Ellsworth American., 1913-01-08
GARDENERS
EXPERIMENT.
COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERN
MENr A SUCCESS.
cry RUN ON BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
MONEY SAVED BY THE PuR-
CHASING AGENT.

ENerN sfuhti iuuhtStpaiisy hH sAN 1eoNN VI
Maine is interested in the experiment of
Gardiner, the first Maine city to try the
commission form OF government. Gardi-
,,a,,s first year under this form of govern
r,ent ended with the year 1912.
sam e. Conner, special writer for the
lewiston Journal, recently made special
Investigation OF the municipal affairs of
Gardiner, with the view OF answering the
,rest,on: "How has the commission form
=, government worked2" He sums up the
snsxer in one word - Satisfactory" He
writes:
urhat answers the question in nut
sbell. A municipal election was held on
Nov. q, the second under the new form OF
government. At that time Major John w.
Barry. third commissioner, was reelected
for a term of three years by a plurality of
as2 in a total vote OF s96. AS Mr.. Berry
rss one OF the commissioners whom 1t
was attempted to recall early in the year,
this demonstrates. the satisfaction his
efforts have given.
eBe ,ond stating that the financial re-
sults of the years business have been
splendid and that, as a whole, the appro-
priation list will show an unexpended
balsnce, and that practically every depart
ment will do the same, ii is impossible to
give definite statement OF the city's
finances. This cannot be done until jan
nary first. This reason is obvious. The
municipal year does not close until mid
night ON December 81. Up to that hour,
bills will be coming in and being paid.
Not until the last one has been settled can
the final report Of their stewardship for
this year be made by the commissioners.
Sew, perhaps, realize the tremendous
lob " hich Mayor Lamb and Commits
sioners Noyes and Berry have had on their
hands. They had to assume complete
control OF the affairs OF the city, reorgan-
ize the method Of doing the work, and, in
one or two instances, completely reorgan-
ize departments. During the first three
months OF their administration there was
no one pouring oil on the waters for them.
Within week after they first took Office,
a storm was started. 1t wasn't squalls.
Squalls come quickly and go quickly.
These came quickly, perhaps, but went
vsrv slowly They dr.ryed for weeks ana
xaeks Tbsv had thu commision at seq "A
n chat was To he done. Until the storm
had b,own ;,sa,, IN, thev co,Ia r,t sett,e
down ,os definite nlan Of action. That
they have accomplished SO much speaks
eloquently for the keen interest they have
taken in the Affairs OF the city and gives
promise OF many things for the good of
the city in the future.
"The first business which the new COM
MISSION ala on taxing once was 10 elect
subordinate omcers. This II did. II
changed number OF heads OF depart
ments, including chief OF police, CHIEF OF
the fre department and street commis-
sioner. incidentally, when the new gov
ernment became effective, the city was
the gamer by $2,0oo saved on its salary list.
This, too, in spite OF the fact that the
mayor receives u 200 per year, and each OF
the two commissioners tl,00o, under the
new form OF government.
"But that SHIFT In heads Of departments
caused trouble. Within four dAys- after 1t
"ss oone' move was stsrted Tor recall
ot Commissioners Noyes and Berry. After
much effort the requisite number Of sigma
lures to the petition asking for the recall
was secured and the election held to see
1.-THE two officials should be recalled. 1t
was lost. Then the commission was able
to go ahead with clear understanding of
where 1t stood.
ORDER OF THINGS CHANGED.
"Tbe o,as, q, ,h,n =; WAN, .vs ~
been ehan,ad Th.s. o..r.ns h.ra h.ar
asurnr;se ~ .or,. =, ,.,rh, - ..;a ,,.n
were shocp ~ 80 vs.. an .rn.r;,
epee for csr,.;n $500. -. h.a h.ar
selling tbs ci,v =, nsra;,.. srnn,,s. n
learn tha, ,,a, 80 :, 80, oo,rn.,;,ior
before ef,so,,ns, 81. 80, .hau n.ran,,
vet grasrsd ~. -. ..s.- :, .h,,s
aOnlv q ,.,- -. ss.,.r ..,s ..
suot Rlsxe a, ~. .;t. -. syva ao,,,,
seem N he sa,,,a -. .nr.s,n..
thi, vsar. 49,. -. ~. ..,s