The Portland daily press., 1900-07-03


pense not to exceed $50, 600. TO provide
4or the expenditures for municipal pur
poses hereby authorized the city treasur-
err is directed and empowered to use the
principal Of the Harrington fund for the
benefit of the Portland Public Library
to an amount not exceeding $20, 600.
In support of this order Mr.. True said
that this contemplated section of the in
tercepting sewer would take care Of a
great deal of the sewerage which now
finds its way into Back Bay. The order
passed the council without debate.
= In the upper board this order was laid
on the table. 1t was again taken from
the table and Alderman Driscon moved
that the order be given passage.
Alderman Thomas objected to the or
der. He Thought it strange this thing
hadn't been considered when the appro-
priation bin was being made up.
Alderman DriscoH once more spoke in
favor of the bin, and Alderman Milliken
also favored it.
Aldermen Gerrish, Moore, Brown and
Thomas voted against the order. The
Mayor broke the tie by voting in the
affirmative and so the order had pas
sage.
After the vote had been declared Alder
man Brown brought up the point that
passage of this order would not be legal
unless two-thirds Of the members voted
for it, Alderman Gerrish took the same
view Of the matter. The mayor thought
everything had been legal in this vote, as
this was not transfer of an appropria-
ton or the creation of a city debt.
Finally way was suggested out of it
by the rules being suspended. But this
obliges a two-thirds vote and on the ques-
ton to suspend the rules there was a tie
which was broken by the mayor voting
yes.
Alderman Moulton favored a new order
being introduced so that the money
should be taken from the appropriations
which have been made.
Alderman Discou believed the ror-
der legal. He thought it might be re-
ferred to the city solicitor and this view
was taken by Alderman A1illiken. AL
derman Driscoll made motion to this
effect which prevailed. The matter will
be settled by the city solicitor.
CITY SOLICITORS OPINION
WANTED
An order requesting the city solicitor to
give his opinion: First as to whether the
money in the city treasury standing to
the credit of the committee on reduction
Of the city debt constitutes a part of the
sinking fund of the city of Portland; sec
ond whether the trust funds received by
the city in the shape of cash have been OF
can legally be placed to the credit of the
committee on reduction of the city debt
under section of the ordinance relating
to sinking fund.
The order passed both boards without
debate.
TO OPEN SCHOOL YARDS.
Mr.. Comedian introduced an order in
structing the committee on public build
ings to open all school yards in the city of
Portland during the vacation season from
the hours of 8 a. IN. to 6 p. M, so that
they may be used IS play grounds.
The order passed the council without
debate.
Alderman Gerrish wanted this referred
to the committee on public buildings.
This was lost and a committee of confer
enee consisting of Aldermen Gerrish and
Thomas were appointed.
The committee on conference suggested
that the matter be referred to the COM
mittee on public buildings with power
and it was so voted.
INQUIRIES OF CITY TREASURER.
An order asking the following informa-
ton of the city treasurer was passed:
1st, The amount of the temporary loan
Of the city of Portland for the last five
years.
Cd. The total amount of interest paid
each year for the past five years.
3D., The total amount of money stand->
ing to the credit Of the committee on re-
duction of the city debt each year for the
past five years.
: 4th Whether the amount standing to
the credit of the committee on reduction
of the city debt includes trust funds held
by the city and ii so to what extent at the
present time.
9TH. Whether any Of the trust funds re-
ceived by the city have been invested ana
if so how and to what extent.
9th. Whether the amount standing to
the credit of the committee on the reduc-
ton of the city debt is now in the treas
ury in the shape of cash. 1t not how and
to what extent has it been used and by
what authority.
III. The total amount of the city
money deposited in the Merchants Ma
tional bank on the first day of each
month for the year ending July II, 1900.
The upper board laid them on the table.
THE FIRE ALARM WHISTLE.
The committee on electrical appliances
recommended the passage of an order au-
thorizing the purchase of 1900 feet of
cable not to exceed $1,000. Their report
was accepted. The order had passage
in the upper board.
The recommendation of the committee
on electrical appliances to purchase a fire
alarm whistle for the west end of the city
occasioned some discussion. Mr.. Griffin