Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-14

that il automatically had TO come of
and be assigned for hearing, 50 that
few if any Of the opponents had op-
por:unitv 20 become familiar With
the amendments. although assured
that they would De printed ana sent
around.
As 10 the city Of vate-viI.e's
finances, there was little chance Of
ter going bankrupt He thought II
II inopportune time 70 change a city
charter We have Just passed through
L great war IN which We stood stcCl-
Ger 10 shoulder. bUI Waterv1lle
veathered i ard IS rot bankrupt ard
has the same old city charter i had
for 81 years. Il they propose certain
changes in some of The departments
q the city, III not oppose them pit
| think We have men IN N4tervllle
able ard com peter, 20 administer the
affairs Of the city AMI without going
into the manager plan CT FOR any
outside assistance.
Dr.. L G. Bunker also appeared for
the opposition. He asked Nj Emery
how many members the Cha mber OF
Commerce had by the latrer's state
mec- and was -ol3 about 500: how
many were present al the LAST meet
ing 70 discuss the new charter, an1
was told about So.
he referred 10 the charge q incl
ec.ercy and iccoTpe-e,cy q ne
present form az government and said
that but one Of the committee OF
seven appointed II connection with
tire new charter hai rad me slight
esr experience IT CITY affairs. he was
sorev hat surprised that men Ike
Col. Eooths5y. Judge PhlibrooA, SEN
ata- Joh1so, Knau-. Pa-tangah,
Nea3a- ard Others had not been cap
able az har6IrS ire city at-aizs- .e-
!. vas -en o. that calibre VITO had
taea holding Office there.
Trey spoke Z th4 terrible financial
condition Z - city. Bl- the va
uatlon Rad since 1893 Increased ara
IS increasing steadily and the popu-
!ltior has increased about - per
cert. -ae debt has increased about
TOO Per cent. but now have we spent
-n4 money" II sctoo;houses. Central
ire station miles ard niles # sewer
ar3 Sidewalk a.G ether permanent
liz ~ C4-aS- 2 S-L<-C ~ - -"
or sie5. 1AEore taan the debt il
crease.
The committee of seven reported
n the p1Lper situation. TIC pro-
vision G: the lev charter would MAKE
ne courci. all the officers. including
ove-seers OF the poor. VINO elect
clerk J1st as the present cve-seers 20.
How viii he be any better clerk for
beng elected BY 6ve o. seven men
than by seven or e.gt- men
Our Bard Of Health has been
elected in the usual manner and the
rew charter says TIE council may
APPOINT three members as Board
Of Health, in precisely ne same
name ard % have precisely ne
same duties.
Il had been charged BY friends OF
the proposed charter, said D.. Bun
ker that there were glazing defects
in the olG charter Ore q these vas
that under j. officers OH no~ hold
Office sufficiently lorg @ gre The city
hest service. He wondered I the new
pan would he any better. In tse mat
ra- Of the assessors q taxes ne PA
charter provided for three Eaea. enc
elected each year for term OF tnree
years. TIE proposed charter made Z
board o. the same number. al elect
Il tor period Z rwo years Were,
he asked. was ,he Improvement.
He also objected 70 tie special
eia,-7or feature which would cost TIE
city a. least 5000. The whole idea
ne sa.d. originated with he Chamber
+ Of Commerce. which had a member
I ship Ct 900 but Of which only 50 -9ot
par- n its meetings. The plan o.
te-e,3 vas underloc-at!c and i Vas
ret self government. but government
BY a clique.
They say. said he, that this Is pat
termed after the charter % Auburn.
Ask the people CT Auburn. r. sad
what they think CT tie. city manager
plan.