The Portland daily press., 1899-02-07


Passage Of B,n Before state Legisis-
ture Changing Government OF Poor
n.o.r,ment-Measur Also Passed
,,v Cannon CounciI-The scheme 10
,,,prove Fire Department Meets
w,,h Defeat In Common Council.
The business transacted by the city
council at itsregular monthly meeting
last night was not very important and
there was little or no controversy over
any of the matters brought up In either
hoard. 1t was the most harmonious
meeting of the city government since
Alderman Edgar h Rounds became
member OF the board of munipial officers.
The session of the upper board was dis
tinguished by unusual mildness and abb
senoe of heavy debate. The business on
hand was hurried along and the board
was ready to adjourn before the common
oouncilmen had fairly settled down to
work.
LEGISLATION NOT NEEDED.
One of the first acts of the board was to
pass resolution opposing the change In
the board of overseers of the poor, con-
templated by Representative Sargent
bill now before the Legislature. Alderman
Sprague presented the resolution ana
moved its passage. Alderman Lamson
moved to amend by sending the document
to the lower board for concurrence. Inc
amendment was accepted by the member
who introduced the resolution.
Alderman Mannix called matt long
enough to announce that he was some
what in the dark in regard to what was
meant by the resolution. Alderman
Rounds remarked that If the gentleman
from ward two had read the Legislative
reports published In the local papers he
would be fully informed in regard to the
order. This not satisfying Alderman
Manpix, the alderman from ward three
went into a fuller explanation, stating
that the bill now before the Legislature
provided for reduction Of the number OF
oyerseers of the poor to three
No voice was heard in dissent when the
resolution wal. put to a vote.
FIRE DEPARTMENT REFORM.
Alderman Rounds read and moved an
acceptance of the report Of the special
joint committee appointed to consider the
question of preparing bill for revision
of the section of the charter governing
the fire department. The report was ac-
cepted without debate.
On motion of Alderman Merrill, an
order was passed for the transmission OF a
request to the Portland delegation at Au-
gusta to use all honorable means TO secure
passage of this bill.
CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES.
Walter Dockendorff sent in a claim of
$500 for injuries received by being thrown
from a sleigh ON kennebec street, Janu-
ary 10, the accident being due, he alleged,
to q defect in tine street.
A claim for damages for the breaking
of Emily Horesao's hip by "a fall on the
ice on Weshburn avenue, January IS,
was presented. Her claim is for $1,000.
Both of these claims were referred to
the proper COMMITTEES.
PETITIONS FOR AID.
John +. A. Miller. member of the
Maine Signal corps, petitioned the city
ness experienced during the campaign in
Cuba. An order for the payment of that
sum to him accompanied the petition.
Both were referr ed to the committee on
claims with power
Alderman Merrill presented an order for
the payment of 500 for the education and
support of Coleman Beattie and Patrick
Beattie, step children of Patrick Murphy,
who was recently sentenced to state prison
now at the almshouse The order was re-
ferred.
LIGHT QUESTION REVIVED.
Alderman Sprague wanted to know
what had become OF the report OF the com
mittee TO whom was referred the PROPOSE
tion OF the Portland Electric Light com.
pany.
Alderman Smith, chairman of the COM
mittse, replied: 1.-The committee had
nothing further to report. 1t has received
no further information in response to the
question asked. Something has been
brought to the attention of two of the
members of the committee, but / have
not seen III YET, anu Wouiu ask tnat the
committee be given further time
Alderman Sprague moved that the com :
mittee be given the time asked for, and
the board so voted.
The aldermen concurred, without de-
bate, in ordering on file the new propo.
sition of the Portland Electric Light COM
psny, which came up from the lower
board.
COMIC VALENTINES DENOUNCED.
A smile was INDUCED in " the board
when Mayor Randall read petition from