The Portland daily press., 1899-02-25
THE NEW CITY GOVERNMENT.
Something About the COMMITTEES and
the Presidency of the Common
Council.

Now that Greater Portland Is an as
sured fact and the city government has
been increased by eight new members the
su bject Of making some needed changes
In the city government committees IL
being sgitated.
The committees Of the city council have
many OF them been Of little usein the
past year. and there is need for the organ
ization of many committees which do not
now exist Then the committees are
many OF them too, small and are not
representative Of the different sections OF
the city. There Is feeling among those
who have considered the subject vsry
carefully that some changes in this com d.
mittee system are bound TO DO pfouBnt
about this year.
Many committees which have In the
past amounted to very little this year pe
come very Important For example .tne
joint standing COMMITTEES on assesso.
department has not held meeting ior
the year and had no hing whatever 70 90.
With the many questions whlcn are W
come up In the assessors department. now
this COMMITTEES will lind plenty to do.
Then the joint standing committees
onbells and clocks, laying out new streets,
sale Of unimprovod real estate ann oIty
engineers department have nevertsmouns .
ed to much. They have held an occasion
al meeting but have never had any ques-
lions Of great moment to dispose or inis
year all of the Sc committees will nave
more to look after than ever BEFORE IN
fact with the adjustment of matters IN
the rew territory they will probably Do
kept quite busy.
mittees TO transact the business OF the
city and all Of the other committees suon
MS those on public works, lights, puoho
buildings accounts. electrical appliances,
police and fire department Will Dc kept
hard at work.
] the problems of Greater Portland VIII De
| those on estimates, rules and orders. sal
| aries and finance. The committee on es.
Inmates will probably find its labor about
| as difficult rs those OF any other commit
| tee. 1t will be the duty OF this commit
tee to state what amounts will be re.
auired Tor the running Of the city TOT the
coming year. ana with the many projects
| confronting the Greater Portland's city
government and the many large appro-
| rriations which must OF necessity lie
made the work of this committee Will be
most difficult aud important,
| 1t promises to be y very busy year LOT
the mem ers of the city government ana
| IL will demand OF thcm much more time
than they have ever before giveI to their
| official duties. -
IL win be especially taxing on the mem,
hers of the board of aldermen VINO VIII
find that tine positions which they now
seek carry with them great labor and very
little glory.
The mayor and the president OF the
common council have the appointment Cd
these committees in their Respective
boards. The selection of the president OF
the council is always a most important
action and usually brings abont very
hot light This year, above all Others
will the president of the council be an
important pei sonage and so the contest
for the place has began early. There arr
two candidates for this position, Council.
man Walter Il. Brown of ward nve ana
Councilman E. c. Nilliken of ward
seven. Councilman John Ii. Pierce OF
| ward sir has been mentioned as n candi
date for the presidency. but it was stated
yeste rday that he would not be candi-
date for the place. If this be true IL mar
| Brown and Milliken.