Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-05

ing men, statesmen md electricians and
representatives OF all classes l know
something Of these things for l know
these ara people of reputation. The civic
affairs OF Bangor are in deplorable
condition. Any members of the Senate
who have read the papers as the mem
bers CT the Senate have read them must
know something of the conditions there
This city, not large one. has tax
budget of almost a million dollars. That
is some money. believe me, when there
are cities of 5000 people in New Eng
land with a tax budget Of only five
hundred thousand dollars They laid out
$4,000 for their streets in the year and
l say TO you that the streets there are
not fit to travel over at night and their
suburban roads are not fit to travel over
in the day time. and this sort of thing
has extended to the other departments
as shown by the expenditure of their
money.
Their whole charter in Bangor is I'M
speakable and unworkable 1t is meta
morphosed until Josephs coat would
look like garment made of one piece
of cloth. 50
In 1911 they had a most disastrous
fire in Bangor They commenced to re-
build and showed great courage. For
two years building went on rapidly, then
ceased. There is not city in New Eng
land so we'll situated for manufacturing
that has done as little in the way OF
building houses as has Bangor.
In talking with prominent contractor
within six months, he expressed the
view that this business was all out; that
the excessive tax rate in Bangor, and
her turnloils kept people from coming in,
and kept the people there from extend
ing their business until these matters
man wanted new charter or not. He
did not express any opinion of the view
of conditions that are well known to
exist there, that this Senate, with the
policy it has adopted all winter of fair
ness and justice and giving to the peo-
pie the things that they want. as far
as it seems its duty. can do no better
than to give to the people Of Bangor
the thing they undoubtedly want. and
not attach to this charter any strings
which if pulled at all will be pulled by
the cooperative interests instead of the
people of Bangor.
Mr. MURPHY of Cumberland: Mr.
President. in order that there may be
no politics in this question, l will say
that / have had some experience with
these clamors Of commission form OF
government l have had a hand in form
ulating two or three different kinds Of
charters for Portland. 1t seems to go
by fits and starts. Sometimes they want
it, and sometimes they don't want 1t.
We proceeded to Portland some weeks
ago to give a hearing. There were three
people appeared for it and not over
hundred there.
1t is up to this Legislature, perhaps,
to determine whether or not Bangor Will
have to submit to that proposition to
vote for charter. II seems to me 1t
is up to us TO do it right. and l believe
we will he going at it right when We
submit it to the people.
Sometime ago. in 1867. We had ques-
ton to decide in Portland that embrace
ed millions of dollars, the water-district.
They came to the Legislature and talk
ed it for months. Finally we submitted
1t to the people. and again they endors-
ed it. 1t seems to me the same couio
be done in Bangor. If they had major
ity at one time they could have ma
iority at another time; but If the peo-
pie have changed their minds they ought
to have the privilege of recording their
vote for or against the charter.
Speaking about the high tax rate,
we know there is a high tax-rate IN
Bangor. How did it come to be?
Didn't the fire have something to do
with it? Didn't the expense OF the
High school have something to do with
it? Why not put the blame where 1t
belongs? Talk about the common, ev-
ery-day man coming in and contrib
uting his share. We know something
about that They are not in favor OF
the commission form of government;
we have failed to see it up to the pres
ent time; they are against it.
Talk about letters from Bangor; we
have received letters from Bangor pro-
testing against it, asking for fair
deal.