Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-26
Tuesday, June rs, 1906.
Pass-The-Hat Craftsmanship.

wards the petition of the trustees of the
Cony High school in reference to the
athletic field which should be careful
ly read by every thoughtful citizen of
Augusta. 1t seems to us that the po-
sition of the City Council regarding
this matter is open to strong criticism.
Instead of considering the best interests
Of this subject, there has obviously
been a disposition on the part at least
of some members of that body to treat
it from the standpoint of pass the hat
ing with public questions cannot be too
vigorously condemned by every self
respecting citizen Of Augusta Last
year the City Council appropriated
$500 for this work, this year an addi-
tional $1,000 is necessary to carry
the plans to completion, and the
present City Council says to the
people of Augusta, whose High
school this is, and whose children
are to enjoy these proposed facilities.
that they will donate 500 out Of the
public treasury it, forsooth. the direc-
tors will pass the hat for the remain
der. 1t should be d matter of personal
pride with our taxpayers that the city
iof Augusta shall not be put before thc
public Of this State in the attitude of
mendicant. and we trust that. upon fur
Their reflection q broader view of til"
Gil. Again, we repeat. what we have
said before in these columns. a posi-
ton which has had the cordial eudorSc-
ment of men of both political parties
in this city. namely: ANY public i'm
provement that is for the benefit of all
citizens of Augusta should be paid for
by all the citizens" There is no rea-
son. no logic, either in good citizenship
or common decency why this question
should he treated upon any other basis
than that of the general public well
fare. or why taxpayers. as a whole.
should not be allowed to pay. and pay
as they will most cheerfully. for this
needed improvement which will add so
much to the equipment of our leading
educational institution.
We have yet to find any citizen, in
any political party within the limits
of this city, who desires that the ques
ton of a suitable High school field
should be treated upon the peanut basis
the hat If it must come about under
our present rule that public improve
mcnts in Augusta must he made in
this manner then let our City Council.
i'm common dccency. establish the Office
of "IIat-passer' and pay someone 10
do the work. Let the voters of this city
have chance to know him in his
official capacity. The members of our
City Council have expressed the laud-
able purpose of giving Augusta a good
administration of it's municipal af
fairs We do not believe. however. that
a good administration involves the cut
ting down of appropriations by resort
ing to the hat. We never have believed
in pass-the-hat craftsmanship. In the
name of every self-respecting citizen of
Augusta, we say. let US do away with
the hat and meet the public needs of
our city as they should be met
surarely, frankly and fairly from our
public treasury If there is any tax
payer in the city of Augusta who will
object to the small additional sum.
amounting to a very few cents per cap
tia. which will be necessary to put the
High school field in proper condition,
ave have space in the Journal for him
to state his objections over his own
signature We confess that careful
canvass Of the city has failed yet to
reveal such man to anyone connected
with this paper.
Up to the present time the Republi
cans of this city, many of whom voted
for the present members of the CITY
Council, have refrained from criticism
of their official acts. They have cheer
fully co-operated with them in thos:
movements which were of benefit to the
municipality. They have commended
and endorsed every project in the public
interest, but we do not believe that
there is one man among them all who
will, over his own signature. III this or
any other newspaper published in Ai-
eusta, endorse the policy of mendicancy
the pass the hat program by which
it is evident certain members of the
City Council desire apparently, for po-
ntical effect. to make a show of econ
omy at the expense of the pockets OF
such individual citizens as may ne
pled for public improvements, in addi-
ton to the sums paid by them into the
CITY treasury in the form of taxes.
I.,,o s,oLap MAINLY about this