The Portland daily press., 1899-04-05
-. CITY HALL.


The committee on salaries will meet ut
4. 80 O'Clock today. An effort Is being
made to have the salary of the chief en-
ginecr of the fire department increased
$500. The salary OF the chief engineer of
the Deering department was $500 year
and 1t is believed that with the added
responsibilities of the chief engineer and
the fact that 1t requires that officials en-
tire time to Hook after the department
now, that tho increase will he granted
without any question. Ihe city marsh
ais salary is much larger than that of the
chief engineer and the fire department
requires just as much if hot more atten-
ton than does the police department. 4
1t is rumored a-ound City hall that
a new electric light company will ask for
permission TO enter the city Mt the next
meeting of the city government. 1t is
said that this petition will come from the
Westbrook Rsstrio light company and
that they wlla offer to give lights to the
citizens of Portland at a much reduced
rate than is now Yaid. Alderman Smith
said something of this kind to the board
of aldermen ut Mondays meeting and
it seemed to be tie opinion of those seen
by PRESS reporter that the petition
OF the new company would certainly he
made public next Monday night.
There are go many schemes on foot to
locate fire engines, chemical engines, hook
aud ladder trucks, hose wagons and other
apparatus connected with the fire dsrart-
,rant in tbe many Sa-tinpS of Granter
Portland that the committee on fire de-
partment which desires to improve the
efficiency of..the department begins to fear
that all of their projects will be defeat
ed. The COMMITTEES AMI the chief engi-
neer were working tremendously togeth-
er and have plan which they desire to
see carried out They do not propose to
establish all of thess engines and other
pieces Ct apparatus at once, but desire
to bring about the increase to the der art
ment by degrees. There will be great
effort made by the friends of all these
measures 10 have appropriations made
fer them and the indications now are
that the committee on estimates has a
tlss on its hands which has never con-
past.
When the Common Council adjourned
Monday night il had not reached large
number of orders and other matters
which had been acted upon by the loard
of aldermen and thesa will all come up
for action at next Monday meeting to
aether with many new measures. The
alderman thie will
be forced to give large amount of their
time TO their public duties and there hrs
been considerable talk OF late about civ
lug TO these officials limited salary to
cover their expenses. This will not be
brought about this year, but it is among
the probabilities that such measure
may lie brought to light during this SEES
sion to apply to the next city government.
1t is c;nimed that all other cities of this
Size pay some salary to the aldermen and
councilmen to cover their legitimate ex-
penses and IL is also contended that tho
city would be a gamer II salaries were
paid these officials instead OF taking
expense money fro ~ the contingent fund
as IS now the cas,.
the price of corner lots on the city land
which is III the market has been increased
from cents u foot to 10 cents foot 1t
was enormously stated in the PRESS of
Tuesday morning as being IL cents foot
instead Of 10 cents.
The resignation of Joseph Mcguire of
Engine . of the flie department, has
been accepted, and John II. O'Ronrke,
first substitute, and brother of ex Driver
NJ. J. O'Rourke, was elected.