Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-09-15

stated in my letter to committee OF
the Citizens Union, dated June I, which
letter was used as basis of your can
vass, and in which l said that / could
accept no nomination if there was at
tached to it any obligation, expressed
or implied, in case of election, other
as mayor to make the interests Of the
city the paramount concern in the dis
charge of every duty.
Il am a Republican, and l EXPECT to
remain one; but l am completely in
sympathy with the purposes of the
Citizens Union to secure a mayor for
the great city who shall be free from
all partisan obligations. Such a mayor,
if elected, shall certainly be. In maxi
ing appointments. it shall be my en-
deavor to fill every place with an eye
single to the public good. The patron
age of the city shall not be used so far
as it is in the mayors power to pre-
vent it, for the purpose of either
strengthening or weakening one party
or another, or any faction of a party.
I shall try to make an administration
that will be honest, broad-minded. eff
cient and business-like. and consider
ate of the interests of every citizen.
1.-The civil service laws Of the State
shall be impartially enforced by such
methods as will insure a practicable
and reasonable test of fitness and the
selection of subordinate officers upon
their merits, irrespective of political
influences, so as to afford fair chance
to every citizen, without regard to race,
religious belief or political affiliation.'
1t shall be my endeavor to build up in
all parts Of the public service a spirit
of honest pride, based upon the well
settled conviction on the part of every
person in the city's employ, that, so
long as his services are needed, and he
renders them faithfully and well, no
influence in the city shall be able to
in his duty no influence shall be strong
enough to keep him in.
Nothing is more vital to the welfare
of the city, as I can see it, than it be
allowed by the Legislature to shape its
own destinies in all matters that are
purely local. ! would wish the great
city to bear it's part proudly in all that
concerns the Empire state; but as con-
Germs the city local affairs, it is not SO
much part of the State as it is the
home of the inhabitants. If am cleo
ted, shall contend sturdily for the
city's right in such matters to govern
itself.
las to the public franchises, the
Greater New York charter practically
embodies the doctrine that the city
shall not part with the ownership of its
franchises. but shall lease them for
limited periods, subject to occasional
revision of the terms. I think legisla-
ton should be had, in addition to the
charter, that will enable the city to
treat every consent to charge Of
power by street railroads as new
franchise. 1t is utterly unreasonable
that because of defective legislation
these valuable grants should be con-
tinued to be given away. without COM
pensation to the city. AS matters now
stand. these consents are granted by
the state railroad commission, and the !
city is deprived of all opportunity to
secure return for them either by way
of money payment or by imposing
conditions calculated to secure a SER
Continued on page -