Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-02-25
THURSDAY, FEB'Y. -. 1869.
Shall Ellsworth be q CITY

The selecrmen have called meeting OF
the citizens Of the town. at Lords Hall on
Saturday tins week 4, 10 o'clock to see
ifihc citizens of the town will vote to ac-
cept the act 10 incorporate the town into
city. Also. if said act j. accepted. 10
choose committee 10 distric, the town
into WARDS.
By the act which has passed the Legis-
lature. and which the citizens III pass up
on on Saturday. there are TO be five ward.
Each ward will have oIe Aldermen and
three councilm-n. There must be also a
warlen and Clerk for each ward Thi-
gives for the City government a board OF
Alderman of five. and a council OF fifteen.
wio together with the MAJOR and Clerk
will constitute the City Government.
The advantages Of this form OF mu-
nicipsl government over that of the town
are many and various.
The officers on whom devolves the re-
spousibility of doing all the business nece>-
sary 10 KEEP the wheels OF government. in
motion. are taken from all parts o. n {
sown. This brings home TO the people
more directly the responsibility of its
agents, than by the old method. 1t will
make the people in each ward feel that
they have voice in the management, OF
the town affairs, and create local pride,
AID bege. a spirit OF independence. and
feliay that they are an integral portion of
the City Government. which will have the
happiest eiect on our future welfare ard
peace:-That is, it viii naturally cement
Us together as one people. Heretofore
there has been q feeling to some extent
prevalent that Branch Pond Reeds
Brook and .Dollord town had interests
moro or less antaconis,ic to that of the
village, and hence there has been some
little Jealousy and i'll feeling. These
different localities may have thought that
they have net been sufficiently deferred to.
or that their wishes and views have not
been consulted, always. This districtin.
into wards in great measure obviates all
this. or the most Of it. There will be five
little iHdependanoies. each having its local
or ward officers, and each being a part OF
the g Government. We dwell upon this
point. because whatever can be done TO
cement the people together and make us
all feel that whatever benefits any section
OF the town benefits all sections. or creates
and strengthens q feeling of oneness. Is
labor spent 10 the right direction. There
is too much Of the spirit OF individuallsm
in all that pertains to material things,
abroad in this community.
lie wing the matter OF educational and
social influence, how will il effect US fi,an.
cially? By the act Of Incorporation tn
salary Of the Mayor is fixed at sl5O. per
year. TAiscAnnot be increased or diminish.
ed during his Q .ntinuance in Office.
The act also says, but the Aldermen
and common Cou ,cilmen shall receive NJ
compensation tor their services as SUCH
Every Law, act, ordinance or bill. appro-
priAting money, must pass both branches
ofthe City Cov .rnnent. and be submitted to
the Mayor for his approval. II he approves
well, il NOT then he returnes the same with
his objections. So il will be seen nc
money can BE reckles.ly voted away. be-
cause the utmost deliberation and caution
must be had, in all this, by the terms OF
the act.
There must be City assessors. and these
viii Be slecte ID BY the City Council. These
sAlesn viii hsve 70 be paid, no doubt, the
same - ~ now pay our selectmen while
aassssisg tAs taxes. But this work does
not lase very lang. u addition, rhs City