Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-20
Provide for Equal Ward REPRESENTATION.

Provide for Equal Ward Rspfe fascination.
A bill to establish wards and WARD
lines in the city of Augusta was intro.
duced in the House, yesterday, by Mr.
Macomber of this city. and is published
elsewhere in this issue. We hope
every voter will carefully examine il
for he probably will be required to
vote upon it, as one of the provisions
of the act is that it shall be submitted
to the people for final approval within
SO days after it has been approved by
the Legislature, and there appears to
be no opposition to it in that body. We
believe there ought to be none to it in
this city. For many years the inc
qualities in the division of our city
wards have been apparent to even the
least observing, and the desire for an
arrangement more nearly equitable
has been quite commonly expressed.
This measure is in response to this de-.
mand.
The purpose of the act, as the
Journal understands it, is to equalize
the voting population of the wards as
nearly as practicable in accordance
with the provisions Of the original city
charter. 1t has been deemed expedi-
ent to add two new wards rather than
to attempt the difficult task of adjust
ing the lines Of all the old wards.
which, as the population of the city
is so unequally divided by the river
would be perplexing. Besides. this act
does not disturb the old ward lines OF
5, 6 and Z, and but slightly the south
ern boundary of ward 3. The conden-
sation of population in wards l, 2 and
3 enables two new wards to be added
within that territory and the newly
aligned wards will be nearly equal in
voting population. One result will be
that two additional aldermen and four
councilmen will be added to the city
cOuIlCiI lldl Will lIidhC q po1iu "
aldermen consisting of nine members
and common council of Is members.
q total of u members, one less in num-
Der than a few years ago before the
number of members in the common
council was reduced from q to IA.
This purpose is a most excellent one.
Simple equity is what is wanted. 1t is
rank injustice to voter living in ward
! or to give him at the polls or his
representative in the city council but
third or a fifth as much power in
proportion as is given to those Of an
other ward. The ward lines as now
fixed are the same as established Al
years ago, when the charter was
adopted. Can anyone suppose for an
instant that if proper at that time they
can be suitable now after the lapse of
nearly half a century and after the
great development of the city, especial
ly in certain parts of it? What then
was pasture land is now a populous
part of the city. What then afforded
nearly equal now only provides for
grossly unequal representation in the
city council. Such an inconsistent and
wholly unjust condition of affairs is
mischievOus. 1t can in no sense be pro-
ductive of good and is extremely likely
TO be productive of evil. Indeed there
can be but one opinion respecting the
need of readjusting the ward lines and
the plan proposed seems to be the most
practicable one possible. We feel con-
fident that the voters of Au.
gusta may unhesitatingly approve
It: more. we believe they should
approve it. That something should
be done is unquestioned. Thai
this is what should be done, it seems tc
us. ought to be unquestioned by every.
one who examines the measure. 1t IL
absurd for us to bemoan the condition
of affairs in the South where the white
man exercises the power that is law.
fully his, also the power that is law.
fully the negro's, while we allow =
voter in some small ward to have from
three to five times the voting influence
accorded to an equally good either
living in one Of the larger wards. W.
invite ridicule when we project i'm
provements in municipal matters ant
overlook this essential wrong, fol
equality before the law is one of tn,
fundamental principles of the Ameri
can form of government in town
county. State or nation. May Their,
be united effort to apply the remedy
which is offered.
ia