The Portland daily press., 1892-11-29

Engineers Department" That they
may be paved, cleaned and kept in re-
pair there is COMMITTEE on Streets,
Sidewalks and Bridges" 1t would be
difficult to further divide authority over
the streets and responsibility for their
/ character and condition. 1t is to be re-
membered that these committees al
though appointed from legislative bodies
are given powers and perform duties es-
| sentially executive in their character.
| The members themselves decide upon
the nature of the work required, make
| contracts for the same, and personally
supervise its performance.
In a similar way the care and RESPONSE
bility for the financial affairs of the city
| is divided among the committees ON "Ac-
counts" on "Assessorss Department"
on Finance" on Reduction of City
Debt" on Salaries and on ''Esti-
mates"
| As consequence of this system of
| government the policy of the city as to
| public works is vacillating, short-sighted
and uncertain. No city government can
bind its successor, and the policy which
may be followed by one city government,
or by one committee in charge of de-
partment, may be totally different from
that of the year before, and may be radi-
| Each succeeding city government, there
| fore, looks almost entirely for results
which may be accomplished during it's
one year of power, and often seems heed
| less or Indifferent to results more distant
| Consequently matters of real Importance
and necessity are often neglected. Build
| ings that should be thoroughly renovated
| or destroyed and rebuilt are patched up
| SO that they may be made to do for an
other year, and are then patched again.
| Streets which should be thoroughly
macadamized or paved are treated to a
few loads of gravel or crushed stone,
and so made to do fairly well until an
| other spring. Such a policy pursued by
the management of a railroad company in
caring for its rolling stock and in keep
| ing up its terminals, stations and roadbed
would be justly characterized as extrav-
agant and unbusinesslike. tits
Not Intended to Criticize the Men
themselves who serve in the city gov
eminent. 1t may be admitted, for the
purposes of this discussion, that the ma
jority of them perform their duties with
conscientious desire and effort to accom-
plish what in their opinions is most con-
ducive to the general welfare. But
with such system as ours the evils
above enumerated are almost inevitable
whatever be the personal character of
the members themselves; and under the
present charter very little can be done
either in changing the general character
of the management of the city's business,
or in getting city affairs out of the ruts
in which they have moved SO long. A.
change to be effective must be made I'M
the Icharter, and should the citizens of
Portland desire such achange the models
which they may follow are many. The
charter of Brooklyn has been cited be-
cause it departs most radically from
formerly accepted ideas. 1t is, of course,
admitted that many of the problems
| which were before the people of that
city are absent here, and charter which
meets their needs would not in every
particular meet ours. But the princi-
pies underlying the Brooklyn charter
have in recent years been widely adopt
ed, both in revising old charters and in
drafting new ones, and it is believed that
so far as those principles have prevailed
a marked improvement has resulted in
every case. When our charter was
granted two-chambered council was
universal. New charters now rarely pro-
vide for council of more than one cham
Der. In every city in the state of New
York the council consists of buta single
body Every city charter granted by the
legislature of Maine for the last 20 years
provides for a city council of but one
chamber. 1t would seem to be the pre-
vailing opinion in Maine, as well as else
where, that a second chamber to the city
council is unnecessary, and may well be
abolished.
D..+ l., o1,oI;.I, Al .o.o,,J oLo,,, bo, ,,,l
do nothing further would doubtless be
mistake. for the only effect of such ac-
ton would be to greatly increase the du-s
ties of the aldermen. So long as the ex-
ecutive part of the city government is to
be carried on by committees, two cham
bers are necessary for there is
enough for the members of both cham
bers to do. If, however, such change
can be made as to give the legislative
branch legislative duties and power only,
and to concentrate in the hands of the
Mayor all executive powers and duties,
including the power of appointment,
then second legislative chamber is I'M
necessary. While such a change would
be radical departure from the system
and methods heretofore in vogue in this
city, it would not be a new experiment
in this state. The charter which was
SIduUcu Ill 1000 W tllC Olpy u w CoCOl Jun
provides in express terms that the city
council shall have and execute all. legis-
lative powers, and that 'sthe executive
powers Of the city shall be vested wholly
in the Mayor" The Mayor of West
brook has sole power of appointment to
all municipal officers, with few excep-
tions, subject to no confirmation what
ever. The city council consists of sin
gle board of IS aldermen. three of whom,
with the Mayor and city clerk, being
elected by tn city at large, and two al
dermen in addition being elected in each
of the five wards into which the city is
divided.
In this neighboring city of Westbrook
then is an Indication that the people of
Maine are beginning to better under
stand the problems of municipal govern
ment, and are inclined to walk in the
light of their new understanding. May
we not hope that that light may soon
permeate the seeming darkness of our
own municipality? RICHARD WEBB.
Persons afflicted with chilblainS, so trouble