The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-02-26
Gbr guiuu uua sournul.
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. as. 1855
Our City Organization.

In view Of this the attention Of the tax
payers is directed, and properly so, to the
matter Of city expenses, and in connec-
ton with it an inquiry, not new however,
but one which is periodically presented
from the same quarter, and always just
before the Municipal election, is started,
calling in question the utility Of our city
form Of government. As those who have
started the enquiry deal largely in as
symptoms and make statements which
they do not sustain by facts and figures,
it is fair to presume, that the purpose of
the enquiry is not so much to the end
that there may be a return to the town
form of government, as it is, that the
question may be used for political Pur-
poses. Probably there is no sane man in
the city who thinks it would be practical
bic to manage the affairs oil our place UNI
der simple town form of government.
Our population is in round numbers, even
now, depressed as is business, 5000, in
stead GOOO, and some 1000, perhaps
$500, of this population is not OF that
character which is calculated to promote
the quiet and peace Of a place. AT the
September election in 1856, 1857 votes
were polled, and the check list bore the
names OF between seventeen and eighteen
hundred persons. Resolute presiding Of
iicers acting the tyrant, with nothing to
support them but the statute laws OF
the State, which are made to govern
town meetings, could not keep peace and
quietness in town meeting attended by
500 or 1000 excited voters. The pro
position is maniiesdy absurd.
TIE city charter was obtained in the
winter of 1855, on petition originating
among men who, having been relieved
BY an indulgent people from the r spOn'
sibility of conducting the city affairs
think they have made the grand discov'
cry that city government is more ex'
pensiye than the town, and are therefore
CRYING out that there should be agitation
for return to the town form. We ART
now told with great gravity that there is
sad depression of business, gloomy pros
poets for the future, great multiplication
OF officers which leads to divided respon
sibility, and a heavy increase of taxes
and these evils are attributed to our city
organization.
We have no space to waste in the dis
cussion OF irrelevant matters, or in COM
menting on absurd propositions. lfthere
are any OF our fellow citizens who wish
TO hug the fond delusion, that the sad de-
preston of business, the gloomy prospects
Tor the future, are caused by our city or
ganization, or who think the evils of a
democratic form of city government are
uubearable, and would dee for refuge in
the bosom OF resolute presiding officers,
we snail not disturb such fond decisions
nor interfere with such pleasant thoughts
The practical point alone TO which We
shall invite attention, Is that connected
with the city expenses. Men feel most
in their pockets, and the most sensitive
part of tax PAYERS nature, about town
meeting day, Is his tax paving part.
Dismissing then all other causes o.
complaint as frivolous and absurd, We
come directly to the one suggested, alone
worthy of consideration, that the cost o.
carrying on the city government Is great
or than the cost of the town. There is q
great deal of loose talk about the cost Of
administering our municipal affairs under
a city organization, but the people who
thus talk, give no figures, make no COM
parsons, but seem to rely entirely on
positive, unsustained assertion. II is not
easy to meet sweeping assertions, andmen
who are insincere are prone to make
them, because il suits better their pur-
poses. We have no doubt but now and
then tax payer is to be found who, not
being aware OF the motives that dictate
these sweeping assertions, are in doIbt
respecting them. To aid in solving such
honest doubts, il such exist, we ask atten-
ton to few figures taken from official
documents. The contrast between the
expenses under the town and the city or
ganization was fairly presented in 1856,
by the Committee on accounts, by the
following table: See annual reports OF
city officers, page "a.
The actual expenses Of the town for
the year 1884. were s25.}'o "
ine 'I iSsS. we're 2i,25l rs
R.laDee in favor oflhe City, s2,Z21a
CITY EXPENSE FOR 1855.
u;ghw.,. $3.50 &c
HEALTH Department, loU
A.sesss,rs' Services, st -
/ :, - N ., Oh 50