Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-05
More Democratic "Businsss."

of Augusta taxpayers some furtner
facts and figures to which it invites
their careful attention. Let it be under
stood distinctly that the Journal does
not question the accuracy of any OF the
bills presented to the city by Demo-
cratic members of the Board of Alder
men. So far as we know there were
no exorbitant charges. The record Is
taken as it stands on the books OF the
city treasurer. the bills on file there
will doubtless show the items more III
detail and are open to the inspection
of all citizens. Our criticism is not
directed against any of these gentle
men as private citizens, or with any
idea of suggesting that the labor. ma
terial, provisions, etc, for which they
charged the city as stated in the bills
presented by them and paid out of the
CITY treasury. were not actually fur
nished.
That is not the point. The Journal
is criticising these gentlemen purely
in their official capacity as aldermen
of the city of Augusta. 1t does not
believe that any man who sits in that
body has any right to combine his
private business with the business of
the city. We believe that such prac-
tees are contrary both to the letter
and the spirit of the statute. We state
our position thus frankly because we
do not wish any voter of the city 70
believe that there is any disposition
on the part of the Journal to deal
otherwise than in spirit of truth and
fairness with these city officials. Serv-
ing the public their official acts and
their connection with the affairs of
the city, are properly open to the in
and criticism of their fellow
citizens The Journal intends that the
facts as they appear upon the books
of the city treasurer shall be present.
cd to the taxpayers of Augusta with
out fear and without favor. Men are
elected to the city government to rep
resent the citizens, and not for The
personal profit they may be able to
secure from the city's business.
Mayor Plaisted's business" admin
istlaiion of the municipal affairs OF the
=, - tho
has unquestionably been profitable
one for so,ne Of his Democratic asso-
ciates in the city government. Yes
terday the Journal presented in
this column 4 summary OF the
business done with the city by
Alderman Skehan. business amount
ing 10 about $1,000 with the bills Of sew
eral months yet to be heard from.
This summary was made from the
books Of the city treasurer. in whose
office of course the itemiZed bills are
matter Of public record. Mr.. Skehan
is not only an alderman. but he is also
chief engineer Of Sheriff. Mayor Plais-
teds city machine. and being a ma
.hinist he was able to furnish that
machine with the ''repairs,' etc,
which it needed to keep it in good
running order. We believe that BUSH
ness which he has done with the city,
as VIC have shown to over
$1,000. was absolutely in violation of
that provision of the State law which
provides that mo member OF a city
ly or indirectly. in any contract en-
tered into BY such government while
he is member thereof" and also in
violation OF every sound principle of
municipal administration. O. yes, May
or Plasteds administration has been
a matter of business" for those Oh
the inside,
that Alderman Si<ehan is the
only Democratic Chieftain who has
violated the law in this matter and
who has combined very profitably his
public business with his private bust
ness during the past year. a little ex-
animation of the books of the city
treasurer and city auditor shows that
two of Mr.. Skchan's Democratic asSo-
ciates in the upper board, Alderman
Locke ard Alderman Eoyes. have also
swclled their business by hundreds OF
dollars through city patronage. Both
Of them are good fellows just
as Mr.. Skchan is. AMI the
Journal has nothing against either
of them personally. but it gives the
taxpa yer& of Augusta few figures
from the public records to show how
business is done in violation
of the law under the business"
administration of which Mayor Plais-
ted boasts. Take the case of Alderman
NJyes. The following table shows
something of the business he has