petition was received from Otis
Sprague and others praying that two
streets he laid out, one leading from
Broadway to projecting street called
Fourth street and one from Pine or old
Ferry road to the Murray line and called
Fourth street, Referred to committee on
streets. City Auditor Clarence A. Will
liams scnt In communication relating
to certain DEFICIENCIES In the school money
and then Alderman Spear presented the
matter of the drainage Of "Joes pond"
on the Mussey farm. The street commits
sioner was authorised to look into the
matter and take steps to open up the ma.
tural drain under Pine street which had
been stopped up by the boys
Upon representations made by Bred Id
Icy engineer Of the Portland railroad, the
street commissioner was authorized to
change the grade Of Cottage street near
the easterly end of land belonging to W.
G. Davis by taking on the crown Of a
small section of road so as to conform to
the grade Of the road.
PETITION OF CUMBERLAND ILLU-
MATING co.
Alderman Scamman moved that the
petition Of the Cumberland Illuminating
company, asking permission to plant
poles and requesting hearing on the
same which was offered at previous
meeting be taken from the table and that
a new petition which was then read be
substituted Tor 1t. Alderman Jordan
moved that tho new petition be laid on
the table. The new petition was similar
to that of former date save the sweep
ing clause which permitted the planting
Of poles in the discretion OF the company.
Levi Turner, representing the Cumber-
land Illuminating company. argued for
hearing on the petition. He thought 1t
was only fair to the company that hear
ing after due notice should be given the
petition. II there was any objection to
1t, 1t could then be discovered. He said
that continued postponement was an I'M
fair way Of dealing. The whole tenor OF
the law contemplated hearing. He read
the law Of the state relating to electric
companies and called attention to the fact
that this company WAS organised by
special law of the state and suggested that
| the company had the right to plant its
poles in South Portland, Westbrook and
Cape Elizabeth without the consent OF the
municipal officers but the company did
| not wish to curne in that way. The act,
however, is broad enough to allow us to
do 1t. He referred to that mytholcgical
| character Rhadamanthus who con-
demned first aud heard afterwards and
hoped the board would not imitats his
example In dealing with the company
but rather give 1t the hearing asked for
instead of summarily striking 1t down.
Alderman Scamman thought the board
was hardly ready to take up the question,
1t was q matter that could pe considered
in private for a while to better advantage.
No hearing had been accorded the other
electric company and what was "sauoe
for the goose was sauce for the gander.
He had no desire, however, to keep the
company out of Its rights.
Aldermen Spear and Davis spoke briefly
in favor Of granting hearing. Tho petit.
lon was laid on the table. Yeas. Scam
man, Tilton, willard and Jordan; nays
Aldermen Spear, Davis and Pickett.
An order was passed authorizing ths
street commissioner to construct suit
able drive In front Of the hose house on
School street.
The committee on public buildings
recommended an appropriation of $780,
and the committee on sewers, $500. Re-
ferred to committee on finance.
| With the approval Of the road comIois
sioner the Portland railroad was author
lied TO straighten certain poles to con
form to the granted location and tracks
| nov being laid.
The board then adjourned to meet May
31sk