The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-02-12
Special Meeting.


was held in G. A. K. Hall, Monday even
ing, the 9th instant, called to give fur
| Their consideration to the project Of
changing he form of the municipal gov
eminent of Skowhegan. Invitation was
given for general attendance of all inter
ested including ladies', and although the
evening was not pleasant one, some
| sixty were present including ten ladies'
There was some difficulty in getting the
discussion started, but those present
soon warmed up to the issue and the In
formal debate became quite animated.
Mr.. Lewis Anderson for the committee
appointed at the March meeting opened
in favor of the report of that committee
and the Bachelor bill, explaining its
features and warmly advocating the
change proposed in the interest of intel
| ligent and delberative transaction of the
towns business and of keeping party
politics out of town affairs.
L. L. Walton, ESQ., president of the
club called Vice President Anderson to
the chair and spoke in opposition to the
bill providing for town council, stating
that delegating the power of making ap-
preparations to small number of citi-
zens always has the effect to cause larger
sums TO be voted. Members of delega-
tions or councils of this kind have ten
dency toward helping along each others
schemes, toward pooling their issues.
Leaving cut mayor, elected by the
people, would not avoid party politics
and has the disadvantage of providing
no responsible head for the municipal
government. He also spoke of legal dis
advantages of new untried scheme.
Rev. Fl. w. Kimball, a member of the
committee that reported the bill, explain
ed the way the committee arrived at this
report. He was not In favor of as great
changes as the bill contemplates but it
was reported as the best they could all
agree upon in order to get the question
before the people. The town meeting
is the ideal way of electDg officers and
transacting town business. He propos-
ed that change be made so that the
town officers can be elected in one day
and the other business be transacted on
a subsequent day, one week later.
Mrs. j. P. Merrill was called upon by
the chair and responded in very earnest
plea in favor of a change in the method
of transacting town business. She said
she had attended town meetings as a
spectator in the gallery and sharply criti-
cized them. She believed the proposed
change to the town council plan would
| be great Improvement. l5 men would
spend money more judiciously. 1t is
we'll to try something new.
Mr.. F. p. Pennell opposed the bill.
The best way to keep expenses down
was to let the citizens vote on them.
They have right to do this and they
will come to the annual meeting and
attend to 1t.
Mr.. J. o. Smith was glad to zee the
trend of affairs was in support of the
position he had taken in the REPORTER
A years ago, when the original Bachelor
bill was made public. He thought it
preferable to live in the best town in
Maine rather than in ore of the smallest
cities. He favored holding town meet
ing two days.
Mr.. Il. T. Patten said, one thing had
not been sufficiently considered. The
committees plan WAS not taking affairs
out of the hands of the people but to Sc
cure better elaboration. He favored
two days meeting if this plan is not
adopted.
Gen, Isaac Dyer opposed the bill and
and was in favor of two days meeting if
necessary to transact the business. The
record of Skowhegan is a good one and
he has always been proud of the town,
G. w. Cover, Esq, said no town or
city in Maine has got the modern public
improvements that Skowhegan has with
so low a Tax rate. Members of the COM
mittee do not agree upon this bill. The
referendum feature in it is simply to get
back to the people, the main object of
the bill being to get away from them.
He favored greater delberation in town
meetings and the taking of all the time
necessary.
Mr. L. w. Weston spoke in favor of
the bill. He spoke of Objectionable fea-
lures of town meetings. Things we
ought to have we do not get, and things
we do not need, money is freely voted for.
We should raise more money for some
things and less for others. Should get
the best for our money. The Village
Corporation has outlived its usefulness
aud the bill provides for its adjustment.
Mr.. l., L. Morrison was in favor of
town council and would do all he could
for it.
l"-------------------------