The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-02
TO BE OR NOT TO BE-A CITY.
South Portland Citizens Discuss
Question at Length.

Sentiment of Meeting Generally in Favor
| of Change-Rev. Mr.. Barstow Thinks
Electric Road Has iBeen Granted Too
Many Privileges.
The South Portland Improvement
League held meeting at Union hall,
South Portland last evening, which was
largely attended. The object of the meet
ing was to hearathe views of the citizens
concerning the needed change from the
present form of government.
Pesident E. H. Hartford presided and
Mr.. George f. Henley was clerk.
The following gentlemen were called to
the platform: MessIs. Miles, Nelson, l..
FL. Cobb and Freeman Willard
President Hartford called the meeting
to order. He said: "We are here tonight
to plan some remedy to change the
present imperfect condition of the
municipal government. A city charter
need not necessarily be the remedy, bat
| it is time that we made some change"
| President Hartford had present the con-
secutive town reports from the year 1874
He referred to these showing some need
less or exorbitant expenditures which
should not have been made. He pointed
out the expense of constables.
| Mr.. Hartford called on any present to
freely express their minds on the subject.
DR.. ROGERS.
| DR.. J. K. P. Rogers favored change
| from the present system where matters
are transacted in IL haphazard way. I'M
while a small matter which concerns only
a small body of the people is thrown
down. There should be body which
could give the appropriations and such
| important business mora deliberation
and the rssults will be more satisfactory.
He spoke of the present condition of the
highways ana the lighting of the same.
He called attention to the city OF Deer
Ing, with it's well lighted streets.
HON. E. G. REYNOLDS.
The following letter from Hon. E. C.
Reynolds of the Senate. who was unable
to be present, was read by President
Hartford to which it was addressed:
~ find that I cannot well be at our
meeting at South Portland tonight,
which you desired me TO attend, but
should only report what I have stated to
you In our talk. should be in favor of
the city charter, feeling that it would
furnish US, for a small expenditure, o
much better system Of government than
we can have in the old. 1t would certain
| ly be much more convenient for us to
have aocomm odations 10 vote in wards,
and the experience of all other places has
demonstrated that tho change has nesn
wise one. did not think for moment
th 1T we would get ou1 oonveniehces with.
out the necessary costs; or that we
should satisfy ourselves or our citizens in
for improvement. Such is universal ex-
perience.
"You will recollect that the charter
which prepared, the one introduced by
us at South Portland two years ago, met
with approval there, and as it has passed
the meeting Of legal officers, and received
approval ut Augusta, it would almost
S69m as hnOugn tneFo COulu D0 no glarlng
inoongruities in 1t. We're to be present
I fshould not advise any course Of action
myself, but should state my views as I
bnve already stated them to you in regard
to the matter"
!. PresidentsH Hartford announced that it
was not the object of the meeting to
secure the city charter already granted
by the legislature. but to get together and
devise some means of securing better
government.
G. A. TILTON.
Mr. Charles A. Tilton of South Port
land said that he was in favor of city
charter. In his Judgment the people row
do not receive more than SO per cont
benefit from their taxes. He thought the
business would be done in more salts.
factory manner by seven aldermen who
can sit down and deliberate as business
men.
L. 8. AREY.
= Mr.. Z. S. Arey had not favored the old