The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-30

recommending the changes in the pro-
posed charter,
Alderman Kehoe asked Mr.. Libby if
he had considered the matter of MAORI
ty and minority representation in re-
commencing the abolition of the two
legislative branches.
Mr.. Libby said that the commissioners
hau carefully considered this matter and
had studied the problem. He went on
to explain the Swiss system, so-called,
and compared 1t with the scheme Of re-
presentation now in use in Boston.
Councilman Virgin asked for a list of
cities which had adopted the single legie-
lative board, and what were the reports
of the satisfaction this scheme was giy-
ing.
Mr.. Libby named Brooklyn, Lowell,
Holyoke and Waltham, also Westbrook
and Deering. In reply to question Mr.
Libby said that this system of single
legislative branch was not merely an ex-
pertinent, but had been tried for some
years in these cities which had been
named. asa
In explaining the distinction which
the new charter makes between the ex
eoutive and legislative branches, Mr..
Libby said that great power had been
given the MnyorH In the belief that to
split up this power, as it now is under
the present system, the responsibility
rested on no one in particular and
therefore mistakes would not be blamed
on any one in particular. Under the
new charter the Mayor would be respon-
sible for everything and would undoubt-
eddy take great pride in his deeds.
Alderman Pine asked If in giving the
Mayor so much power mistake was not
being made. Was 1t wise to give one man
so much power, to allowed him to appoint
his own head of executive departments,
and in brief, let him alone point out the
way in which the city's work should
be done.
in replying to this question, Mr.. Libby
snid that II the Mayor was given this
power, he would be held responsible to
the citizens for his acts and his own
pride would prevent him from malfeas-
ance in office.
The Council then proceeded at the sug-
gestion of Alderman Thompson to dis
cuss the charter section by section and
not in general way as the Council was
to do.
The city clerk then read section 8,
and s. On the first sections there was no
discussion. In the fifth section, provid-
ing for the election of the Mayor and
board of Aldermen, the only change was
in making the Mayor elected by plu-
rality instead of a majority vote This
section was also passed without much
discussion.
On the section providing for the
change of time of municipal election
from spring to fall. there was no discus
sion. In explanation of this section Mr..
Libby said that this change would facili-
tate the city business.
In the section providing for the cleo
ton of the meln bers of the school board
on general ticket instead of by wards
as now, MIR. Libby said that this would
allow the choosing of men for their Pc
culiar fitness for the school board, as it
would give larger field from which to
select the candidates for this board. The
school board should not be political or
a religious body, but should be above
both Of these matters and the members of
that body should be men we'll fitted to
perform the work they are called upon
to do.
Councilman Merrill asked why the
oversesrs of the poor should not be elect
ed on a general ticket on the same
grounds as tposa members of the school
board.
Mr.. Libby replied that this was not
done because for some reasons the COM
mission thought that to elect the over |
seers of the poor from the city wards
was better than it was to elect them at |
large. i
Alderman Kehoe asked If Mr.. |
Libby did not think that to elect the |
school board on general ticket would |
not make it purely partisan body.
MIR. Libby replied that he hoped not. |
He hoped that the citizens were wise
enough to recognize the fact that to |
take school affairs out Of politics was
the only thing to do. He believed that |
the proposed plan would remove the
school board from politics as was the
desire Of everybody.
Alderman Ilsley asked if the average |
political convention would be more apt |
to choose a visa man for the school |
board than would a ward caucus.
MIR. Libby replied that he believed the
political convention would be better |
able to select a wise man than would a |
ward caucus because the convention |
would have larger field to select can
didates from. Both parties would be care
full to select good men for the school |
board because the voters would always |
choose the best men for this position as
the history of the past has shown.
Section IA relates to the Mayor and |
his power. 1t provides in brief that the
Manor anpoint the heads of all the rrjp- |