The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-01-26
The Bachelor Bill.

The joint committee on legal affairs In
the State legislature To whom was re.
ferred the "BAcheller Bill" to make over
the town government of Sko~hegah by
place of the town meeting, have given
notice of "A hearing on the bill, Thursday
X, February 2, ut o'clock p. m.
As we view the case, and as the legis-
lative committee will probably view II.
the friends Of the measure must make
out case before favorable action may
reasonably be expected thereon.
There are 5000 people, men, women
and children ia this town, about 1900
voters, and we submit that no consider
able fraction OF these people or voters
are in favor OF the plan proposed in this
bill. As matter of fact they do not
believe in the plan, are satisfied it will
not be adopted, aud take no interest in it.
Outside of a few men here in the vii
lage we fail to find anyone in favor of it,
aud we have heard many express them
selves decidedly against the scheme.
The meager attendance at the meetings
held under the protecting wing of the
board of trade TO consider the matter,
conclusively shows this to be the fact.
In one of these meetings, only, has there
been spark of life visible to the naked
eye. That WAS before the till was print
ed and distributed. At the first meeting
people present to be called to order.
The last meeting held, some two weeks
ago, with good and sufficient notice,
thirteen citizens were In attendance aud
three of these were newspaper reporters.
The purpose of the friends of the
measure, as we understand it, is to have
il enacted by the legislature so as to
have it ION tap" where it can be utilized
at any time when the citizens of the
town 80 vote, this year or five years
hence. This would be all right provid
/ ing any considerable number are in IA
vor of the measure. If there are not
a reasonable number of our people thus
disposed, it is simply "child's play" to
secure the enactment of the bill into
law. Judging from present appearances
and the expressions we hear from the
mouths of business and professional men
in the village, and farmers in the out
lying portions of our town, not one
tenth of our voters are today In IA
vor of this bill and, If the legislature
should conclude to lumber up the SEES
sion laws with it, the possibility of its
acceptance by a vote of the people of
Skowhegan is exceedingly remote.
Even were the bill a desirable one under
some circumstances, the fact that there
is no popular call for it, and hardly a
possibility of its adoption, ought to pre-
vent its enactment. Such enactment
would, as we view it, be in the line of
innocent and useless legislation.
In any event, we expect the legislative
committee that has the bill in charge will
require its friends to make out primd
.tacie case that there is desire for it ON
the part of a considerable number of
the citizens of Skowhegan before they
report in its favor.
Our people are not generally FESTIVE
under our present form of government
and may not desire change for many
years. Circumstances may occur that
will make change desirable in the near
future, but we believe and have Away s
so stated, that when change is made it
should be to city organization. We do
not believe in attempting to mix the
town and city form in one, and, in these
town, very largely, concur.