Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-17

two bills in their present form.
Mr. BAXTER of Cumberland: Mr..
President, the remarks of the senator
from Aroostook, Mr.. Milliken, would
seem to call for some reply, although he
has not made any motion in regard to
these bills; and although it is late, I
should like few moments to explain it.
These bills relate to the tenure of office
of the city electrician of Portland, the
chief of police and two captains Of po-
lice The Portland delegation, consist
ing of seven members of the House and
two of the Senate, have attempted at this
session of the Legislature to give unusual
opportunities to the citizens of Portland
to be heard in purely local matters In
stead of referring those matters to the
judiciary Of the legal affairs committee.
as has been done in the past with SIM
liar bills, we have had them referred to
tho Portland delegation and in Portland
have advertised public hearings and Civ
en- everybody an opportunity to be heard
on them. We spent three whole days
there in hearings on these bills and 9TH
ers of a similar nature. Everybody inter-
'ested, whether he could afford the time
and money to come to Augusta or not,
was given an opportunity in the Board of
Trade rooms, one of the most public
places in the city. to express his views on
those matters. Upon these two matters
there was no difference of opinion The
city electrician and the chief of police
are perhaps the most important officers
of the city as regards the public safety.
Everybody who appeared at those hear
ings favored the passage of those bills.
Now, we appreciate the interest which
the senator from Aroostook, Mr.. Milli-
ken, takes in our local affairs. and we
are glad he is here to watch out for such
things in our behalf. but as there is
unanimity on the part of the two sena-
tors from Portland in this respect it
hardly seems necessary for the Senate to
take any action. The bills are 351 and
352 and there are two other bills which
will come along of a similar nature. He
has referred to these as giving these Off
Gals life appointments. That is not So
They can be removed for inefficiency or.
other cause, at any time. by the mayor
and board of aldermen: and, if in order
I move that these two bills be given
their second reading and passed to be en-
crossed.
ask that a yea and nay vote may be
taken. simply that may vote against
the bill.
Mr.. LOONEY of Cumberland; Mi.
President: / am very glad, as my
colleague has said, that the distin-
guished senator from Aroostook has
taken such an active and int ,,igent
interest in the affairs of the ncy of
1nIr
that he knows much more about his
own locality than he does in regard to
the interests or the wants of the city
of Portland Although my friend from
Aroostook is very well versed in mat
tiers pertaining to education. i judge
from his remarks that there is one
branch of education that he knows
very little about; and that is NUM-
cipal education. All students of NUM-
cipal affairs know that the trend of
the times is to emancipatc purely local
matters from politics. and that the
banc Of American politics, and espa-
cially the bane of municipal politics.
is the dragging and debauchng of
purely municipal and administrative
matters in the mire of politics.
We have felt that in Portland as
other municipalities have; and while
/ believe that officers, like the mem
bers of the city council, the mayor and
other offices which determine the
policy of the city government should
be elected by the people. do believe
that purely administrative offices
should be emancipated from politics
and that in that way we obtain better
officials and have purer and better
politics.
The city government of Portland
unanimously voted in favor of these
bills; and as far as l could learn, all
of the clergymen of Portland-all of
the school teachers of Portland-all
of those who desire better and cleaner
politics in Portland, desire these bills.
although my friend, the senator from
Aroostook, who knows nothing about
politics, is opposed to the bill.
Mr.. MILLIKEN: l would ask the
senator of the people OF Portland
would in his opinion. vote for these
bills bills if given an opportunity?
Mr.. LOONY: My answer is this: The
people of Portland sent US here for
the purpose of acting upon these and
otner matters as we deem best; and
they would regard us as towards il We
shirked our responsibility or put them
on the shoulders of others. So far as
l know, there is no referendum on this
matter and the only question upon it
Is i'm the brain of the senator from
Aroostook, who knows nothing about
Portland matters.
Mr.. iDONIGAN of Somerset: I would
like to ask if the Democratic element
in Portland would be in favor of the
same thing and whether he would be
i'll favor of having it apply to all the
offices in Portland, including the may
orr
Mr.. LOONEY: l cannot tell.
MIR. DONIGAN: 1t seems to me that
it comes with ill grace from Portland
iinder a Republican administration to
ask for these changes.
Mr.. LOONEY: Personally am in IA
vor of municipal government and my
belief is my own irrespective OF party
affiliations.
Mr.. DONIGAN: If the Democratic
party desired it, would the senator still
be in favor of it?
Nv r+oi, 10 4 nv,