The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-24

power to appoint the City Marshal, the
Commissioner of Pu bile Works, the Fire
Commissioners, and the Commissioner OF
Cemeteries and Public Grounds, without
confirmation. This change is believed
to be in the interest of better admins
tration of public affairs, and is in line
with modern charters. Divided response
bility does not give good results in an
executive Office. The Mayor, as the chief
executive officer of the city, should have
power commensurate with his response
bility, in the selection of the heads OF
important executive departments.
Z. The Mayor is given the power to
remove all officers appointed by him, for
such cause as he shall deem sufficient,
and shall assign IL writing in his order
for removal, which is to be filed with
the City Clerk and to be open to public
inspection. The power of removal is as
important as the power Of appo1ntment,
If harmonious relations are to exist be-
tween the chief executive and the heads
of executive departments. and we1ghty
reasons only would lead to such removal
am ong the Mayors own appointees.
8. The Mayor is given the right to
veto items in appropriation bills, with
out being obliged, RS at present, to veto
the~whole bill. The propriety Of this
change is obvious and needs no detailed
explanation.
9. In the Police Department., the
hal tn ho annOiUfa6 nv
promotion from the Patrolmen, and like
the latter to hold Office during good be-
hayiur, All members Of the force except
the City Marshal (who is removable py
the Mayor at pleasure as at presently, are
to hold Office during good behavior, but
subject to removal by the Mayor for any
cause he may deem sufficient and shall
assign in writing i'll his order for re-
moyaI. which is to be fled with the City
! Clerk and to he open to public 1nspec-
ton. The Commission believes that the
Mayor should have the power Of removal
of any Police Officer when he is satisfied
| that the best interests of the Department
require il, as he is made responsible for
the efficiency and discipline of the De-
partmert Experience has shown that
the discipline of the Police Depal tment
| hns been unfayora bly, affected by the
difficulty Of removal of inefficient mem
bers, under the present law. With the
present safeguards against the creation CT
vacancies for political purposes afforded
by the law requiring appointments to DC
mado from list certified by the Police
Examining Hoard, the danger of arhi.
trary removals is greatly limited. NC
good reason has suggested itself why tue
Deputy Marshals should not have the
sams tenure of Office as that of the mer
under them. The present SYSTEM has moi
tended to maintain the discipline OF the
Departments. The Deputy Marshals are
looked upon as temporary men. Promo
ton from the ranks will tend to stimu
late individual effort and ambition.
10. The Fire DepaT tment is put ii
charge of Fire Com missioner. who shal
appoint the Chief Engineer and Assis
tants. This change is in line with modern
thought and experiences, which point
to the conclusion that the efficiency OF
Department is increased by placing il
under single responsible head.
| II. The Department Of Cemeteries
and Public Grounds, not including, how
ever, Evergreen Cemetery, is placed IL
charge of single Commissioner, for the
reason above stated. If it is desirable te
make the change in Evergreen Cemetery,
it may be done on application to ths
Legislature.
! 10. No change is made in the law re
Iating to sidewalks and to drains ant
sewers, the present law being deeniet
satisfactory.
The Commissioners have examined
carefully various schemes of proportion
ate representation, and while they recog
nize some advantages which attach t.
them and may Leaf. to the ultimate adop
ton Of some matured plan, they do no
believe that the time is ripe for SO radi
cal change, and have not, therefore, at
tempted to deal With it in this report
CHARLES z. LIBBY.
EDWARD B. WINSLOW.
MILFORD G. CHAPMAN