The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-11-20

buying It's goods cheaper this year than
ever before, but this hasn't always been
the case. In fact there was one overseer
OF the poor last year who was receiving
an income OF $50 9 month from the ODE
missions for selling butter and eggs alone
TO the poor department.. There mad been
other cases also and everyone knew 1t.
Three men who were compensated for
their services would not attempt to secure
commissions on buying goods for the city.
Mr.. Gowen spoke again in favor OF the
commission plan and Mr.. Ross spoke
against 1t again. They merely repeated
the arguments given above.
Mr.. Murphy said that one Of his desires
was to see the minority party given
representation on the board OF overseers.
Mr.. Fox said that the overseers had
given tine best testimony against the conn.,
mission plan. They said the oity's goods
were bought rs cheaply as possible, and he
thought the present system was working
as well as any other plan could.
Mr.. Thomas favored the commission
plan, He said that what was the busi-
ness OF nine men was the business OF
none, and therefore he believed In q com.
mission.
Mr.. Wilson said that the plan to choose
oyerseers ct ward caucuses seemed to him
very poor thing to do. People do not
take much interest In ward caucusss and
an undesirable class of men would be sure
to get the positions on this board. He
would rather see the overseers IL there
were to be nine OF them, chosen by the
city council where some care IL taken In
their selection. II the commission OF
three we're appointed by the mayor good
men would surely be selected. the mincri-
ty party would have representation.
Mr.. Murphy said he was opposed to
commissions because you could not touch
them with q ten foot pole.
The amendment providing for the COM
mission was defeated by vote OF ten to
eight. Those voting against the com.
mission were Comedian, Murphy, San
ders, Jose, Marston, Woodside, Fox,
Kavanough, Moulton and Cobb.
.rhe original section providing for nine
overseers, one to be CHOSEN from each
ward by ballot was then adopted by q
vote Of nine to eight.
The whole charter now came up for
adoption, on an order presented by Mr..
Woodside instructing the representatives
OF the city In the legislature to do all in
their power to secure the enactment OF
the proposed new charter, recommending
1t as city council and appointing COM
mittee of five to press the matter before
the legislative committee.
MIR. Griffin wasn't quite satisfied with
| the provisions of the charter relating to
the police force. He thought more power
should be given to the mayor in the gov
eminent OF the police force and wanted
to know why this matter was not put In
| to the charter.
Mr.. Comedian said that some of.the spec
ial committee favored giving the mayor
full power to appoint and remove subject
to confirmation Of the board of aldermen
and some favored giving the mayor power
to remove without consent OF the board OF
aldermen. The committee could not
agree on this matter and 1t was suggested
to refer this matter to another committee
and have It changed by statute law.
MIR. True said another reason this po-
lice matter was not inserted in the char
ter was that 1t was believed that 1t would
result in the proposed draught being de-
feated in the board Of aldermen were any
provision inserted giving the mayor full
power to remove policeman owing to
the fact that the aldermen had only re-
Gently showed that they did not believe
In giving the mayor full power in this
direction.
Mr.. Shaw said that 1t seemed to him
the special committee had been laboring
to get charter which would pass rather
than one which would be satisfactory to
them. He said the mistakes In this char
ter were those Of omission rather than OF
commission. He said he wouldn Z vote
for 1t because he didn't approve Of Is. II
the city council were to recommend
charter why not recommend a good one.
Mr.. Fox said he agreed with Mr.. Shaw.
There were SO many things in 1t which
he disapproved of that he would vote
against 1t.
DR.. Bowers said that there were some
things In this charter he did not like but
1t was believed that even the few things
which had been recommended for
changes were improvements over the
present charter and that 1t would be
step In advance anyway.
MIR. Comedian spoke on the same line.
The matter was then put TO vote and
passed twelve to five.
1t will now 60 to the board of aldermen
for concurrent action.
OTHER MATTERS.
The council passed In concurrence lot
Of orders from the board OF aldermen lert
over from the last meeting. There was
some discussion relating to the welsbach
lights, the poor quality Of gas, the price
of gas and the number Of lights now To-
Gated and in operation in the city, all OF
which was suggested by one OF the orders
relating to new contract with the Gas
company, but the order in question was
finally passed.