The Portland daily press., 1901-01-08
Report on French Wig
gin Case.
City Solicitor Says They We're
Illegally Discharged.

The proposed new city charter over
which the members OF the oity council
have spent SO much time was effectively
shelved last night at a mseting OF the city
council BY vote OF the board Of aldermen.
Ii will be remembered that MIR. Woodslde
| in the common council originally intro.
duced an order to provide for the appoint
ment OF committee TO draft new oitF
charter. This committee met for mRns
weeks during the summer. evening after
evening being devoted to the work and at
last reported their draft to the common
council where 1t was adopted after some
debate practically as 1t was reported
Then 1t went to the aldermen who sue
ceeded In so picking the proposed draft to
pieces that the councilmen hardly Iscog-
nized the measure when 1t came back to
them. But last night the council finally
agreed with the aldermen in the changes
they had made with the exception OF
those which related to the poor depart
ment and to the eiestion OF aldermen for
three years. When the measure was
finally sent to tbs aldermen last night
with a new provision relating to the po-
lice department MIR. MiIliken moved that
action ON this charter be indefinitely
postponed Aldermen Gerrish, onnson,
Brown, Tho mas and Milliken voted for
Mr MiIIiken motion. Aldermen Dris-
colI, Moulton and Frye against it but
majority ruled and the matter was In
definitely postponed.
1t was said on good authority that II
was the Introduction OF the proposed
amendments to the existing poiios laws
| which caused the defeat Of this charter in
the board of aldermen. The matter may
be revived at some succeeding meeting
but 1t is doubtful IL the present hoard oi
aldermen ever take It mp for co nsidera-
ton again. So psrisbed the second at
tempt of the city council to inaugurate a
plan of do ing the city Is business In q
busi nesslike way.
Much important business was transacted
at this meeting. No action was taken on
the French wiggen case.
no PAY THE ALDERMEN.
The Statutes pro vide that the mayor
and board of aldermen may recover fee
from the petitioners OF 81 meeting for
each member present for all special meet
ings called TO consider tne petitions OF
any companies to erect poles or io,ats
tracks in the city.
MIR, MiIlIken introduced an order au-
thorizing the city treasurer to pay the al
dermen the fees from March 10, 1899. up
| to the present time and to recover the
amount from the petitioning companies
acc ording to law. The order passed both
boards without debate. Fifty-six special
meetings have bsen held in this time.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT..
Alderman Thomas read the report of
| the committee on fire department. recon-
msnding several amendments to the rules
regarding that department. No member
of the department shall be a member OF
the city government; IL the city is trus-
| teed on account OF any member OF the de-
part mens for six months or shall refuse
| to pay his Just debts there shall be suffi-
cient cause for his removal from the de.
partm ent.
In the upper board there was some dis
cussiop on this report as to what action
should be taken. The order accompany
ing the report then had its first reading.
Alderman Thomas explained the pro.
posed rules, saying that there wersnow
two members of the lower hoard who
were call members OF the department
This report had been signed in full by
all OF the members OF the committee.
Then the order was referred to the oom
mittee on engrossed bills and sent down
Alderman Thomas then read an ordel
that the Portland representatives In tn,
Legislature urged the passage
OF bill that the offices. OF
chief and assistant chief of the fire de
partment bs created, the -chief Il
have full authority over tho government
OF the fire department. The chief shal
be appointed by the mayor and hold oftic
until removed by the department. Th'
chief shall appoint his deputy and shai
appoint all of the other oiiicera. The CIT,