The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-10-29
Question of Police APP
pointments Unsettled.
New Draught Will Be Presented
At November Meeting.

OF the present city charter has nearly
completed It's labors and at the Novem-
Der meeting of the city council will
make an unanimous report to the city
council with a recommendation that the
new draught be sent to the Legislature
and afterwards submitted to the people
Of Portland for their approval. The
work Of this committee has been con-
scientious and has required an immense
amount of time and care. The outline
Of the charter presented below cannot
fail to interest the people of the city
who are by this time convinced that
some changes here recommended have
long been needed in a city the size OF
Portland. Whether all the changes
recommended will prove acceptable to
the citizens OF the city it is impossible
to determine at this early date, but the
committee having the revision In charge
has not endeavOred to bring about a
too radical change In the present system,
but has sought to frame a law on which
the business of this big city may be done
expeditiously and with less difficulty
than at present.
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in agreeing unanimously to all these
changes with one exception and that was
regarding the appointing and removal Of
the members of the police force. Some
members OF the committee wished to
give the Mayor power to appoint police
officers subject to the confirmation Of
the board OF aldermen ana to remove
them for cause without the necessity Of
appealing to the board OF aldermen. 9th
er members Of the committee desired to
give the Mayor power to appoint police
officers, but not the power to remove them
excepting for cause and with the CON
sent of the committee on police which
would be appointed by him. On this sub
ject there vas division of opinion and
as the appointment of policemen is not
regulated by the general law 1t was a
last decided as a compromise measure
not to insert this plan in the charter,
but to walt until the charter is disposed
OF and then, If the city council sees lit,
another committee may be appointed to
consider this question and the Iegisla-
ture can then be asked to amend the
law as the committee may recommend.
Such change would not require the
approval OF the citizens by direct vote.
The report however, recommends
number Of minor changes in the police
system.
IIt Is hoped that this new charter may
be acted upon at once by the city coun-
oil so that it may reach the legislature in
tune for early action. If the Legislature
approves 1t. the new charter will be
submitted to the people OF Portland at
the general election and it Will go into
effect on the first Monday OF January fol-
lowing.
Taking up the charter section by Sec
ton and comparing it with the present
charter the following changes are noted:
Section 1 Of the old charter relates to
corporate powers OF the city and Is not
changed.
Section provides for the city govern
ment. This is amended by doing away
with the common council and giving to
each ward three aldermen to be elected
for one, two and three years.
Section relates to the duties of the
Mayor and is not changed in the new
charter
In section A is inserted a.provision that
the Mayor must approve all orders and
contracts calling for the expenditure of
any sum over $500 before said sum can
be legally expended. The Mayor is also
given the power to remove any officer.
member Of a commissi0 IN or board ap
pointed by him subject to the approval
Of the board Of aldermen.
Relating to the veto power Of the
Mayor, it is provided that he may veto
and return an order or ordinance before
regular stated meeting If he so desires
while now he is not allowed to return his
veto until the next stated meeting OF the
city council. If the Mayor does not sign
or veto an order it becomes operative at
the next stated meeting as though he had
signed 1t. The Mayor may also approve
Of certain sections OF an order and dis
approve of Others If he sees fit. Those
sections OF which he approves will be-
come operative when he signs them, those
which he vetoes can only become opera
live by receiving a two-thirds vote of
The board OF aldermen.
Section 3, referring to the exeou tive
powers Of the Mayor and aldermen,
VIII be changed but little, with the
exception that the organization OF the
police department. will be subjected to
little change. The city marshal viii
Dc designated the chief of police and
She deputy chiefs will be termed captains.
These may be appointed by the Mayor to
'erve during his pleasure, but the Mayor
may appoint an officer from the regular
force chief Of police or captain. If he so
desires, and such policeman accept
ing an appointment of this kind will
serve in that position during the Mayors