The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-01-29
M unIclpal Government


Trade, FEB. g. the subject Of mixing
some change in the form Of municipal
government Of our town, so as 70 make
it better adapted 70 our present p0pula-
ton, will be coEaidered, and by request
we republsh the following communica.
ton, which first appeared little over
year ago, outlining one scheme
/ Any one who has been present d,
town meeting in Skowhegan, within the
last few years, when any thing Of unusu-
al interest was being considered, coul
hardly fail Of being impressed with the
fact. that the town has outgrown It's
| present form Of organization The num-
Der Of polls in 1856 was 1895, In l3s7,
/ 1900 aud In 1888, 1872. True. that does
not give the exact number OF voters, for
some voters are not assessed pol. tax,
while others, who pay poll tax are not
voters, but it gives very near the number
of voters. The whole number Of votes
actually cast at the gubernatorial cleo.
ton in 1854 was 1852. in 1856, 1905 aud
| In 1888, ll32. IL will be safe To cslcu-
late that SkowhegaD mas over 1900 citi
zens qualified to vote in town affairs.
or course, it would be rare thing u
get them all out at once, but suppose two
thirds of them came out to meeting and
they make a number-an assembly en-
tirely unwieldy and unsuited for any
kind Of calm and candid del oeration, and
such meetings often times on account Of
a little excitement, exhibit but little more
resson than an Infatuated moo. 1t is for
this reason that city organizations have
been devised. b cause town business
cannot be properly done in these large
numerously attended town meetings.
And a city organization is well adapted
to the government of large municipali |
| ty. But there Is a class of towns, like |
| Skowhegan, that has out grown the
town organization. but hardly wants to
put on the dignity and assume the ex-
pense of city. There is good deal of
machinery in city organization and it is
expensive running it. The mayor Of
Waterville has a salary of $780, year,
and is only a figure head sort of orna-
ment, aud u municipality like Skowhe
gan mayor would be entirely useless.
| What is wanted, is some organization
that will give US all the advantages of a
city form of government, without the
disadvantages. The annexed bill, which
| have prepared for the purpose of ex-
planning. somewhat in detail. my ideas,
| 1t appears TO me, comes as near accom-.
can ne devised.
| 1t is by nc means cbiimed that the bill
is perfect in all its parts, but is sufficient
for present purposes. 1t is simple, coun-
Gil of representative men, elected by
wards and constituting body about as
large DIS the Senate of Maine, takes the
place of the town meeting, elects sll the
town officers, raises all the money, and in
short does all the business that is now
done in town meeting. There will be
the same town officers, drawing the same
pay as now. The aldermen are to have
no pay. They will receive honor 10 lieu
of wages.
But AIN well aware some will oppose
tina arrangement. There are those who |
aspire to the msyoralty, of even u baby /
city, and in the proposed scheme, the !
mayor is left out. But no reason is APP
parent, why the great msjority of the !
town may MT favor the till. For GER
tainly, no one will for moment, ques-
ton. but that in representative body. |
such as is proposed, composed of ABOUT |
thirty men, chosen from all parts of the |
town expressly for that purpose. the |
town affairs wouli be likely to be looked
over and investigated with II ore care,
discussed with better results, and money
more wisely and judiciou,ly raisel and
appropriated, than it is now done in the
hurley hurley of our large town meet
ings.
! OF course no change can be made with
out an act of the legislature, but If the
proposed chance meets with favor, that
can be very easily obtained. o. Il. b.
PROPOSED BILL.
An act to establish q Council for Mu.
nicipal purposes, in the town of Skow
hegan.
| SIC. |. The administration of all the
fiscal, prudential and municipal atiairs OF
the town of Skowhegan, aud all the pow
ers now vested by law in the inhabitants
of said town, with the government there
of, Is hereby vested in a council, to be
denominated the town council of Skow-
hogan. consisting and composed of the
town clerk, selectmeu, treasurer, super
intending school committee or supervis
or of schools, of said town, e6 oficio, to-
gether with one alderman to every fifty
voters in town, to be chosen annually
by wards, in the manner hereinafter pro-
vided.
SEC. 2. Within thirty days after this |
act takes effect, the seectmen Of said
town shall divide the town into not less |
than five nor mole than nine wards, |
rclearly defining the limits and bouuds-
ries of the same, and apportion to each |
the number of aldermen it shall be al |
lowed and required to elect. Which di- |
vision and appointment shall be SO made, |
as TO secure, 50 far as practicable, equal
representation in the council, to every |
ward, according to the plumber of voters |
therein, and the same shall be forthwith |
filed In the office of the town clerk of |
said town, and shall be valid and binding |
g 81. ii II.
until altered or amended by the council |
which may be done at its first animal
session and not after. And it shall be the |
duty of the selectmen of said town, once |
in ten years, and once in five, II the coun-
Gil so instruct them. to revise the ward,
and re apportion the town, and report the /
same TO the council at its Text annual .
session for approvsl, amendment of 9th
er action. And it shall he The duty of the
clerk of said town forthwith after the trst
division and apporiionment Is filed in his
oiiio sand forthwith, after every sppor-
tionment is approved by the council, TO Tt
cord the same, and cause an attested
copy of the record thereof TO be publish
ed three weeks successfully in any news
paper or papers published in said town.
SIC. 3. Each ward, shs II annually, in
the month of December, choose by bal.
lot and major vote, clerk and one or
more aldermen, as the superintendent re.
quires The clerk shall be sworn to the
faithful performance OF his duties by the
moderator or any justice of the peace.
The aldermen shall be sworn, In Ike
manner, by the town clerk, before enter
ing upon their duties.
SEC. L. 1t shsll be the duty of the |
clerk of any ward, to keep true record |
of ward meetings snd of al votes passed |
at the same, and within forty eight hours |
after the election of any clerk and alder |
man, to return their names with a certid
cate of their election to the town clerk,
who shall enter tine same on the town re
cords, and bt postal card. notify each
sldermen OF his election and request hi.
attendance at the then next annual SEES
sion OF the council. And in like manner.
he shall make return to the town CLERK.
the result of the vote In his ward, on any
question submitted to q popular vote OF
the town.
SIC. s. At every ward meeting, a
moderator shall be chosen, with the pow
er of moderators Of town meetings, bu,
need not be sworn. During the election
Of moderators, the clerk shsll preside,
and II he Is abs ent, any alderman of the
ward. and II neither is present, any voter
In the ward who first moves In the nut
ter, may lawfully do all the duties of
clerk In receiving, sorting, counting and
declaring the votes for moderator.
SEC. 8. Annual ward meetings shall
be called by the selectmen. aud all be held
on the same day. When 1t becomes
necessary TO submit any question to q pop
ular vote Of the town, or when the st lect-
man Or cOuncil deem II al viaahle IN dn az