The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-03
Electric Lights Wanted
at AlmshouSe.
Why Messrs. Holland and Ander-
son Didn't Appear.

session occupied not quits two hours. In
times past whenever the meetings have
been held at the lmshouss 10 has always
been customary fer she members to put
in an appearance promptly at o clock
In order to enjoy . sumptuous layout.
But as thess Shippers are now o memory
Of the past the members are not 90 par
tiou lar about being right on the hour.
Consequently they struggled over to the
house singiy end In pairs last evening
Those who sat around the table In the
comfortable seats were Chairman Cous-
ms. and Msssrs. Daniels, Daggest. Ross,
Cloudy. Gowen. CoIssworthy, Libby. York
Bnd Pierce.
Secretary Baker was also on hand with
his big book.
As soon as the records OF the last meet
irg had been read and approved this re-
rort Of the comm ittee for the month OF
April was submitted. The April commit
tee Is DOM posed OF Msssrs. Ross and Dag
gstt, and the report was sissn by the
former. II showed that the whcls mum
Der Of families that had been assisted
during the month was 26l: thu number
Of persons assisted, 1885; ths mum her
supplied with coal, 1856; the number sup
piled with wood, %: with provisions.
1e2; the number suffering with sickness,
i6l; number admitted, IS; number dis
charged. 81; number died. 4; number
runnways, 81 present number In the
aimshouse. 1s7; in the hospital AZ; In
he IlaoRfn1 -.
away, 8. Tbs report was accepted.
SECRETARY Baker brought up the case Of
lillian ID. Nokim, an old soldisr, who
sick at Long Island. Secretary Baker
aid that the man was In destitute or
oumstanoes and as he was an old soldier
recommended that stipsnd OF IS q week
be allowed him for TIRES months. This
recommendation was granted.
The subject of new Almshouss was
then brought to the attention CT the
board By Mr.. Daniels, who thought thai
some eompetent engineer shouli 60 out to
the lot OF land under confederation and
look 1t over. Mr.. Daniels said that a.
he understosd 1t one or two miles Of sew
ar must be built If this lot is taken.
MIR. Cloudy rel lied that this was purely
en- advisory matter and that It would be
considered In q conf ioh was to
be hell this evening between q commit
tee Of this board and the committee on
estimates OF the city government. "A
comm ittee Of the board had already ap-
peared before this committse, but NO ac-
tion had as yet been takea and no appro-
priation had been recommended In the
general bill. Ii anything WINS to be done
1t was the idea to take the money from
the sinking fund. A committee may be
appointed at the city government meet
ing on Monday evening to consider this
mAtter. but IL was now being held in
absyancs.
"Tbsrs is little matter that have
been thinking Of, said Mr.. Ross at this
point. ''n Is regarding the inorss Nd
expenditure of maintaining this house.
1t will take ct least two years before TIL !
house can Do built. Now In this pIessnt
houfe the lighting is entirely done by
kerosene lamps. We should LOOK into
the question of lighting ~ electricity,
and 1 move that committee be appoint
ed to get an estimate on the cost of such
thing"
1t was voted to refsr this subject to q
special COMMITTEES, and Messrs. KosS,
Cloudy and Is were chosen for this
purpcsa The committee was requested
to report at the next meeting.
al wish Co say something regarding
the outside poor" stated MIR. Goudy.
"a dstaii,d statement showing by
streets just how many people are helpsd
In this manner would be a useful thing
Within a week have had at least halt
dozen eornI lAints that families art
being continually helped by the city
1he men or these families are at worn
every day, but their families are sup
ported BY the city. There has been q grea
Increase In this number Of families thu
helped turing the last four years.
move that the secretary be authorized to
secure an assistant for this purpose"
Mr.. Gowen favored such an idea. Ther'
was no question that the city was sup.
porting q numbar Of families /. g.. the
wives and children while the men were
supporting the rum shops.
"British Consul Heating has told me,
stated Mr.. Cloudy, ''that the men dis
charged from one ship during this past
winter disburssd . large part OF theiI
checks which they had received in tn,
rum shops to the amou MT Of $500, Will
the Rrooers In thai Vicinity were unable
to collect their bills from these same
men, 1t IL time to see whether We ar
supporting ruA shops
"On Investigate n. said Mr.. Ross
'you will find that nine -tsnths Of thss
stories are not true. There may be q
chance possibiy to cut down, but not 70
such an extent a. has bssn discussed