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

if any opposition. We have already rec
ognized In our practice the correctness of
this idea, inasmuoh as the great majority
of our mayors have been given ut least
two terms. OF course it is possible that
men may get into the executive Office
whom il would be for the interest OF the
city to get rid of it one year, but we can
not guard against every possibility and
judging from past experience the chances
are that the cases of that kind will be
very few. The election Of school COM
mittee on a general ticket, instead Of by
wards as at present, may excite hostility
in some quarters Yet it Is desira BILE
change. Any tendency to take too many
members from one section or to give any
class disproportiopate representation
will BIZ sufn GENTLY checked By danger
of defeat, while the enlargement OF the
constituency will be sure to conduce to
the selection of the best men. Furthermore
political considerations will enter less
into the selection of school committee
under the proposed plan than under the
existing one and 1t will be easier to de-
feat unfit men than it is now.
Another provision that will receive
general approval is the election of the
board Of overseers of the poor by the
people, one member from each ward.
The office is one of considerable power,
and is supposed to furnish many oppor-
tunities for personal profit to the un-
scrupulous. Direct responsibility to the
people who are very sensitive as regards
matters pertaining to tine support of the
poor is likely to render the members
more careful and circumspect.
Judging from experience the changes
in the charter which will excite the most
opposition are those that increase the
power of the Mayor and place the inn
portant departments under the control
of single head responsible to the Mayor
alone. Under the existing charter most
of the important subordinate officer are
elected either BIZ the two boards Of the
City Council, and such rs are appointive
are subiecJ to confirmation by the Board
of Aldermen. Under tina revised charter
the Mayor appoints several OF
the most important without any
intervention on the part of the
aldermen. Thus, the commissioner of
public works. fire commissioner, com.
missioner of cemeteries and public
grounds, and The city marshal are 10 be
appointed by the Mayor without the APP
proYal of the aldermen. Assuming the
Mayor to be a man of good executive
capacity and good judge IT
men this would prove al
profitable arrangement for the CITY,
1nasm uch ar the placing of the responsible
ity directly upon him would impel him
to use his best endeavors to see that the
were efficiently managed.
With Mayor lacking these qualities
even in this case there would be the com
pensatlon that tho people would know
just where the fault lay, and where to
apply the reInedy, whereas under the
present ay stem the responsibility is SO
spread around that nobody can tell ex-
actly where the trouble is.
The provision Of the new charter that
in the case OF all elective officers plur-
atty shall be sufficient is manifestly |
right. So is the change Of the time of
election from March to Deem Der.
The changes in the p,lice department |
R oil calculated to secure greater effici |
enoy and to give to meFitorious service |
the recognition W hich 1T deserves.
Full consideration and discussion may |
reveal some weaknesses and faults In |
the charter and suggest changes that |
may be profitably made, but the first |
Impression is favorable. Tt is 70 be |
hoped that III will be considered and |
passed upon purely from the standpoint |
Of the public interests.