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

I'VE are very glad to give the fore
gcinB communication Of Mr.. Skehan a
place in the Journal. inasmuch as Wa
purpose to deal fairly with our polit-
ical opponents, in discussing matters
which we believe to be of great mo-
ment to the citizens of Augusta. We
must take ISSUE" with Mr.. skehan in
his assertion that the Journal stated
the items OF his bills rendered to the
city consisted of labor repairs and
sundries." What the Journal actually
sisted was the following:
"A little examination of the roll of
accounts as paid by the city treasur-
CT during the past two years makes
it plain that this has certainly been
business administration as far as Mr..
Slieh"n is concerned. Since he became
aldermen he has done business with
the city of Augusta as follows. the date
in each case being that on which his
bill was paid"
This statement was absolutely cor
rect. The items stated were taken as
they appeared upon the treasurer's roll
of accounts. They were given under
their separate dates. and absolutely
what We stated them to be. 1t is true
that the roll of accounts does not
mary Of payments. We presume that
Nj. Skehan will not question it's &C
curacy as it exists today in the office
of Treasurer Townsend
The Journal understands that the
itemized bills from which these sum-
maries We're made are open to the in
spectioh of taxpayers. We have never
questioned the accuracy of these bills
We have not questioned that they
comprehended service and material
actually given, and that they were
honestly passed upon by the commit
tee on accounts
These things the Journal has not
questioned or criticised 1t is, how
ever, OF the decided opinion that
sitting in the board Of alderman he
was breaking both the letter and spirit
of the statute in doing practically all
the machinist work of the city-work
| amounting to s119905 for the past two
municipal years, with several months
of the present year yet to be heard
from.
| If in the Judgment, of several of the
| best lawyers of oar city the statute
means anything. 1t means to prohibit
officials having in charge the important
| fiduciary interests of the city from
doing precisely this thing This j.
the spirit and purpose that runs
through the law jim such cases. For
instance executors, trustees and
guardians are expressly prohibited
from doing business with the estate
Let us look at this matter as it ap-
plies to the taxpayers. There are
three good sized machine shops in Au-
susta. The men who run them are
all taxpayers of this city. Should the
fact that one of thep happens to hold
a seat in the board of alderman give
him a practical monopoly of the city's
business in this line?
What say you taxpayers of Au-
gusta?
There are about 80 grocers in the
city of Augusta--all taxpayers. Should
the fact that one of them sits in the
board of aldermen give him a practi-
cal monopoly Of the supplies in this
line furnished the Jail and the pool
house?
What say you taxpayers of Angus.
ia?
There is probably no city of it's size
in all New England that has so many
good carpenters and builders as oul
own Because one of them happens
to hold seat i'll the board of alder.
men should he be given a practica
monopoly of this class of the cit,
patronage to the exclusion of tn,
others?'
What say you taxpayers of Augusta
The Journal does not believe tina
certain members of the board of al
dermen can parcel out the city bust
ness as an adjunct to their privat,
: business. They are the trustees int.
whose hands the affairs of the city ar
given and they are prohibited by Law
from doing business With the estate.
{ Mr.. Skehan denies that he has eve