Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-10

upon on Monday next.
Sse. I. Changes city election from
second Monday Of March to second
Monday Of December, and
Changes beginning Of municipal
year from third Monday Of March to
first Monday Of January.
Other provisions Of this section
merely have the effect Of harmonixins
It with the biennial election program
in case Section shall bs adopted.
This change has probably evoked a
greater difference Of opinion than any
Of the others. In our view the areu-
ments in its favor are many and con-
vincing. 1t will prove a great con-
venience to have the municipal year
coincide with the calendar year. The
law Of the State requires that taxes
be assessed as Of the first day Of
April. Ample time will be given the
Assessors to properly appraise valua-
the case. There are two or three
months following the first Of the year
when business is slack and scarcely
enything can be done in the matter Of
highway improvements. This will give
the new government ample time to lay
plans and get in touch with the de-
sires of the citizens. The principal
advantage is in the matter Of con-
venience to the city officials.
Sec. 2. Changes from annual to BIZ
enniai city elections and provides for
tenure Of Office accordingly.
Other provisions Of this section
merely harmonic it with date Of
holding election according to whether
Section I be adopted or rejected.
The argument for the adoption of
this section is that it affords each adj
ministration time to acquire expert
ence and develop its plans, thereby
tending to insure permanency Of pol
icy, reduces the expense of municipal
elections one-half, and encourages
Mayors to devote to the City's inter-
ests time which under the present sys-
TEN is annually spent in defending
their administrations from political at
tack.
Sec. 8. Makes the Mayors salary
$12oo year.
The present salary Of the Mayor is
$500. 1t may be a debatable question
whether we should get any better SER
vice at a salary of 1920: but on the
other hand we should have a right to
demand from each Mayor services
commensurate with that salary, and if
he gives that service we should be
willing to pay for it.
Sec. q. Gives the Mayor the power
to appoint thu city officers to hold Of.
flee during term for which the Mayor
is elected, except that the two COM
missioners Of streets and overseer Of
the poor are to be appointed for
three year terms, and one assessor to
be appointed each year for three
year term.
Gives tho Mayor power to remove
city officers for cause, and to fill va
cancies.
Last sentence Of this section merely
provides for harmonizing il on the
matter Of street commissioner in case
Section shall be adopted and thereby
establish ono street commissioner for
the entire city.
The obvious idea Of this amendment
is to place upon the Mayor the full re-
sponsibility for the appointment and
action Of the officials with whom he
must cooperate during his admins
tration. AS it is now, the Mayor must
assume the responsibility for the acts
of these officials. over whom he has
practically no control and who may be
selected without reference to their
sympathies with the policies which he
is in good faith endeavoring to carry
out for the best interests Of the city.
Sec. 5. Substitutes ono street COM
missioner for the entire city in place
Of the two present commissioners OF
streets for the eastern and western
districts respectively.
Requires the street commissioner to
be a trained road builder.
Fixes his salary at $4,000 a year, for
the one commissioner. Tenure Of Of
flee to be three years subject to re-
movaI by the Mayor for cause.
The mere statement Of this PROPOSE
ton seems to carry it's own argument,
namely, instead of employing two
street commissioners at a salary of
$4,000, to employ one trained road
builder at the same salary, giving him
a tenure Of office for three years, in
order that our work on highway may
represent a systematic plan. rather
than patchwork. In word. we be-