The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-02-09
The City Charter-Its Acceptance.

A meeting Of the town OF Biddeiord j:
to be held tomorrow, saturday. afternoon
a, Central Hall, 10 vote upon the question o
accepting the act just passed by the Legisla
iure, Incorporating the city Of Biddeford.'
The oct received the signature Of the Gov,
ernor on Friday Of last week, and the Sc
lectmen, whose duty 1t was made 10 call q
meeting Of the town for the purpose OF set
Ting the question Of its acceptance, have
deemed 1t expedient TO have the meeting a
the earliest moment so that arrangements
can be made seasonably 10 put the city gov.
eminent into operation at the time men,
toned in the Bill, should the act be accept.
ed, as We trust il will be.
The Charter is similar 10 those which
have been granted heretofore in this State,
providing for one executive officer, called
Mayor, whose salary is placed in the bill
al 5000. A board Of Aldermen Of seven,
Zone from each ward,) twenty one in ALL
The Aldermen and Common Councilmen
serve without pay, and a majority Of e,ch
branch form quorum for the transaction
Of business. All city officers, such as City
Clerk, Marshall, Treasurer, &c, are 10 be
elected by ballo, in joint meeting of the
two branches held Tor the purpose Of elect,
ing city officers. erhe nc, provides for a
Police Court, the Judge OF which is 10 be
appointed by the Governor, and his salary
is 10 be determined BY the City Council
The Police Court has original snd ex:
elusive jurisdiction in matters relating 10 the
bylaws Of the city, ard in civil matters to
small amount, and concurrent jurisdiction
with Justices Of the Peace in criminal mat.
tiers. There are other provisions Of The bill
relating 10 the powers Of the Mayor and the
City Council, designed TO facilitate the OPP
GRAFTON Of the form Of government, ius,i,u-
ted by the act
We were, as il is we'll known, OF the
opinion that the interests Of both Biddeiord
and Saco would be promoted BY the union
Of the places under city form Of govern.
ment While We have seen no reason TO
doubt the correctness Of this opinion. cir
cums,ances have arisen which forbid, Al
present, the carrying out Of our idea, and
we ago IN" for the acceptance Of the City
Charter, and the establishment, OF the City
Of Biideiord, 1--WE wish the name was short
or and liule more musical,) rs the second
best thing which can be done to promote
the social and pecuniary welfare Of the
community in which we live. II we can
not obtain all we desired we take, mol
grudsingly, tho next best tina, is Oblaina.
BILE, provided j, promises an improvement
upon The presen, existing state Of things
The difficulty Of iransactins the public bus
mess, growing out Of the large number OF
voters who were called TO act together in
one meeting, has been obvious for several
years. To remedy this Inconvenience, tn,
establishment, Of city government ha'
been looked 10 by all, in the course OF
few years a, most. Other considerations
connecting ,hemselve, with the moral vel
fare Of our place, and ,hsnnore' b Elective nd.
minis'ra,iOn Of its laws, relating to its high.
ways, school and financial concerns, under
a city form, than could be obtained under
town government, have united to form II
public opinion favorable 10 the city. 70,
the same expenditure, we believe ,ha, n,
much Of public nature can be done unde,
. city as by town form Of eovenment-l
perhaps more-and tie gre,tr efficiency