Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-09
Mr.. VlCKERY SPEAKS.
City Charter All Right With Excep-
tion Of Common Council.
Says the Officers Are at Fault; Not the
Charter.

real service in the affairs Of the city
than any other person--having served
several years in both the common
council and board of aldermen, and
three years as mayor, a Journal rep
resentative sought an interview with
him. when the following dialogue en-
sued
Hello Mr.. Nickery. did not see you
last night at City hall?"
Mr. Nickery said: No; l had AN ap-
pointment to take the degrees of the
new order just opened here--wish |
had been there, as had something to
say
well. Mr.. Vickery. won't you give
US your ideas in regard to this pro-
posed change in the city charter
Yes. with pleasure. for if this quack
doctor business is kept up. without
intervention of any one, ii is sure to re-
suit in great harm to the city. in my
opinion. And, to commence with. you
will notice that the persons who talk
who know no more about running the
business affairs of the city than any
other person who has had no expert
ence at all.
In one respect they are right
The common council should be once
again abolished, never to return 1t
is merely a nuisance. 1t is simply a
political machine of two men in each
ward. Each one of them fights hard
and gets the office. and many of them
you never see. except at the first meet
ing in the year
My experience has been that at
any Of the regular special meetings,
there is quorum in the board of al
dermen, but they have to send the city
marshal, as a rule. to scour the city
to get quorum to do business After
the quorum is obtained, then there is
fight between the two branches. and
no good results from such fights.
Il saw it stated in a Boston Sunday
paper last Sunday, that the Office of
mayor of Augusta was merely fig
ure head" Now that depends alto
gether on who fills the office. and how
much time he is willing to devote to
the duties of his office. Because the
city council goes along, hit or miss.
passes orders indiscrminately. regard
less of the condition of the appropra-
ton on which they are ordered: and
the mayor draws his warrant on an
appropriation that has been used up
Don't don't. don't. for PHYS sake.
charge il to the city charter. but put
The blame where it belongs.
Now. | do not like 20 be personal.
| must be in order to enforce what /
mean. In 1880. ! assumed the office OF
mayor. and held it. three years When
] entered upon my duties, the debt Of
the city was $4,000 in round numbers
When ] retired from the office the debt
was 100000. The appropriations each
gear. was under 100000. Each year
we not only kept within the appropria-
ton. but saved something.
You may ask how was this done?'
My answer is. that when the board
of aldermen, with my advice had
made the appropriations for the year.
/ called the attention of every depart
ment to the fact that | would not
draw my warrant fer cent beyond
the appropriation fer any department.
| also took good care that the board
counciD passed no orders for eXpendi-
lures 10 charge to any department
that was nearly overdrawn
If we have come to this. that this
city of 10 900 inhabitants cannot be run
by a mayor and seven aldermen. then
I recommend that you change the Of
fees and not the charter except to
abolish the common council.
IF the city wishes to increase the
pay of its officials. then pay your al
dermen, and give the mayor more
salary. but steer clear of commissions.
We have seen too much of their cor
ruption in large cities. to launch the
scheme in our little city
Then YOU will fight this scheme to
change the city charter
was asked.
"Mcst certainly | paid. last year
nearly one fiftieth Of the taxes of Au-
susta. and the coming year will have
to fully pay that amount. | object to