The Portland daily press., 1900-05-08
Hon. c. F. Libby Outlines Plans
For Big Celebration.
Voted TO Remodel Central Fire Station
Other Public Works.

the navy to send the North Atlantic to
squadron to Portland for his occasion.
He outlined In general way the SCOPE
CT the PROPOSED celebration. There wooId
be mass meeting for the purpose OF Ak
tending general welcome to the home
coming sons and daughters OF Maine and
a general reception.
2.."The sum asked for by thu committee
may seem large" said Mr.. Libby, hut
when it 10 considered how this movement
10 growing and how general it Il. 1t will
be seen that 1t IL necessary for Portland
to do something worthy Of the occasion.
The fret day. after the notice was pub
lished In the local papers aaking that the
names Of those who nave gone from rs DO
sent to the secretary nearly TOUR hundred
names were received" Mr.. Libby then
spoke Of the great interest this movement
Is attracting outsids Of the state and the
attention II Is reoeising In the papers Of
New England. He said Portland Is
forced to be the hest on this occasion.
She will want to extend to those who
come home to visit the old spot which IL
dear to them. who come to shake hands
with the few or the many friends who re-
main here to meet them. Mr. Libby said
that there 10 q natural desire on the part
Of all to celebrate the Fourth OF July. but
this celebration OF Old Home Week Is
forced upon rs and We must do 1t well.
He further said that the cost OF this osie-
bration II IL IL done right will he from
seventy five hundred to ten thousand
dollars, II the city Of Portland will ap-
proprists five thousAn d dollars. MIR.
Libby said. that the committee felt ss II
the balance could be raised among the
citizens of Portland. II the city Is liberal
Mr.. Libby said he thought the citizens
would hs liberal. II the city Is not liberal
then he said he was afraid the citizens
would not he very liberal.
In answer to questions he told of what
q glorious celebration was held inConnord,
New Hampshire, during Old Home Week
In that stats he said that thsre was
greater consideration than that Of oom-
meroial advantages to be derived from
this movement. 1t Was one of sentiment
also and surely Portland would wish to
give its wandering sons and daughters q
glorious welcome back to Portland.
Col. ". Il. Boothby was also called up
on and spoke In an enthusiastic way OF
the proposed celebration. He showed the
bsnstts which would be derived by Port
land. and the state Of Maine from this
Old Home Week movement.
Mr.. Mclaughlin asked him II he did
not think 1t would be better for the COM
mittee having the matter In charge to go
out and raise what they could before they
asked for the five thousand from the city.
Col. Boothby said that 1t was thought
best that the city should take the initia-
tive In the matter ard then the corpora
tions and citizens would follow suit.
Mr.. Leander W. Fobes also spoke In
favor OF this appropriation being made.
MIR. Comedian said he was In favor Of
the Appi opriation being made at onos. 1t
was net giving money away. but simply
investing 1t with the assurance Of getting
IL back increased many fold.
MIR. Woodside objected to the order
passing. He said tbs city should know
what the corpora tions who would be d.
Tectly bsneflIted intended to give before
1t acted. He was In favcx OF an appropri-
alton but vented to know how the money
was TO be expended before he voted for
the order.
Mr.. Dyer spoke enthusis stiosliy in
favor Of the order and MIR. Phipney said
he did not usually mix up sentiment
with business. but that this was good
thing and should be made = success.
MIR. Cobb. Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Dow
thought the same thing about 1t. and Mr..
Woodside's molten to appropriate the
money with the understanding that the
citizens would give q like amount was
voted down. The order appropriating the
money was finally passed by vote Of
twenty. three to two.
When the question regarding the ap-
preparation Of i've thousaud dollars for
thu celebration Of Old Home Week, which
rasfed the council. came up in the upper
board Alderman III oulton moved that the
action or the lower body be ooncurrsd In.
Alderman Frye seconded the motion. Al
this Alderman Thomas jumped up and
said that bafore he voted on this question
be wanted to know what the transporta-
ton companies were geing to do for thil
u lshrAtion.