Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-02

1 y
| Name Them cut in M. Leigh.
| Go, ernor HILL" retprted Mr. Go,,-
| dard." ard there are Others"
Mr. Leigh then asked if E.x-Governo;.
Hills name was or the petition in fav-
" Of this bill. Mr.. Goddard replied thai
| ii was not.
Was ii purposely admitted oues-
| toned Attorney Leigh.
Mr.. Goddard replied that it was rot
Mr.. Goddard in reply 10 a question said
| that Mr.. Hill re;ld section five of the
bill iii regard to the assessors and saw
no objection in it. Mr.. Dutlon. counsel
for the oppositioI. Then broke in.
Then he WAS n favor of it?"
He old not object To it, replied Mr.
Goddard.
Who drafted the original bill?" ask
Il Representative Powers OF the COM
mittee.
Il drafted it, returned Mr.. Cod
6ard.'' in an afternoon, and talked the
matter over with both M. Williamson
and Mr. Lynch" As :, tax payer / con-
sidered that some move in this direc-
ton should be made
Thomas Leigh. Esq. then cross-eX-
that the promoters OF this bill wanted
to get il through tn: Legislature be-
lore adjournment AMI that it had not
been fairly and squarely represented to
| the citizens IF augusta.
Whom do ven represent" asked the
chairman of the committee.
Myself replied ME-. Leigh. II come
here also as privat" citizen Then
turning to Mr.. Goddard he continued.
Are you 1wa'a,' Mr.. Goddard" that
the common council called a meeting to
see what the people wanted to do about
the Change of the city charter"
Yves. sir, bu; il vas held on 4 stormy
.lisht--oE IL Saturday night when many
people could not attend. He said that
there was hearing hello the same
evening on The commitment Of an in
sane person To the asylum and that il
was necessary for teams To be sent fo:
some OF the aldermen so that a quorum
might be present.
At this point. Mayor c. S. Hichborn
broke ir. calling MIR. Goddards attention
80 the fact that he was in error Tha;
the hearing on the insane person, was not
held on This night and that a second me l.
ing on the subject OF change in the city
charter was held later when everyone had
an opportunity 10 a,lend. Mayor HIGH
born said that no one proposed any
changes and The committee appointed on
| this question had so reported.
Mr.. GCddard said that he was not pres
ent at the second meeting although ne
had intended TO be present. being una
voidably detained. Mr.. Goddard said that
il was common talk OH the streets that
| il WIS about time for !. change in the city
government.
do you believe that a majority of the
citizens OF Augusta demand the changes
| tina, your bill proposes asked Mr.
Leigh
II think there is Il demand for the aho-
| llicn of the common council
| who demands it,
''Oh. the business men.
Are their names on tin, petition9''
Yes"
The ma jority of Them
"Oh. perhaps not the Majority OF Them -
| replied Mr.. Goddard hut It large num-
| Der. The name OF the president OF the
Board OF Trade is on the pc fiion"
At this point Mr. Dut,on questioned Mr.
Goddard
IN 1913 didn't someone come TO the
| Legislature with a bill TO abolish tho
common councilo'
Il know something ahou, the council
being abolished and bting re-esta hlished."
Wasn't il re-established in 1885, asked
MI. Du;ton.
II don't knew. You have the records
before YOU
MIR. Goddard continued: 1.-The trouble is
Ala
I'M his ward.
Did you ever know Of Il selectmar of
a town who didn't have at leas; Il mile
of fine road OIL either sid, of his house -
asked Rep, sentative Powers Of the COM
ml,ce Uaughter).
Il would like to ask nut in Repre-.
sentative Merrill, iii there. is any 0ues-
| ton owners of 4 certain class OF properly
are anxious to legislate the present board
of assessors out OF office"
Mr.. Goddard replied that such had been
reported on the streets. ''Bul ii is not
So he added. III is hrue that there have
been certain ones who have been assesse..
at what seemed to them unreasonable
rates ana they remOnS;ra ted against il.
That certain ones had appeared before
the board and argued the case with tn,
members. bmt that the private individuals
had I.aid their taxes.
Mr.. I'MtOn said thai when q certain
citizen delayed paying his tax the c4,y
was obliged to borrow sN.On.
Thomas Lynch then spoke. He sa;1
that he was quite a large taxpayer and
was not an Office seeker but had the well
fare OF the community at heart. Il have
been anxious for wears" said Mr.. Lynch.
''tO see something done to cut off the
little granting here and there in our small
city OF Augusta" He then went on to-
speak on the reform that was undertaken
a few years ago 1T the instiea. ion of the
present mayor and which he said did Il
great deal to cleanse the city of certain
offices where grating was unduestionably
done. He said that at that time & charge
was made so that now dhe overseer of the
poor is appointed by the mayor instead
of being elected by the people. The tenure
of office was also changed OF some OF the
city Offices. He said that later another
attempt was made, but that it got no
farther than the council. Mr. Lynch said
that the bill, he believed. was for the in
terest of the common people and rot for