The Portland daily press., 1900-12-11
Finally Adjourned For Week With
Work Half Done.
The Case of Engineers
French and Wiggin.
Aldermen Ask For the City S0li-
citOr's Opinion.

At an adjourned meeting Of the city
council last evening two matters OF In
terest and Importance came up for dis
cussion. One OF these questions was the
case OF Engineers wiggin and French OF
the fire department, whom the committee
on fire department have discharged,
claiming the right 80 to do. The other
matter WAS the consideration Of the pro-
posed new city charter.
One wonld naturally suppose that a
measure so important to the city as
new charter would he OF sufficient inter-
est to bring out large attendance OF
citizens. The small crowd which gathered
to hear the discussion on this subject
was an object lesson in the interest which
the citizens generally take in municipal
affairs. There were perhaps twenty men
present when the session was called to
order. One by one they slipped away I'M
til six citizens were left. with such en-
enlargement and manifestation of inter-
est it was not strange that the board of
aldermen felt that their consideration OF
IIB GudIttf NhS q tuhAiktteb ttAHAs
The aldermen as rule seemed to favor
the charter as 1t was reported BY the com.
mittee. and the indications ara that the
measure will finally be passed by them
and recommended for enactment to the
legislature Several sections of the
charter, In fact those in which tine only
radical changes from the present charter
are made, were laid ON the table for
further consideration but by vote which
would seem to indicate their final pas
sage.
The absentees last night were Alder
men Gerrish and Frye. In the afternoon
there was short session of the board at
which little business was transacted.
Alderman Moore introduced an order
asking the opinion of the city solicitor as
to the legality of the action of the com.
mittee on fire department. is removing
Engineers French ana wiggin.
In support of this order Mr.. Moore said
that there see med to be an honest differ
enoe Of opinion as to the authority OF the
fire committee in removing these men
oAtA ~ HVCllSd OObS " hhfo bhO OPAhAOh Vi
the city solicitor in this matter.
Alderman Brown said that the commit
tee asked In good faith and within the
provisions OF the ordinance governing
this case. The thing has got around to a
point where some one ought to have
backing in their efforts to inforce dis
oipline. he said he didn't hardly like
the idea of having the power OF the fire
committee called in question In this case
but he should not Oppose the order IL the
aldermen desired to pass it.
Alderman Moore said that he did not
desire to question the good faith of the
fire committee. 1t certainly could do no
harm to know what the legal status Of
the matter is
Alderman Moulton said he should sup
port the order but by SO doing he would
not call into question the go cd faith of
the COMMITTEES. He was willing to take
the responsibility in this case and IL these
two engineers had been derelsct in their
duty he for one would be anxious to see
them punished. But If the action of the
fire committee has been Illegal he should
like to know it. The city Of Portland
cannot afford to be unjust in its treat
ment of its nployes nor can 1t afford TO
have these men nose as martyrs. The
order of Alderman Moore seemed the
proper action to take at this time.
The order was then nassed by an unan
imous vote
Permission was granted the American
Stone company to maintain a steam
boiler at Deake's wharf
A pstition largely signed for light on
Fox court was referred to the committee
on lights.
The petition of Mark SuIkowitch for
license as a pawn broker was referred to
the city marshal with power.
This completed the regular business
and the aldermen proceeded to di cuss
the proposed new charter. The charter
being taken from the table, Alderman
Milliken asked il the report as printed
had been recommended by the commit
tee The mayor said that for one member
Of that committee he did not wish to be
considered as recommending 10. Alder
man Milliken called attention to the fact
that on the outside of the printed copy in
his hand 1t would be inferred that the