The Portland daily press., 1901-01-08

lutt nAt AiAiitH VI tat AltIs
Alderman Thomas moved that this
order be passed. and sent down. Al1er-
man Driscoll thought this was a rather
sweeping change. IL seemed to him that
this placed altogether too much power In
the hands OF one man. He moved that
,n., -~4er be laid on the table and was
sustained by Alderman QerFish' Then -
was laid on tho table.
The upper board passed an order ap-
propriating the sum OF sl6l5 for new
boiler for the fire boat.
MIR. wooDslDEs TAX ORDER
Mr. woodside INTRODUCED an order au-
thorlzIng the city solicitor to appsar be-
fore the committee on taxation appointed
by the state Legislature at Augusta and
protest against the exemption from local
taxation OF any tangible property owned
by any telephone, telegraph or street rail-
road company in the city Of Portland.
In support OF this order he said that he
could see no reason why the tangible
property of the telephone, telegraph and
street rail road companies should not be
taxed as is the property Of any individual
or corporation. The corporations Will bs
represented at the committee hearing to
light such bill being passed and II Is no
more than right that the city be repre-
ssnted there BY the city solicitor. The
order passed both boards.
MIR. wooDsIDE MAKES PERSONAL
EX PLANTATION.
While the upper board was In recess
Councilman wnodside arose to mako a
personal explanation. He said that he
wished to.correct statement Of Alder
man MiIlikeu, which had reflected on the
work OF the committee on revision OF the
city charter. AS secretary OF this com-
mittee Mr.. Woodside stated that all OF
the articles in the draft had been agreed
to except that pertaining to the police
department.. The mayor refused to en-.
dorss this section ana as the committees
would not acosde to his views in this re-
spect, the mayor declined to recommsn d
the draft.
Councilman Woodside concluded by
saying that the course of Alderman MILL
ken in this instance was in line with tn
srratic one that he had pursued during
the whole time that he had been in the
upper board. Such being the cass 1t was
impsrative.t hat the upper board for the
benefit of the city should be composed OF
a larger number of members.
ACTION OF COMMITTEE NOR
LEGAL.
City solicitor Strout submitted a long
and exhaustive report In which he held
that the action OF the committee on tire
department In removing EnRinemen Al
fred wiggin and Charles p. French from
their positions, respectively. as engins-
men OF Engine No. 3, and engine No D,
was not legal, because being suborslinate
cfiicer, they could not be removed by the
committee. MIR. Strout added: 1T Is
proper, however, to state that the mean
ing of the term "suboruinats officers" as
used in the char ter, has not been decided
by the court OF Maine, and IL Is probable
that, until SO decided. there will bs In
the future as In the past, difference Of
opinion respecting the precise meaning
and scope of the term.
His communication was read and or
dered to Ee placed on file in both boards
no action being taken in tthe matter.
TWO NEW OFFICERS.
Reuben b. johnson ana William s.
Merrill were appointed regular police
men. the aldermen confirming these
names which wers an nounced by the
mayor at the December meeting.
TEARING UP THE STREETS.
Mr.. Woodside presented an ordinance
providing that any one digging up a
street should not have permission to dc
so until they had tiled an agreement to
pay 20 cents per square foot for the sur
face dug up and agree to put the street
tack In It's original shape without cost to
the city.
Mr., Woodslde said that the companies
nave the free use of the strests and the
least they should be required to do would
be to put them back in their original
condition.
Mr.. Hunt believed the order should he
referred to the committee on public
works.
The ordinance was passed to be en-
crossed ard sent up for concurrence. In
the upper board 1t was laid on the table.
CLAIMS.
Miss Mary A. Mekin presented a claim
TOR damages TO the amount OF $500 for in
iuries sustained March 25. 1899. by fall
ing on the sidewalk on Newbury street,
near Hancock, breaking her thigh and
sustaining other injuries.
Mrs. Emma L. Davis presented claims
for damages to this amount OF sl25 for In
juries received June ID. 1900. on the side
walk near the corner OF Cumberland and
Myrtle streets.
George Kelley presented claim for
damages on account of defective sewerage
and drainage at 10 India street. In
case of storms tine sewage at this local
ity backs up the drain pipes, leading
from the cellar to the India street sewer,
and floods the cellar sometimes to the
depth of nearly two feat, large amount
of garbage and refuse being thereby left