Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-24
J. It would be unique and that is what we

want"
| FREDERICK r. FAY.
| IT should have been pleased if we could
have had the dome restored, but If that
| is not possible am satisfied with the
plan as recommended. 1t seems to me 10
be dignified in it's simplicity and pleasing
| in it's general effect The mayor, CITY
| clerk, city treasurer, water board the
| two branches of the city government and
| the department of public works and the
other city departments have all been am
| ply provided for. Another thing that oc-
| ours to me very forcibly is that the plans
give us the possibility of a great audito-
rum, large enough to accommodate the
music festival"
ROBERT T. WHITEHOUSE.
| II regret to say that I was much dis
| appointed in the design for City hall.
can see no logical or rational basis for
the combination of the colonial and Ital-
ian style of architecture for municipal
building. If we are to yield to purely
| sentimental considerations it seems to
me that we would do better work to bark
back to the type of the old country court
| or city building which was burned in
1858, somewhat embellished and enlarged
but of that same general type. The de-
sign which has been submitted looks to
me like the old wood cuts we see so
often in the older books of French mar
ket places or prisons 1t is not attractive
to the eye and we sacrifice so much dig
nifty, so much of the imposing character
| which we are led to expect of such
structure for pure sentiment that it does
not strike me as worth while. 1 have no
doubt the commission has worked faith
fully over this important matter and that
they have obtained admirable arrange
ments for the interior and that the plans
solve many of the important questions
which must be considered, such as light
and utilization of the lot on which the
building is to be erected; but I regret
to say that / don't like it. and further
than this l will say that 1 have failed to
find anyone who does
l can show you some so or 60 on
that same line in the different papers
that were put in.
But l will say this: Section of the
bill says: Section .. All notes, bonds
and mayors warrants of the city of
Portland outstanding upon, and in
Guiding March 1. 1909, are hereby de-
clared valid and legal, and said city
may from time to time fund and re-
fund any part or all thereof" Who
is there that would pass such a law DIS
that not knowing what bonds are out
OF the city of Portland, not Knowing
what notes or what warrants the may
or might have signed? After / raised
4 this objection | understand they have
been hurrying and Scurrying to try to
find out what the amount of the bonds
and the notes was, and a little later
l suppose you will hear what was done,
but it was through discussion that
this came about and when we started
in with this bill nobody knew, and i
have not seen the papers today, but
l understand they were sent to counsel
a few days ago to be presented here
when l made this objection, but they
did not give me copy but they have
turned it in to some other gentleman
because l wanted it.
Now is thdee anything wrong in let
ting the citizens decide whether they
want a $2,0O0,000 building or whether
they want a building something like
the cost of the old one which cost
$4,000 in 1858 and which we were all
proud of and which was remodelled
| in 1866 and 1867 at a cost of 100000
thereby making a little over 100000
in all? But we have at the present
time our large financial concerns stat
ing that the building when completed
will cost $4,000 900. When an institu-
ton like the Casco National Bank sends
through this State a circular claiming
that it will cost $2,000,000 and the
Maine Savings Bank sending out the
same circular, it looks to me that those,
financial men are better abe to decide
as to the cost than any member of the
Legislature that comes here from Port
land.
Mr. MARSHALL: Mr.. Speaker, just
a word in reply. The gentleman says
. that we do not know the amount Of
bonds outstanding. A copy of that
was sent in and was on file at the
hearing / have in my hand a certi
fled copy under oath OF the city treas
, urer giving in detail all the bonds out
standing. That is all matter of pub
lie record. 1t shows a total of S.
64746. AS to the city hall costing
81, 10000 that is all aside from the
issue at present The estimates as to
the city hall are right around 100000.
have the authority to make the state
, ment from the mayor that plans will
not be accepted which call for an OUT
lay in excess of that sum. 100000.
He speaks of advertising matter. |
believe | saw some sort of a circular
sent out as advertising circulars are
sent out stating that the city hall was
a $2,000,000 hall. | don't think those
parties in the city of Portland who
are responsible for it's government are
going upon advertising matter sent
out by any individual. I will not dis
cuss the plans only to say that thu!
have been unanimously adopted by the
city council.
: The gentleman referred to certain
town meeting. He started to read
the record. l supposed he was going to
finish Since he did not do SO l will
read little where he left off Edgar
+. Rounds presented, and addressed
the meeting in favor of the following
resolution: Resolve, further. that We,
the citizens Of Portland, in town meet
ing assembled hereby appoint a COM
mittee of seven citizens of Portland
whose duty it shall be to advise the