The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-30
Thu NEW CHARTER
Discussed Generally by the City
Council.
NO DEFINITE ACTION TAKEN in
REGARD TO 1T.

Hon. G. f. Libby and the Other Commits
siouers Who Drew Up the Charter
Were Present and Explained the Pro-
posed Amendments-The Meeting Was
Most Informal One-A Public Hearing
Probable.
A meeting of the city council was held
last evening and the new city charter
was brought up for discussion. From
half past seven to eleven O'Clock the
board of Mayor and Aldermen and the
Common Council in joint session, dis
cussed the proposed amendments to the
present charter, but at the end of the
session seemed to have arrived no nearer
definite action than they were in the
beginning.
The charter was generally discussed,
argued upon and talked over in rather AN
informal way and it's provisions and
limitations were explained clearly by
Hon. Charles F. Libby, who acted as the
spokesman for the commissioners vino
drew up the document. City Solicitor
Chapman and Hon. e. B. Winslow, the
other two members of the comm ;ssion,
were present, and now and then answered
some question propounded by the ooun-
Gil, but left it to Mr.. Libby to do most
Of the arguing and discussing of the
proposed changes in the municipal gov
eminent.
No heated debate, no eloquent argu-
ments for or against the new charter,
and no irery speeches were made, but
the meeting was decidedly informal
affair and while very interesting eve
ming was passed, nothing of Importance
was accomplished. The matter was
finally left to be discussed again at the
regular meeting on Monday night, and
in all probability hearing will be given
all the citizens on the oharte. before
any vote Is taken on it.
All of the aldermen were present when
the board was called to order by the
Mayor, and request was at once made
of the Common Council for joint SEES
sion to discuss the new city charter. The
Common Council at once granted the
request.
The board of Mayor and Aldermen and
the Common Council. having gone into
Joint session, the Mayor read the order
which called the nesting for a considera-
ton OF the proposed amendment, and
asked the board what was it's pleasure in
relation thereto.
Alderman Thompson moved that the
proposed amendment he read section by
section and discussed as it was rend.
This melton was carried unanimously
and City Clerk Dyer proceeded to read
the first section of the document.
The first section of the proposed char
ter called for no discussion and the city
council passed to the second session
which was read by the clerk. The SEC
ond section which abolishes the common
council and creates single board of IA,
was next taken up.
Hon. Charles Il. Libby, one of the com.
missioners who drew up the new charter.
said in explanation of this second section
that in changing this city government
from two legislative branches to one
board of A aldermen it was for the purpose
OF giving the executive of the city more
power and making him responsible for
results; the idea being that divided re-
sponsibility is not wise nor conducive to
best results.
A municipality Is not like the general
government. It la established for the
D purpose OF carrying on the business of
o certain district and the commissioners
had in view the wish to eliminate politics
as far as possible from the Legislative
branch of the government and in order
to do this only one board was essential.
Mr.. Libby said in discussing.this matter,
Undoubtedly the purpose originally
was in establishing two legislative
branches. to have one branch or body
act as a check on the other, but under
the present system as the members of
both branches are now elected by the
same constituency the check fails. In
one board of IA aldermen,
enough to fairly represent the city, we
are not alone, for we have taken as ex-
amples the system OF government in 9TH
er cities which have adopted new charters
within the last ten years, and in these
cities the schome Of one legislative
body seems to have worked satisfa ctorily''
MIR. Libby stated TINT in drawing up
this new charter, the commissioners had
heen actuated solely by a desire to give
the city council the best of their advice
as TO what would best serve the CITY,
and In SO doing they were prepared to ex-
plain the motives which had led them in