Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-09
CITY MANAGEMENT
PLAN CONSIDERED BY
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Vile Winslow Chamber of Commerce
was held at the quarters in the Elks
building Wednesday evening. with a
very good attendance. The meeting
opened with the singing of THE Star
Spangled Banner. Battle Hymn of
the Republic. Jingle Bells. Pack
Up Your Troubles" and The Cham
Der Pledge. to the air "Maryland.'
The meeting was opened by the
chairman Of the members forum
committee. Prot. II. c. Libby, who
stated that the meeting was called
to pass an opinion on proposed new
city management. which had been
approved by the directors Of the
chamber. Harry Brown, chairman
of the committee gave the following
report: "To the directors Of the W.
w. Chamber Of Commerce: Your
committee appointed to investigate
and report on non partisan city gov
eminent reports as follows:
AS a result of our investigation we
find that our present methods of
handling the citys business are cum
bersOme. antiquated and thoroughly
unbusinesslike. resulting in large
wastefullncss of the c. VS. money be
cause of inefficient and inexperienced
men elected for short terms Of office.
often without any qualifications
whatever which would fit them to
ill the Offices they are elected to.
Our somewhat brief investigation
shows many Weaknesses in the hand
ling of the city's affairs. all caused
by our present form Of government"
The auditors reports showed an
increase in our Indebtedness as fol-
lows: Feb. l, 1914 s425,OOO Feb. l.
1915. $4,000; Feb. !. 1916. $4,000:
Feb. !. 1917. s52S,00c; Feb. /, 1918.
$4,000. Dec. l. 1918. Bonds and
Notes. s43l. 900. bonds, $4,000 notes.
total. $52l,oo0. Debt limit. 100000.
The administrations since 1914
have been about equally divided be-
tween Democrats and Republicans so
that neither party seems to be sue
cessful in keeping the debt from in
creasing. The logical question now
uppermost in the minds Of many of
our people at present is"When will
this big Indebtedness cease and a
reasonable sinking fund program be
started to get us out of debt and
save the city approximately $4,000
interest now being paid?"
THE methods Of handling the pau
per problem are entirely antiquated
and waSteful. and no progress is he
ing made or permanent good results
secured. With each change of admin
istration occurs the possibility Of
placing in charge Of the department
"A man wholly unfit for the work, re-
sulting in a large waste of money.
The per capita expense to every cit
iZen for the cost of the poor in The
last seven years has not been lss
than AZ cents and has been as high
AS n cents per capita in some years.
When the increase OF l cent per cap
tia means $120 it is easv to see that
a 35-cent per capita increase means
$4,000. Our poor are costing the cit.
two or three times as much as in
cities where the best modern meth
DDS are adopted. Disbursements to
the poor should be made only by a
person trained and fitted for this par
ticular work.
Other subjects which the board Of
directors brought up as examples
why the city Of Waterville SHOULD
haev a new city management were:
The police force. school board, road
building. accounting, city purchas-
ing, board of health, and valuation, ,.
In conclusion the report said: Your
committee believes that If tn Cham
Der Of Commerce wishes to accom-
plish any worth while projects for
our community, it must first see tina:
the affairs Of the city are put on a
good business basis. because 30 many