Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-20
FOR ECONOMY.
Mayor Hichborn Plans to
Reduce Police Force.
Thinks Six Officers, With City
Marshal, Adequate Force.
Figures that Scheme Would Save City $40
600 in Ten Years.

TIE expected has happened. The date
of the occurrence was last evening,
and the place at which it occurred was
the monthly meeting Of the City COun-
ell.
1t had been known for some time
that Mayor Hichborn, in his policy of
economy in the administration of city
affairs, which in accordance with his
promise at the time of his election, he
instituted as soon as he took the oath
OF Office as the city's chief executive,
was turning the search light of his
ability into every nook ard corner of
the city's departments, with view to
reducing the expense account, and also
that he had decided that a saving
might be made. and of a considerable
sum, by reducing the number of police.
When the matter first escaped from
the charmed circle in which it had its
inception, rumOr said that the force Of
custodians who maintain the peace and
quiet Of the city was TO he reduced by
the retirement. This in itself was suffi-
dent to arouse some comment among
the citizens at large, and a feeling OF
unrest among those who would be di-
rectly affected by the passage of such
an edict, but when it leaked out that
two of those who wear the blue coat
with two rows Of brass buttons up and
down the front, would be requested to
lay aside their uniform and retire to
the ranks of private life. the feeling
was intensified many fold, and the
amount of speculation which has since
;,,.1 in hardly no pcti.
mated.
And thus it came to pass. when the
matter was brought to a head by the
mayor last evening. it could hardly be
called surprise. The matter of reduc-
ing the police force is means of saw
ing money for the city, was not the
first that was brought up for the con-
sideration of the council.
1t was the principal feature of the
meeting, the star attraction. as it were,
but like some other events Of an in
teresting nature which have occurred
beneath the slate roof OF the City build
ing, ii was proceeded by several cur
tain raisers, in the way of concurrent
business. But unlike those events re-
ferred to, it is given precedence be-
cause of its Importance.
The matter came up in joint conven-
ton. After the business of the evening
was well underway, the mayor express
ed a wish to meet The boards in con-
vention as he had 4 question to lay
before them. and when they had as
sembled, he arose and addressed them
as follows:
Gentlemen of the Council:
I want to call your attention to GER
| tain matters connected with the police
department of the city. l do 1t, not in
a spirit Of criticism, but with a desire
| to get at the facts in the case, and
with the hope of being able to make
| saving in expense to the city.
We are now employing. including the
| marshal, eight men, in our police de-
partment. In addition 20 this. there
was special police service tor about 125
DAYS last year, at a cost CT about $500
| 1 very well remember when we had
no such force as this, and when general
conditions were much less favorable
than they are now. And l am 10th tC
believe that the necessity now exists
for maintaining a force Of this size.