Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-03

the House will sustain me in nv
| amendment i'm referring the question
| to the citizens of Portland. (Applause. }
Mr. BANTER of Portland: Mr..
Speaker and Gentlemen: The bill which
the gentleman from Portland (NIr.
Hale) proposes to amend. is entitled.
AN Act to abolish the common coun-
oil and increase the membership OF the
board Of aldermen of the city of Port
land The title of the bill clearly
shows what is its substance. l want to
relate to YOU very briefly the organiza-
ton of the present city government Of
Portland and tile steps that have led
~ to the introduction of this bill.
The city of Portland is divided into
Zine wards. We elect three counciImer,
and one alderman from each ward, Civ
ing US a dual form of government con-
slsting of =. councilmen and nine al
nerlnen. When two or three general
ions ago the Legislatures of the yari-
Gus states began to grant charters for
CUES. they naturally looked around
LOT some model on which to form their
city charters. They found but one
form. the dual form of government.
such as prevailed in the Legislatures
OF the states and in the national gov
eminent. and it was but natural that.
Knowing nothing better they should
ADOPT TINS form. Consequently most of
the cities in this State are TODAY. us
ing this form. Municipal government
was then IN its infancy. For many
years no progress was made
bit. today, however, change
has come to pass. and the neo-
pie OF our cities are beginning to real
iZe that the government which con-
trolls their streets and their sewers.
their fire and police departments. the
government that has so much to do
with every phase of home and BUSH
ness life, must be Il government that
can properly manage these important
interests. Hence. they are constantly
seeking for Improvement. Progress in
municipal GOV eminent is necessarily
Very SLOW, and comes about only after
long campaign of education. Eight
or 10 years ago in Portland. this move
ment for a single form of government
was started. 1t has since then met with
many rebuffS and acknowledgements
alike from those who are honestly OBJ
posed to it as we'll as from those whose
personal, pecuniary and political in
terestS and political aspirations are
threatened by it. So, today, the people
of Portland want a change and they
are asking it at the hands of this Leg
islature.
The functions of a municipality are
NOT in
purely administrative. A city govern
nent does not make laws; it only adj
ministers them. Its functions are pre-
cisely those of great corporation
whose business interests must be man.
aged by a board of directors: and what
corporation is there. today, that could
successfully transact it's business in
terests with as cumbersome a form Of
government as prevails in most of our
cities: There are in this House gem
tlelnen who have been mayors of our
cities. gentlemen who nave been con-
nected with the city governments of
our cities and within the past few days
many of them have expressed to me
the wish that, when they were con-
nected with their city governments
they might have been favored with a
single board iE order to have properly
transacted their business.
This single board idea has been thor
oughly tried. 1t has been adopted In
many cities and without exception ii
has proved itself thoroughly success
full The people of Portland. as ] said,
desire a change in their city govern
nent. The only difference of opinion
them has been whether it
should consist of is or 81 members. The |
bill before us provides for IS members:
but | believe that most of the people |
in Portland want u members: and |
whether the motion of the gentleman |
from Portland (Mr. Hale) prevails or |
it is lost. l shall offer an
providing for board of |
aldermen of 81 members.
The gentleman from Portland (Arr. |
Halle proposes to refer this question |
to the people of Portland. And at first |
thought such a proposition may seem |
to have seine weight. But, Mr.. Speak
er and gentlemen. the people of this
State of Maine have entrusted into our
have sent us here as their chosen rep
!
that may properly come before us. |
They have given us almost absolute
and sovereign power. restricted only |
by the limitations of our constitution |
They have given us this power to
use. and we must use it wisely. DO VIC
not. then, Dascly shirk our duty by re-
ferring back to the people of this State
he very questions that we are sent |
here to decide? We are their chosen
and we must act for
them as our conscience and our honest |
Judgment dictate. Until the people of
this State adopt Il general referendum
policy and place it in our constitution,
hope that This Legislature will hon.
pstly and squarely face every qucs-
ton that is presented to them. and
either favor or oppose it upon the real
merits of the question. We must bear
the burdens placed up us.
Let me give YOU a history of this bill
nasmuch as the gentleman from Port
and CIR. Hale) has commented upon
it. This bill. presented to the Legisla-
ure at the request Of many Portland
was referred to the committee
On legal affairs on which We're two
IF x,-hn |