Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-24

Ten Questions Of Much Importance
To Be Voted Upon.

| have been very active and an unusIt-
! ally large vote is looked for, each side
appearing confident of victory. Party
lines are eliminated and the merits of
| the candidates should be the only fact
considered
The campaign is a little odd, mas
much rs 1e questions will be voted
| upon. each proposed by 10 citizens, and
While the result of the vote upon these
questions Will not be binding in the
! slightest degree upon the city fathers,
| they are upon the ballot to obtain the
| public sentiment in regard to the at
| fairs upon which they have a bearing,
| but unless there is at least a fair sized
| vote upon them, even this result will
not hs obtained.
The questions are as follows, CLASH
fled in two groups:
GROUP 1.
Shall the city of Gardner expend
the sum of $4,000 in the erection of a
new High school building?
Shall the city of Gardiner expend the
sum of $4,000 in repairing the school
buildings Of the lower grades?
If the city erects a new High school
| building, shall it be located upon the
| site known as Deans Grove?
Shall the city Of Gardiner continue to
| receive in its schools for instruction.
| pupils from other towns and cities?
Shali the city of Gardiner expend the
sum of $4,000 in repairing highways
| Shall the city Of Gardiner continue
| with the commission form of govern
| ment?
GROUP IL
Shall the city of Gardiner expend the
! sum of $4,000 in extending its main to
, South Gardiner, Precinct s.
! Shall the city of Gardner guarantee
the bonds of the Lewiston. Augusta q
Wateryille Street Railway To the
amount of $4,000 on condition that 1t
| will extend its track to South Gardl-
ner?
! Shall the citizens fo Gardiner direct
! the city council to petition the next
! Legislature for a separation from
. South Gardiner (Precinct o.?
Shall the citizens of Gardiner direct
| the city council to invite the towns OF
| Falmingdale and Randolph to become
part of the city of Gardiner?
OF the above questions. two at least,
| are of more than usual Importance
| that concerning the proposed filgh
| school building and the one relatives to
| tbe ratention of Commission govern
mcnt.
The latter is rather n two stiles oil
the shield" affair. and after the smoke
Of the battle has died away, II may
nroye that each side was partly right
and the belief that has found root
hold. recently, and seems to be gaining
ground. every day, that the plan mas
not had a fair and impartial trlai' De
productive of results that may pflhs
the desired conditions to pass
Statements from the leaders OF both
faoticne follow. the first being from
/ David II. Daring
David n. Daring's Statement.
Commission government was inaugur-
, ated here on Jan /, l9l5. ,,i,,i.+ared h,,
The city's business is administered w
Ia council of three replacing may
or three assessors, and an unpaid couh-
ell OF "a, .,,.od annually
for a three-year term, ana LOT d d ali ~
any and responsibility; all minor ofhclais
Rnsiness is done swiftly, efficiently ana
within the appropriations as IL shoulu
he done, but as it has never been done
, before in the citys history ...,
lrrom 1000 to 1910 appropriations Increas-
ed from $4,000 to $9loo1' anu sgno ioI
exceeded appropriations by nearly s5eo,oo >
| Overdrafts were the rule III nearly a'
, departments. .-.,,.,,,
Not only were there no improvements
, to Justify the increase. but the cohultlol
| of streets. sidewalks and sewers grew
steadily worse a.,
Schooihouses were filthy and so badly
overcrowded that. in many OF them wv
4 classes reeited to two teachers III the
| same room at the same time.
$1,000 was appropriated IN l9lp, anu al'arl IL
1911. in an effort to economlze' the aPpfo
| priation was cut to Shl,5h.
| Oyerdrafts occurred both years.
In 1912. with 5000 salaries TO pay I'm
commissioners appropriated $S9"o pu
In 1aI3 with a loss of 100000 in valua
ton and an increase of SttED III Stat'
tax, the tax rate was held down TO tina
l of 1872 and the government VIII hhlsh III
within it's Appropriation.
For u years prior to 1911 the highway
department had an annual overdrafe aN
= eraging 5000.
surplus of s2500 and will finish l9l
within its appropriation also
| Its work has been concentrated ON TN
roads most used and in worst shape
King drags have been adopted. woot
e. catch-basins replaced by concrete. sever
, al OF the worst hills graded and the storm
water cared for. and over halt mile
| hrst-claSs modern road built.
We now have for the first time
} school superintendent with college ed
ucatlon for the position, and years o
| experienced man very highly recon-
mended by the State superintendent.
He has cleaned the schoolhouses ant
kept them clean, replaced the filthy tot
let arrangements with sanitary apparil
| tus and remodeled the badly overerowd
t ed lower grade buildings so they are ad
eGuate for our present needs.
Plans for a new and modern lligl
school building have been made
on the City farm enough butter, eggs
milk and fresh vegetables are raised t
/ supply it's inmates and sell a surplus.
| The efficiency of the fire department
has been increased and the pay of thu
| tiremen raised.
supplies are now bought by n purchas
/ ing agent, competitive bids are invited
ana considerable saving has resulted.
1912 ended with the smallest amount o
| upcollected taxes on record,
| The first year under any new system
is always a hard one. and il was mad
doubly hard here by an attempt to recall
the two aldermen, begun within As hour
| of their inauguration and designed 4
disrupt the system by placing its oppon
ents in control.
| Fortunately the sound sense of the cit
liens prevailed and the recall failed.
| Much has been accomplished and mucl
more remains for two Years is too shor