Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-14
|Eist Step for comnis'
| sion Government.
/ laIts|y Attended s.Mss'lng
Held Last Evening.
wv
sa,..,,,,tleu Perfected and
Set Of Bylaws Adopted.

anration of a commission gov
wv IN Gardiner was the meeting
,,,an;np in Library hall. For some
''"' n u Darling has been agitating
,,oao, through the press and by
wv 500, ,et,ers to the residents of the
pei r,hs meeting last evening was for
,.osa from whom Mr.. Daring has re-
y on;yed hedges to support the plan and
f ,sa oaiority of those at the meeting al
naa,, had acquired general knowl-
.,a. of how commission government
han ',sorked in other places and the
,aoders Of the movement here feel that
,hev have n good foundation on which
N work and believe firmly in the ulti-
mote success of the plan i'm this city.
Nearly $50 citizens were seated in
the hall when Mr.. Darling called the
Gathering to order After telling Of
several cities which had taken up COM
mission government or had recently
considered il, Mr.. Darling said that af-
fairs had reached this point: Either to
Gee more permanent improvements for
fhe money expended or have the tax
rate decrease to the improvements we
have.
Mr. Darling said that it was not a
question of personality in the members
of the present city officials, but i'm the
manner of administration. Commi. sion
government is something along the line
of the old town meeting ana its chief
feature is that it gives each citizen Il
a voice in the workings of the city. In
the present plan no one man has the
responsibility. whereas under commits
sion government the responsibility
rests one one or two men.
He detailed at some length the work.
ings Of the present plan. accompanied
with the commission plan. His idea
was to organize at once, draw up by
laws and get IA charter drawn up to
present to the next Legislature on it's
first working day.
On motion of j. r. Cunningham. Mr.
Darling was chosen temporary chair
man. y. &. BarstOw was elected secre-
tary Of the meeting.
The following committee was APP
pointed by the Chair to draw up a code
Of bylaws and submit to the meeting:
George w. Heselton, DR.. w. F. Gid
dings and Judge Fl. s. Webster
While the committee was i'm sessi
Mr.. Darling outlined in brief the sew
era plans of commission government
and the history of the movement 1t is
alled commission government be-
cause it was first started in Galveston,
Texas, after the flood there, when a
commission was named to take charge
OF the affairs of the city. This was sue
cessfu from the start and all others
have patterned from it. Ward lines
are abolished and the commission of
three or five men is responsible for the
management. Each man has charge of
some department of the city and is re-
Sponsihle for it.
ANY man can he a candidate for Of
nee by petition signed by at least %
| "a'neF' The several candidates are ar
ranged on primary election list and
'he TWO largest for mayor and the six
OF eight largest for commissioners are
No'ed Tor ut the final election. This
lhsures an election and no ties are nos
sibIe
lhe initiative and referendum are
/. 'ne most important features of the
p'ah. lhe recall is also another strong
'a'ure. RMS is the discharge under
""otner name. If an official proves in
competent. % per cent. of the voters
| may petition for a recall election Al
'n's election candidates NAV he voted
"p"''' ne man against whom the re-
,u' rs made may also be a candidate.
u" man receiving the most votes is
/ elected.
lhe committee on bylaws reported
as follows:
The Bylaws.
'""ie me name of this Oreaniza
"'" snail be the Gardiner Good Gov
eminent Association.
'oJ"cts. The objects of the associo
,loh shall be: To obtain and nrocure
'"e adoption of charter establishing
"n, commission government in
"u Guy to the end that it's affairs
n,, y 81 economically and efficiently adj
hi" tn restore to every citizen
~ '"i' snare in our city affairs; and
p'o'ide means for the immediate
c, t..'Se OF his rights and powers as a
''lzen of Gardiner.
a ram All legal voters of Gar
in y, shaii be eligible to membership
mom m,s association and shall become
I s s by pledging their support to
o,i,n The officers of this associ-
n,os;, snail be a president, two vice
y co,' secretary. a treasurer and
iden, ''. committee. of which the pres
,,oaa. wee presidents, secretary and
III snail be members eX officio.
hail. above officers shall be chosen by
cav; I. at The first meeting of the assoc
,hsr ana serve for one year or until
successors are elected
yico "i Officers. The president
shan esiaents. secretary and treasurer
,h9 '$herform the duties and exercise
No., n.Mefs usual to such offices.
mi,..| and powers of Central Conn
tro,ls IL shall be the duty of the CEN
cbs., .onmfttee to draw up new city
,ioa yer and submit it to the associa-
of ,h ,'r approval. On approval by vote
of ... association it shall be the duty
fror' "'u committee to procure an act
said .he next Legislature submitting
c,ss .narter to a vote of the citizens OF
IN and to conduct the campaign
thoo city to procure its adoption. TO
eras e ends this committee is empow-
no,u u @ increase it's numbers. to APP
hn SUP committees. to raise and dis
mo, FUNDS. and to use all lawful
'edHS Necessary 20 i+l,o ,.,~s>...c..y.