Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-03-08
Demec Pretenses.


will have very strong support In both
political parties. This provision was
reported, with others by a committee
Of the Augusta Board of Trade made
up of both Republicans and Democrats
1t is in no sense, therefore, a partisan
measure. There can be no doubt but
what the proper care of, the city's poor
demands the entire time and attention
of one first-class man., He should,
first Of all. be man In whose integrity
the people have entire confidence. His
other qualifications may be summarize
ed as follows:
HE should have no other business.
2-He should be, man of warm
human sympathies. I
3-He should be fhdough business
man. thoroughly aliyk tp the interests
of the city and it's ax-payers.
Such system and such a man may
he found in the neighboring city of
Waterville. There the Poor Depart
ment is in charge OF Ex- Mayor Knauff.
He has no other business. In the first
year of his administration he saved his
city $4,000. and it is the verdict of his
fellow-citizens that the poor Of Water
vile were never before so well cared
for. The same system may be adopted
in Augusta, if our citizens so desire.
The opportunity will be afforded them,
today, at the polls. to adopt or reject the
amendment that carries it into effect.
AS we have pointed opt to our read
ers, the Poor Department of our city
is in no-wise party issue at today's
election. If abuses have existed the
bipartisan committee appointed by
the mayor for this purpose may be de-
pended upon to ferret them out. If
the system is at fault the proposed
charter change affords a means for
radically changing it.
1t is absurd to look to the Augusta
Democracy for reforms in our munich
pal affairs. If anything of that char
acter ever emanated from the members
Of that party in this city history has
ne record of it. Msmanagement and
inconlpetency has never failed to char
acteriZe their rare and brief intervals
of municipal rule. In every instance
where they have been intrusted with
control of our city government. the
voters Of Augusta have been only too
glad to drive them from power. by a
rousing majority. at the close of the
first year
There is no reason in the world why
any Republican should desire a repeti-
ton Of this old experience.
Let no one delude himself for a mo-
ment into believing that the Demo-
cratic party of this city is embued with
any of the true principles of municipal
reform.
1t is true that the members of that
party are taking advantage of a move
ment that has come from Republican
sources for an investigation of one of
the city departments-a movement
which was promptly Ihet by an able
and conscientious Republican mayor
with the appointment Of a non-parti-
san committee of investigatiOn-in a
frantic attempt to make a little polit-
ical capital for themselves who have
never. directly or indirectly, made an
attempt to introduce reform of any
kind into any department of our city
government. The whole attitude of
the Augusta Democracy on this Ques-
tion is farcical. Republicans who still
retain a vivid remembrance of the re-
morseless vigor with which they
squeezed the taxpayers of this city
when last they had an opportunity.
will not be deceived by it.
The Democracy of this city has never
been troubled with scruples as to the
methods by which they sought to at
tain their political ends. i.
During the past few-days they have
taken advantage of the Mayors alb
sence from the city. TO circulate vari-
Gus reports as to whom he would APP.
point as overseer of the poor in case
section 4 of the proposed charter
changes should be carried. The Demo-
Gratis of Augusta have no right to
speak for Mayor Choate. He is entire
ly capable of speaking for himself,
and has never failed to do so, when
occasion required, in a manner en-
tirely satisfactory to his constituents.
Should it devolve upon him to appoint
an overseer of the poor there is not
the slightest reason to doubt but what
he will select for the place some man
who has the CONFIDENCE of the people