Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-11
CITIZENS DISCUSS DRAFT
OF PROPOSED NEW CHARTER

number of citizens held i'm the coun-
eli rooms of the City building Tues
Gay evening, the new city charter as
proposed by the committee from the
GOOD Government Association, was
given a complete overhauinS and
many vigorous speeches We're made for
ana against. The chief address of the
evening was made by Fred w. Clair,
VINO IN ringing terms denounced the
commission form of government in all
us Undertakings and advised the cit
lzens of Watervillc against any such
move. His motives were resented by
many of the citizens. while others
We're not free to make their discIos-
ures. The members of the committee
that drew up the articles explained the
working of ali portions and these were
freely discussed for several hours.
The meeting was called to order by
President II. l.. Emery of the Good
Government Association, who. at the
beginning told of the careful work Of
preparation OF the committee and how
they had digested the charters of 9TH
er cities now having this form of gov
eminent.
Secretary n. X. Fuller read an out
line of the charter. which clearly de-
fined the articles and duties Of coun-
cilmen. President Emery started to
explain the preliminary matters con-
corning the elections, but on motion
of Rev. c. F. Stimson these matters
were laid aside and the most import
ant parts of the charter were taken up.
Mr.. StimSon himself then took up
Inc 11attprS I ,,rt ininty n he
OF the departments as stated in certain
clauses in the charter. 1t was however,
the intention of the committee to al
low the incoming councilmen and en-
tire board to arrange for the division
OF duties, although nothing explicit
was inserted in the charter The mat
ter was finally left for the committee
I" hemedy ut length.
Tho duties of the mayor were then
discussed. Mr.. Stimson was unable to
hnu any place in the entire charter
where this matter was taken up, ex-
cept that he act as chairman of the
meetings anG eX-officio a member of
the ovelseers of the poor. His ques-
ton concerning the relative power OF
the OverseerS of the poor was clearly
defined by Fred W.. Clair, who stated
that this department was provided for
by the statute and would be the same
as under the present system, the en-
tire number Of officers to comprise the
OverseerS of the poor.
Mr.. StnsOn then brought up the
matter of the compression of the elect
ed officers and did not understand
why the mayor should be given $1,000
per year and the four Councilmen $500
each, as he failed to find IN any parts
of the charter where the mayor had
any duties to perform. and he thought
it would be better to clearly define
the work of the mayor and make him
a SUPERVISOR of all departments. He
further advocated change in the sal
airy of the councilmen. increasing It to
a sum, whereby they could afford to
give their services. He read from the
Kansas Enabling Act a certain portion
relative to the salaries of mayors ac-
cording to the population and the rel
alive size Of the councilmen's salary.
He thought III this city that the coun-
cilmen should receive $1,000 per year
as upon them fell the bulk of the work.
Mr. Stimson also thought that five
administrators of the government was
too many and that the work of the
city could be performed by three. in
Gliding the mayor. These, he thought.
should be paid a large enough sum
that they could look after the affairs.
President Emery explained to Mr..
Stimson that the mayor and four
colncilmen would decide upon a gen.
eral policy at the start of their term
and although the duties i'm the char
ter were not clearly defined, it was
the intention of the committee to have
the mayor the executive head and SUI
pervsor of all departments. He stat
ed that this part would be re-adjusted
and now clauses inserted.
Mr. Stimson read sections from the
Kansas Enabling Act touching upon the
duties of the mayor and at the close
made a motion that this section be re-
ferred back to the committee. 1t was
given passage. He also recommended
that the number be reduced to three from
five and that the mayor be elected for
two years instead Of three. In this he
met with considerable opposition. y. p
Foster believed that the number should
be reduced and that the city would get
more efficient service if more money was
paid to a less number of men.
The big surprise of the evening came
when Fred w. Clair registered his objec-
tons. He opened by stating that the city
was drifting away from representative
government, which was the greatest form
of government in the world. He thought
that this was the trouble with the cleo
ton of senators, that they were put in
office for too long period. and that just
the same thing would happen with the
commission form of government. Said
Mr.. Clair:
This form of government has not been
tried although there are people that viii,
tell you it has. 1t has not been in ex-
istence more than six years, while the
representative form of government dates
back many years. When the people tired
of the town meeting form of government
and took the present system they did
not get anything better. There is a great
deal of trouble with the commission form.
The mayor is elected for so long a pc
Rod that at the end you will forget about
his misdemeanors and re-elect him. From
all my connection with the different
forms of government, l think that the