Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-05-27

ernor, the last excuse has disappeared
for a party's carrying it's advantages
into the city control for its own end
we are now living in an era when
honest reform is brought into the ma
tlonal, State or city government To-
day. 1t is generally accepted that faith
to duty is recognized in the employees
of the government. an illustration OF
the growing liberality of the day
| We are all hoping for a government
telegraph service, which depends upon
the growth of the civil service reform
when men shall be able to hold their
office on their own deserts and worth.
Again, there is not the bitterness oi
party feeling that there was. 1t is an
era OF better sentiment, and we respect
| the opinions of others, even though
| they do not agree with U.S.
| The opportunity of reforming the
city is now ripe, and it is the duty of
the board of trade to take up this work.
The ward lines should be adjusted to
conform to population. The alder
men, as in the city of Boston, should
| be elected on one ticket, and no one
/
OF the aldermen. as there are today.
seven in number not more than four
should be of any one party.
| l would recommend the abolishmen.
of the common council Instead of
committees within the city government,
special commissions should be ap-
pointed by the mayor, not subject to
the aldermen, which should be respon-
sible for their trusts. AS in the case of
streets, highway commission would
| be beneficial to an unlimited extent;
| it would be a responsible body, which
| would look. with care, for the streets.
sidewalks and cutters of this city. In
| time, as wealth increased the benefits
| would grow, and the unpaved roads Of
the present would be remedied The
question of good roads Is matter of
the highest Importance to the welfare
of this city. There should be passage
| to and fro at all seasons, thus avoiding
| the blockades of travel which now are
! the bane of the farmer and the citizen
| The board would likewise look after
| the condition of the trees and the
heautifying of the city In time, the
| imagination only can limit the extent
| of good which might be brought to the
| city There would be no more imposi-
tions upon the public, and there would
| be a commission that would look after
| the condition of our streets. There
would be no car tracks, as there are
now, running at variance with the
street level menace to travel In
this commission should be included an
engineer for the entire city. i would
abolish street commissioners and high
| way surveyors, and invest in the COM
mission the labor and methods entire.
For a police commission. there should
be three members with terms OF three
wears, and like the others. appointed
| by the mayor without confirmation "A
| CITY marshal should have four-yeais
term, and the police should be ap-
rointed comparatively, subject to re-
moval only for cause.
| For a fire commission. the same sys-
tenn would be commendable. but at
present only theoretically necessary.
| For this an appropriation should be
| fixed. each year.
,rbara should also be a commission
to ,ool, after the sinking fund. and the
oitv .lebt and that for all city notes
| bevond the appropriation fixed, the
| treasurer anu llldyoi ShNoiN ~
responsible.
| There should be board of education
and the Village and Williams school
districts should be abolished "A super
intendent Of schools for the entire city
should be created, and all schoois
united The mayor should be given
right to vote on either side OF ques-
ton before the aldermen. The aldermen
should appoint only city clerk, treas
urer. and collector with board OIL as
SCISSORS The mayor should appoint
city solicitor. physician, auditor and
sperintendent of burials Salaries
should be fixed by charter. and not left
to the aldermen. There should be no
lextra compensation, or charges peyoho
| the appropriations, which shouio be
fixed for street. sewers and all street
purposes; for the poor department; po-
lice: fire; and education, and should be
accredited to the commissioners and
paid only on their order.
| Work for all departments should be
done by public bid, and the mayor
should be given right to cast his veto
on an appropriation bill.
A certain amount of taxes should be
set apart, each year. and devoted to
the payment of the city debt and set
apart as a trust fund.
In conclusion, Mr.. Heath said:
| submit these suggestions with
lhesitancy born of a consciousness that
they are but crude thoughts hastily
grasped in the confusion of a busy
life. It is relief to know that they
are submitted to friends and neigh
bors You may not agree with me.
You will, at least, accord to me the sin
cerity that comes from an earnest de-
sire to best serve my city and my home.
If you find enough of good to warrant
the effort, / shall be glad to enlist with
others in any cause likely to promote
the prosperity of Augusta. Here | be-
gan life. On these hills l found my
Ihome To me. as to you, it is the dear
est spot on earth In the past you have
honored me beyond my deserts.
The debt can never be repaid. With
no ambition save to be loyal to the
traditions of my profession. l cheer
fully write my name upon nyroll dedi-
Gated to the uplifting of the best in
terests of this city.
Upon these hills Augusta sits, very
lqueen of industry. She looks down up
on yon rolling river, on-rushing to the
sea. the source of power, of wealth, and