Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-29
BAR HARBoR's CHARTER.
Town Meeting Called to Discuss Cues
tons at Issue.

bar flltI'pI, NJ, ENcil. "a WIN
from Thurs lay the voters Of Eden will
attend a sI"cial town meeting which is
called for the purpose of ascertaining
II tn. voters Of the town desire action
taken during the coming session of the
State Legislature looking toward the
requirement Of Il city charter.
II will b, Remembered that at the
regular town meeting. last March, it
Was voted that Il committee of 10 be
appointed by the moderator, r. +.
Whitney. {" consider the advisabiltE
of asking the Legislature for Il city
charter. This committee has looked az
the matter car fully. has talked with
residents ana nOn-reSidentS and cor
responded with officials and leading
citizens in the cities and larger towns
Of the State. AS Il result there is {,
diversity Of opinion in the committee.
50 that tw" reports will be presented
| to the special town meeting. The ma
| .ority report, which will, it is under
| stood, be signed by about two-thirds
If the committee, will favor a city
| charter. while the report of the minor
ity will be in opposition.
| There is 1T the present time room
for much doubt rs to the action that
| will be taken by the voters on the two
rt ports. Judging from various CONVEX
sitions there is not a particularly
strong desire to turn Eden into a city
hut there is a very strong wish to haI e
something different from the present
system with IT'S lengthy annual town
| 4,
| There is the chief bone of conten-
| ton. the town meeting. Many feel
| that the appropriations are far too
| Carelessly made at town meeting. That
there is too much trading too much in-
| discriminate appropriating and far too
little regard for the interests of the
property owners and taxpayers.
| 1t is easy to look back after town
meeting has gone into history and say
such an article ought not to have been
passed.. but it is not 50 easy for the
| everyday citizen to get up in town
| meeting and make 4 speech.
| 1t is this desire for change of some
sort that has brought forth the city
IDEA and if it proves to be contrary to
| the wish of the voters to maxi SO radi-
cll a change as from a town to a city
it is very likely that the agitation MAJ
yet have results as i'll the election OF
Il board of assessors. or of a towns
attorney or perhaps Of a committee t.
study the needs of the town ana shape
| the appropriations.
| The latter course WAS once tried here
a few years ago and WAS not very sue
C"ssful; in that the recommendations
of the members of the committee Were
very promptly overrdden in town
meeting. although most Of the business
men will say that such action was a
mistake.
There are. Of course. many argu-
ments to use in favor Of Il city form o.
government for Bar Harbor. It is
stated that when 4 town Of this size
votes to raise $4,000 Cor expenditure
at the annual town reeting. it max rs
a number of appropriations without
due consideration. Again the towr
meeting is cumbersome and means the
loss of three days time to severa
hundred men.
To the contrary it IS urged that the
expenses Of A city would be much
greater owing to the number of off.
Gals to he employed. that politics would
enter into the selection of the munich
pal officers etc.
In the town proper there seems .
very considerable diversity Of opinions
while upon the island, the sentiment i.
said t. be strongly against change
\ great deal will depend upon the at
titud+ of 'the leading men and tht
manner in which the question Is state
to the voters.