Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-09
AUGUSTA FIRE DEPARTMENT
And Pscataquis Courts Before Com
nittee on Judiciary.

\ considerable portion of the after
noon Wednesday was devoted by the
committee on judiciary to a hearing
Upon the bill regulating the tenure Of
office of the Augusta fire department,
which provides for the members of the
department holding office during good
behavior or until reaching an age limit
to be determined by the city council
of augusta.
+. NJ. Thompson explained the pro-
position to amend the city charter by
providing for the taking Of the fire de-
partnent out OF politics. He had
drawn the bin at the request of a mem
Der of the department. He said that
the iiremen favored the bill and Il pc
titiou fer its enactment had been gen
orally signed by all Of the business
men nf the city. lie cited Portland,
Bangor, Lewiston and WatcrVille as
cities which have taken the action
that is now proposed by the city Of
Augusta. He stated that he had no
personal interest III the bill except that
| Of a citizen of Augusta. The hui a
been printed and had been much talk
led OF and he knew of no opposition
jcXecpt that which came as surprise
| Oh Tuesday in the shape of Il request
from Mr.. Goddard for continuance
1until this time The bill was modelled
after that tor the city Of Wat"ryifle
which was drafted by Hon Charles f.
johnson United States senator elect
| Richard Williams seven Years a
driver in the Augusta fire department
Testified that he had asked Mr.. Thomp-
1 dr.f 10 la L..
had carried around a petition for it in
the city and found merchants anG
manufacturers enthusiastic. He Great
led some amusement among the mem
lbers of the committee as he continued:
| The bill was one that was wanted by
the members Of the department, bu
nobody had the nerve before To g
around and ask for it. l am kind .
nerVy anyway and So | did it,
| He was asked about the petition
I which had over 500 names on it and h
stated that he told the signers that i
was petition for civil service regula
lions to control the fire department.
Il Chief John \. Buckley of the ku
gusta fire department proved an en
Itertaining witness. He said that h,
was first elected ON account of the va
cancy caused by former chief havin.
had enough of it," and was late
kicked out for political reasons. bu
was now at work again. He declare
that the working element Of the de
partment wished protection in the
Jobs. He said that the officers wer
ALWAYS until two years ago chosen o
ton of the tiremen an
lclaimed that politics had been brougf
into the control of the department
Mr.. Buckley said that he was the olde'
man in the service of the department
having been in ii p years
Judge Benedict +. Maher of the Az
gusta municipal court favored the bl
. and characterized it as good oppoi
tunity for Republicans to prove the
faith in civil service. The LegiSla
ture will meet again in two years r
went on and then took "A hit at NJ
Pattangalls bill for the retirement
supreme court justices by saving, 1T
not unknown in Augusta that men wi
be legislated out of office if ii is want
ed to get rid oil them" City Clerk i.
| mer r.. NeWbert favored the bill in il
general principle and he would preft
that the tenure OF office be shortent