Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-11

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en- men.
Fourth, it is DEMOCRATIC because TIL,
candidate, who is wanted by major
ity of the~votcrs of the city, is the maj
who is elected to every office.
| Fifth. it is democratic in it's policy o
publicity; a statement is published ev
cry month or oftener showing exactl,
the financial standing of the city, in +;
manner that can be plainly understood
by any intelligent person; a, MONTH,
statement is also published of all tn,
work that is being done by the city, 81
| that all may know just how the city.
money is being spent.
Sixth, it is democratic In It's aces
sihility to the people. Meetings ar,
held frequently, and in the day time a.
| we'll as evenings, when any one car
come before the council of five men
and DO his business as he would witt
any other business house. He does no,
have to face % men, and do a lot Of
wire pulling and log rolling to get q
straight business matter attended to
as is often the case under our present
form.
Seventh, it is democratic in that it is
constantly in the hands of the people,
by the initiative and referendum, the
voters may make their own city ordi-
nances, or annul those which they do
not approve. By the recall they may
at any time recall from Office any Off
cial who is not faithful to his trust.
While the "Haverhill plan" is to a Ger
tain extent an experiment, it is the
nearest to the old town meeting plan
that has ever yet been devised, and it
certainly has some decided advantages
over that method.
Eighth, it is safe from the franchise
grahber" as 1.-The people" who own the
streets can have their say as to the
conditions upon which the streets may
be used by public service corporations.
Ninth, the responsibility is fixed, as
each councilman has charge of all the
business in the department under his
supervision. every citizen soon knows
to whom to go with any matter of city
business, and who to hold responsible
for seeing that it is attended to-
Tenth, it is just, in that the officers
are fairly paid for their services, and
the city has a right to demand their
thought and time.
Eleventh, it is in line with the ad-
vanccd principles of civil service,,~since
every subordinate officer is appointed
On merit and may retain his office as
long as he does his duties faithfully,
and may be removed at any time for
inefficiency.
Twelfth, it is in accord with the ''di-
rect primary law which has been
adopted with great success in several
states, and which is now being urged
with great vigor by Gov. Hughes for
the state of New York. 1t is coming to
Maine: let Waterville lead the move
ment in the cities of our State for
government "of the people, for the peo-
pie and by the people,
Now for the results in the cities
which have tried this plan. have oh
tanned by direct correspondence and
from other reliable sources the results
in the cities of Galveston, which adopt
ed the plan in 1900, Houston in 1906,
I.eavenworth, Cedar Rapids. DesMoines
and Haverhill in 1908. 7 asked the may
or and other weli-informed men in
these cities eight questions, which have
been answered as follows: ~. ~.
LIST. Does your new CHaverhilD plan
eliminate party politics from city af-
fairs?
Every city answers Eyes"
The editor of "City Hail." a maya
zine published in Des Moines, says of
that city: "A business system has been
introduced in all departments and City
hall has been changed from a loafing
place for politicians to- place re-
sembling the office of a large business
concern, an entirely new spirit per-
wade s it, the City hall is free from pol
iticians and political influence" The
mayor and members of the council in
Haverhill told me that partisan politics
had absolutely no influence in their
government.
I'd Are ward lines and distinctions
eliminated?
Evary answer from every city says
yes"
3D. Has your method of nomination
and election resulted in the selection
of the man best qualified for office?
Every city says Eyes"
Mayor Rice of Houston adds: "Now,
unless a man has sufficient standing
and reputation to be known through
out the city as a fit man for office, he
cannot be elected"
Ath. Is the Haverhill plan more eco
nomical? .- 8. =
Every city answers YES"
Mayor Rice of Houston says: "New
government found empty treasury,
with 100000 floating debt. In three
years we have paid the 100000 debt,
paid over 100000 for permanent i'm
provements, secured by gift and other
wise 100000 worth of property for
public service, started a sinking fund
with s63,0O0,y paid S150,00O of paving GER
tihcates.r and reduced the tax rate 81
on $780,
5th Has it produced better public
service:
Every city says yes.
Editor of city Hail." Des Moines
says. Not only has the city been man
aged more economically but more eff
ficient service has been rendered il
every department, streets cleaner, paw
ing laid according to contract. civil
service installed, efficiency of police in
creased, new system of accounting in
stalled, entire business placed on bust
ness basis Political pulls and log