The independent-reporter., 1910-03-10
THURSDAY, MARCH 10.
The Form Of Municipal Gov
ernment


mittee which was appointed a year
ago to consider the advisability of
changing the towns form of govern
ment is to make it's report. We are
not informed regarding the decision
reached by this committee, presuming
that 1t has reached a decision, but
whatever report may be forthcoming,
the committee may feel assured that
the report is awaited with much in
terest
We have no doubt that there are
good reasons why Skowhegan should
become a city even though such rea-
sons do not now occur to us; but we
question whether the advocates, sup
posing there are some advocates, of
such a change of government are full
ly aware of the dangers to be run
and of the long-known and long
recognized disadvantages and short
comings of city charter. To be
sure, the possible fact of Skowhegan
becoming a city and of her being
boosted up among the elite of Names
municipalities appears to be an ar
gument strong enough in itself to
enlist the sympathetic interest of
many sentimental citizens. Then,
too, it Is wearisome work for some
folks to be constantly explaining
where Skowhegan-such curious
name!-is located on the map of
Maine; whether 1t is yet out of its
plantation swaddling- clothes; and
why so large a town should not have
spirit enough to get the title of city.
People have grown so weary of an
swering the querrulous that the
change from a town to a city form
oftgovernnient would be heartily vel
come by them
But back OF these possible argu-
ments and back of all arguments
that may be advanced why shift
to another form of government should
be made, are certain well established
arguments against a shift which can
not be controverted.
We mention but two, and these
briefly. The first Is that the nearest
approach to the ideal form of govern
ment, peoples government, pure and
simple. is that now enjoyed by the
legal voters of Skowhegan. This Is
an important fact especially in these
days when the efforts are being made
to get farther and farther away from
representative democracy and nearer
and nearer to pure democracy. Ev
cry article in the town warrant Is a
splendid evidence not only of the In
terest shown in town affairs on the
part of the citizens but of the power
which all citizens possess and ex-
ercise. Every citizen who desires to
bring up for consideration any subject
Of small or large Importance can do
30 without resorting to political
trickery or to the expenditure of
personal funds. Furthermore, in
town government, the power Is not
In city, there are boards
Of aldermen and councilmen and the
mayor to whom the power of the
people, by virtue of the city charter
must be delegated. Every voter of
has an opportunity to reg
lister his opinion on every matter that
comes up In town meeting for con-
He does not vote for
some citizen to act for him on all
matters. The people of Skowhegan
do not, we feel sure, appreciate as
they should the advantages which this
town has over the cities. Straight
out and out democracy is good
enough; misrepresentation. democracy
is good enough for nobody.
The second argument to be ad-
vanced is that of the difference in
city and a town. 1t is
an important consideration, too. To
contend that the finances of a city
are handled better than those of
town or most towns is idle. One
need but point to the experience of