Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-31

care may be exercised by hem in
spending other peoples money.
repeat. this Is no year to maintain
luxuries for the city. to venture forth
on any new enterprises, to purchase
any one thing that we can get along
without, to add additional employees
to the pay roll, or to raise salaries
except where justice actually war
rants it.
At the annual meeting of the mum
icipal officers you confirmed the
nomination of chief marshal, day
deputy and a night deputy; you also
confirmed the nomination of a con-
siderable number of so-called special
police. Included in this number were
those who served last year as regu-
lar police officers. The following have
been selected from the list that you
have already confirmed to serve the
city as regular police officers for the
present year:
The New Police
Francis Allen, George P. Beckett,
Henry Higgins, Levi feathers, Wal
ter Maheu, Harry Petite, Joseph vi
olette.
"You will note that this is one
less regular officer than served last
SSoi' anu IiliS lCduSllOH 10 lndu6 III
the force because of the imperative
need of economizing. / do not be-
lieve that the city will suffer by
way of neglect in protection of life
and property. 1t will simply require
a little more careful planning of the
beats and little more up to date
equipment.
Another saving will be effected
in the cutting out of vast amount
of overtime payment to regular off
GERS and deputis. More than $4,000
OF this overtime was paid out last
year.. l have gone over the matter
with a good deal of care and / am
convinced that a spare man to serve
at odd hours and at the minimum
of pay, will save the city $1,000 and
more. From this date on a spare
man will be employed, and overtime
VIII be cut out, or very largely SO.
The police departments net cost to
the city last year was in excess of
$26,OOO, which is nearly $1,000 over
that of the net cost of 1924 and an
proximately $4,000 over that of 1928.
The appropriation of $4,000 of last
year was overdrawn some $4,000.
want to see the department keep
within the appropriation of S22,00U
1t may be necessary for proper po-
lice protection of the city, and to
effect a saving now incurred by the
use of the police patrol, to purchase
a motorcycle by the department.
Il am most anxious to see the po-
lice department placed under civil
service but 1 do not want to have
the suggestion criticized on the
grounds that this year the majority
of the officers happen to be of the
republican persuasion. Some means
can be devised, l feel very sure, SO
that both political parties may be
satlshed with the personnel of the
department and the >civil service re-
gime inaugurated. Personally. do
not know the political stripe of all
the police officers. and I care less
1t is one Office where no political
favorites should be played. Certain
ly no police officer should be so fet-
tered by obligations of any kind to
private citizens that will prevent him
from dlscharging his duty as he sees
1t.
civil service ought to give perma-
nency and efficiency, and that is pre-
clsely what the city wants and de-
serves. Civil service ought to result
in giving the officers better paw. with
out requiring them to put in extra
time. 1t is worth careful study; and
as we have been talking about it now
for many years, the initial step ought
to be taken, and I urge that the COM
mittee on police give it immediate at
tention.'
Trustee Of Water District
DR.. Bunker was elected to a five-year
term as trustee of the Kennebec Wa
ter District by a substantial majority,
and he will take the place on the
board made vacant My the expiration
of the term of L. Eugene Thayer.
Others in the field for the trusteeship
were William keene, Fred II. Rose,
DR.. J. Frederick Hill. z. c. Wardwell
and Harry NJ. Hilton. DR.. Bunker. a
prominent Waterville physician, has
long been identified with the Republic
can party in this city an dduring the
years of 1907 and 1908 he server as
mayor. He has a number of times
since then been a candidate for the
mayoralty.
Charles Pooler was named as night
janitor of the city building and he
will take the place of Charles Lashus,
the incumbent for the last year.
The nomination of Julia Lakin En-
erson as police matron for the coming
year was approved by the aldermen.
The bonds of Joseph w. Jones. Will
lis Qunt and Ralph A. Allen as con-
stables were accented