Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-08
MORE ABOUT CITY CHARTER.
Special Committee Holds 1eeting In Which
Public Participates.

Y
ing. in the aldelmen's room Their
We're about so present. and the subjec
was discussed at great length. Will
nothing definite in the way of chang
was determined upon. there We're sew
eral who 81 oke and the meeting wa
satisfactory in many ways
President Hichborn outlined the tall
made al the last meeting, for the ben
eft of those present who had not beef
at that meeting. He reviewed the sug
sestions that there should be permitted
no rdrawing by any department
the establishment of police commits
sion to appoint officers to serve or
their ability and good behavior. ire
srective OF party: the commission t.
have entire charge Of this department
the establishment of a highway com
mission. which should have entire
of highways, etc. with minimum tax
devoted to this department, with en-
ployment Of an able. educated road
constructor.
He also reviewed the matter of
abolishng the common council and
charging the board of aldermen. Civ
ing the mayor a vote.
The mayor should be the central re-
sponsible head. empowered With the
appointment of commissions. to whom
ii would be possible to look for the
conduct of city affairs. The president
also said the school system had been
criticized, and suggestions would be
we'll received on this matter
n number of suggestions on the
above questions were made in an in
formal way. The increasing of power
invested in mayor was taken as the
most necessary move to be first made
as he had no power to make any def
mite action. He should be a RESPONSE
Bile head.
A. W. Brooks was one of the first
speakers. lie noted the general in
clination OF the rise of dissatisfaction
in government at intervals The peo-
pie are inclined to look upon taxes as
money. Under the present system.
there was. he thought. a waste
I lrn
gusta. however. compared favora bly,
with other cities of its size. Water
vile spent. last year, $4,000 on poor
$1,000 more than Augusta. He be-
lioyed that one man. as that city had
successfully tried. with small salary,
could he We'll appointed to give time to
the department. AS to taxes, he
thought that while Augusta rate
might be high. it's general valuations
We're low.
City Treasurer Townsend recon-
nended that the school system he or
sanized under one head. if possible.
under harmonious management He
that the tax rates were too
much confused, making cumbersome
system.
w. H. Williams believed in a police
new charter or not. to be
non partisan-at least not more than
-Wo members to be Of any one party
Police officers should be removed for
.ause only. and should be selected for
ability. He supported biennial cleo
ions. and the changing of municipal
year to commence. January /. The
council should be removed and two
added to present board of aldermen
hese two to be elected at large With
he mayor. These three might be made
o constitute highway commission.
md minimum tax rate should be set
aside for road purposes.
Charles +. Chick advocated abolish
ng the council, to be accompanied by
increasing power of the mayor and
lldermen. There should be a highway
ana ponce commission. 1t would be
Well 10 give them a trial. anyway.
1endall Titconlb spoke against any
.han2e in the present charter. and said
hat Augusta showed by its past and
present that it eeded no help Of the
legislature 1t was able to manage it's
,Wn affairs, he said. 1t has the very
pest schools, and has taken good care
# it's poor It's credit has always been
lnquestioned.
He did not believe in abolishng the
council Ii aroused interest in city af-
airs and brought the government
nearer the people. The number of Of
icers should be increased instead of
AS to the mayor. he said,
hat officer has as much power as he
an absorb and exert. The ordinances
give him all the power he can assume