The Portland daily press., 1900-12-18

me1b ana nAu no 60 poHtoASo - -'--~-->-@..A
the poor or treating with them.
Alderman Drisooll took exceptions to
this plan and said shat In his opinion
the three commissioners would be as
much open to suspicion OF dishonesty
as wouIa be q larger number OF men.
Alderman Moore presented an amsnd-
ment which provided for three commits
sioners, to be appointed for q term oil
three years by the Mayor, subject to con-
firmation of the board OF aldermen, not
more than two to bs of the same politi-
cal party. The amendment also provid-
cd that these commissioners might be
paid for their services Whatever COM
pensation the council might decide upon.
Alderman Moore went on to discuss
this amendments. He had served on the
hoard of oversesrs and he believed 1t
would be best to put ths department. in
the hands OF commissioners as his plan
suggested.
Alderman MouIton believed In this
commission. but he didn't believe the
members OF all OF them should be paid
salaries. He said that one should be
paid, but the idea of DayinR all OF them
did not seem best to him. Public spir-
tied men could certainly he found to MI
these places acceptably and well.
Alderman Millikeu said that to ret the
right kind of men who would devote
their time to this work it would be bet
ter to pay them salaries.
recess was taken TO give Alderman
Moulton q chance to put his offered
/ "a
provided that the secretary OF the board
might be paid a salary, but that the
only compensation allowed the other
members would be for proper expenses
Alderman Moulton's amendment to
| Alderman Moore's amendment was 40
7epted by vets of to ..
! Alderman Driscoli now speaking on
Mr., Moores amendment said that the
plan for a commission was all right II
1t were not for the outside poor whom,
he thought, could better be reached by
board OF overseers, one from each ward
| MI. Drisoou said that he thought the
rules OF the board of overseers are wrong
and could be changed for the better. he
believed that more members on the board
would be preferable.
Alderman Moore said that evidently
/ Alderman Driscoll didn t understand
the method of work In the department.
He showed that the work IL done BY
q monthly committee OF three and that
the outside poor apply In person In
nearly call cases to the secretary of the
| board.
Alderman Driscoll said that he under
stood the mattar perfectly and IL was be.
cause one man could not make the per-
| sonaI Investigations which are neces-
sary to prevent unworthy persons from
receiving aid.
| Alderman Moore went on to explain
more fully the manner inwhich the poor
department 10 operated. He paid very
high compliment to Secretary Baker and
sutd he had saved the city many thou
sands of dollars.
Alderman Moulton said the work now
Is practically done by three persons who
are not paid for 1t.
| Alderman Drisooll made strong
argument for board of nine, elected In
wards, whom he felt would be nearer
TO the people and would feel moral
responsibility to see that money appro-
priated for the poor should reach the
persons for whom 1t was intended.
The section providing for the holding
of the municipal election on the second
Monday OF December, was accepted with
out debate.
Section SO provided that the mayor be
elected by plurality vote instead OF
by a majority vote as now, nd that II
the office became vacant in the first six
months, a new election should De held
and II made vacant in the last six
months, the chairman OF the board OF
aldermen should serve rs mayor for the
remainder of the term, but would not
have the veto power.
Alderman Gerrish didn't think it was
a wise thing to make 1t necessary TO have
new election for mayor in the first six
months. The section was hnallv adopted.
In tha section which relates to the city
treasurer, Alderman Mouiton said that
a few words In 1t made IL the most Cd
iectionabls In the entire charter. The
new charter provides that the city ooun-
| Gil should designate the places OF deposit
for the city money. Ii this is done the
4
city council should give a bond for the
safety OF this money. Alderman Moui-
ton offered an amendment to strike this
out and leave the system as 1t Is now.
He said that it took tbs responsibility
from the city treasurer for the safety OF
the money in his custody.
This amendment was adopted leaving
the section as it now is In the present
charter.
The aldermen now went on to consid-
er the remaining sections. OF the charter
and came to the final section which
stated that this charter should not In
tsrfere in any way with certain acts
relating to the police and other public
departments not mentioned in this char
tar and at this pointlAlderman Milliken
took the floor.
| II - Ia ha1