The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-24
AND INCREASES THE ALDERMEN
TO FOURTEEN.
SchOal Committee to Be Elected on
General Ticket.
TERM OF MAYOR HEIGHTENED TO
TWO YEARS.

Electors to be Held in December and Plu-
,ality to be SufIicient-NIayor's Powers
are Greatly Increased Public Works,
Under Commission.
The Commissioners appointed to issue
The Citv Charter, composed of Hon. G.
r. Libby. Edward B. Winslow and Will
ford G. Chapman, made its report to the
city government last evening as follows:
10 lhe Honorable the City Council OF
the City of Portland:
Yh9 undersigned, who were appointed
bg vote of the City Council, Commits
siauers TO prepare q draft of new Char
ter. respectfully report the accompanying
draft, with the following explanations:
It has been tie purpose Of the Commits
sianers to make 30 changes in the pres
emit Charter, except in matters where the
Commissioners we're unanimously OF tne
oni,,on that better results could tie Sc
cured by the changes proposed. Inc
,nost important changes are thu follow
fag:
/. A single board of fourteen Alder
men is ests blished, instead Of two boards
as at present. This change is recommend
cd by the Commissioners, because IL as
Stimulates the management OF munlci-
M, corporation to that of a business cor
ngration. and is believed to be in accoIo
with the best thought and practice ID
This matter, The adoption of two boards
IS an imitation Of our national and stets-
form of governments, which in its legis-
Iatiye branch consists of two bodies, with
nm i'm portant distinction omitted Ill our
present Charter, which ls, that the two
bodies shall be elected by different con-
ssituenoiss. Our present boards are elect
ed by the same constituency, ana form
no real check upon each other. Upon
important matters, the members Ut both
boards meet together, and might as we'll,
go far as all practical results arc con-
csrned. vote together. In addition to the
above, the fast that the Board OF Alder
men are the municipal officers OF the
oity. and BIZ a recent law are vested with
4he direction and control Of all subordi-
nate city officers, necessarily makes tha
Common Council an unimportant ad-
iuucs of cur municipal government.
The Commission recommends that
Ebe time of holding the municipal cleo
tons be changed from the inst MONDAY
in March to the second Monday of De
cD,nber This change is important in the
interest CT good business management, as
it giyes opportunity for careful prepar-
ation of estimates and the passage OF APP
prnnriation bills in SEAS for necessary
WORK to be commenced early in the
spring, and not to be delayed, as often
occurs In the present practice till late In
June.
8. The Commission recommends that
the Mayor be elected by plurality, IN
stead Of a majority vote. All state OIL
GERS are now elected in that way, and the
requirement. of a majority. as in our
present Charter, is an anomaly. fhey
olso recommend that the term of nfce
Of both Mayor and Aldermen be for two
years, cne-half of the latter being elected
annually. This change is in line with
modern charters and secures continuity
in municipal work.
4. The Commission recommends re-
turn to the former method Of electiug
the members of the School Committee, at
lnrge, Instead of on ward tickets. Elk
iuerience has shown that the larger the
constituency, the wider is the choice,
and the greater is the probability Of care
in tie selection of candida for offices.
There are mnny reasons why in the selec'
ton of members Of the School Board, the
choice should not be limited by ward
lin3s.
5. The Commission recommends that
the Board Of Overseers Of the Poor shall
be reduced to seven members, one Of
whom shall be elected from each OF the
wards. The reduction of the Board from
fifteen to seven mem bers, is believed &c
be in the direction of greater efficiency,
and the election by wards may obviate
some existing disad vantages.
6. The proposed drafts e arg the
power Of the Mayor in the Il. pnntment
of executive officers. and gives him the