The Somerset reporter., 1889-12-26

4 PEpro-Eb IHrps lNEsE Is IHtf ~
SEpAufgAs.


present form u equalization The num-
3er Of ppl- 10 Ira wa- Pr il
80, 800 and 10 l---. l25z True that
does not give the exact num9er II voters
for some voters are not ssse---d poll
tax wni.e pther-, who pay a pol tax are
not voter but = gives very rear tie
number u voters. The whole nBmser q
Fpts- actually cast a, the g1DerLatorial
election 10 l--i was lQ5z. n - lf4yj
and 10 l--5, ll3z. /, vi. be -afe - ca
culate That Sk1~Aegau Aa= over i2yy
citizens qualified - vote q town affair.
81 course. IL would De a rare thing 70
&c. them g.. out a. once, but suppose two
thirds of them came out 70 meeting and
they make NUN Jer-an assembly ell
tirely uuwleldy AMI un-uite1 for any
kind Of calm and candid elaboration, aud
-1ch meetings often times On account u
a little excitement, exhibit Du. At,le more
reason than an infuriated mob. l. i for
this reason that city organizations have
been devised. Because town business
cannot De properly done in these large
numerousiy attended town meetings.
And city organization Is well adapted
% the government Of large municipal.
y. But there j. class Of towns, Ike
Skownegsn. that has out grown tie
put on the dignity and assume the ex-
pense Of city. There i good deai u
machinery in q city organization and il :
expensive running it. The mayor Of
Wateryille has salary Of s2yY, year,
and j. only figure head sort Of orna-
ment, and municipality Ike SEoShe-
gan mayor would be entirely useless.
What i wanted, i some organization
that VIII give u al the advantages Of
city form Of government without the
disadvantages. I he annexed bill which
/ have prepared for the purpose Of ex-
planning somewhat in detail, my idess
Il appears 70 me. comes s. near accom-
pllshing the object, Is any scheme tia.
can De devised.
Il i by no means claimed that the bill
i perfec. IN all - parts. but : sufficient
for present purposes. l. IS simple, coun-
Gil Of representative men, elected by
wards aud constituting & body about g.
.arge g the Senate Of Maine, taxes the
place u the town meeting elects all the
town OH 3ers. raises al the money. and il
short does al tae business that i uJB
done in town meeting There vii De
the same town oiilc-r- drawing the same
pay as now. The aldermen are 70 hAy,
10 pay. They will receive honor IL Heu
Of wages.
But am well aware some viii oppose
the arrangement There are those who
aspire 10 the mayoralty, Of even q BABY
city, and in the proposed scheme, the
mayor i, left out, But no reason = ap-
parent. why he great majority Of TIE
town may not favor the bill. For eer-
tainl! no one Will for a moment, ques-
ton, but tina. in q representative body
such a. !, proposed, composed Of aJau:
thirty men, chosen from ali parts Of the
town expressly for that purpose, the
town affairs would De likely 10 be looked
aver aad invest gated with more care,
discussed with better results, aud money
more wisely and iudciou,ly raised and
than it Is now done n tie
hurley our.ey Of our large town Meet
Iuy-.
Of course DO change can be male
without al act Of the legislature. but Il
the proposed change Meets with favor
that can De very easily obtained.
0. B.
PROPOSED BILL.
An act to establish a Council for
purposes, in the town Of
Skowhegan.
SEC. /. The administration Of sll the
fiscal. prudential and municipal at.i-> OF
the town Of Skowhegan and a. the
powers now vested by law in the iuhaoi.
tan,s Of said town, with .hs government
hereof, i hereby vested IN council, TO
ne denonlnated the town council of
Show hogan. consisting ami composed Of
the town clerk. selectmen. treasurer,
experimenting school committee or
supervisor of schools. of said town, -
f'ici9. together with one alderman to
u g. in
annually by wards il the manner herein
after provided.
SEC. =. Within thirty days after this
act takes effect. the se'ectmeu Of said
town shall deviicd the town into no.
less than i've nor more than nine wards,
clearly defining the limits and b0undar-
les OF the same, and apportton to each
the number Of aldermen il Shall be a.
owed aud required 10 elect Which de-
vision and appointment shall be so made
Is 70 secure, 50 far a. practicable, e4ua.
representation in the council, 10 every
ward, according 10 the number Of voters
herein. and the same shall De forthwith
filed in the office of the town clerk Of
said town, and shall be valid and binding
for the purposes of the first election.
and until altered or amended by the
council. which may be done nj its hr>i
annual session and not after, And il
shall be the duty of the selectmen Of
said town, once in ten years, and once in
tive, if the council 40 instruct them. 70
revise the wards and re-apportion the
town. and report the SANE to the coun-
Gil at its next annual session for approval.
or other action. Aud i,
shall be the duty Of the clerk of said
town, forthwith after the first division
and apportlonment l. He'd in his eiiise.