USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > A chronology of municipal history and election statistics, Waterville, Maine, 1771-1908 > Part 10
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PAVING
There are many things in this city that are a source of pride to its inhabitants. One of these is its handsome main street. May- or Jones in his inaugural address before the city government in 1891 made the recommendation that sufficient money be appro-
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priated for the purpose of paving Main street. The members of the city government favored the plan, and ten thousand five hun- dred and fifty-four dollars was appropriated in that year, and the work commenced. The street was leveled, the sidewalks widened, and the grade raised. The street is now paved along the entire business section. The work was done in the best manner possible, and is a much appreciated municipal improvement, and is in com- plete accord with the many other benefits the city has obtained through the efforts of its progressive government.
1892
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Cleveland and Stevenson, Dem., 667 Harrison and Reed, Rep., 653
Scattering, 26
Warren C. Philbrook appointed Judge of the Municipal Court, March 15.
Gamewell fire alarm system installed in September.
The Hollingsworth & Whitney Company erected their first mill on the Winslow side of the Kennebec River in this year. Over one million dollars was expended.
At a Democratic State convention held at Bangor in 1892, Charles F. Johnson of Waterville was nominated as a candidate for Governor. Hon. William Henry Clifford of Portland was the presiding officer, and the convention was very largely attended. Mr. Johnson personally waged an energetic campaign, speaking in all parts of the State and meeting with an enthusiastic reception everywhere. Lack of combined effort, however, on the part of the party in the whole State made the task an almost hopeless one. Many friends of Mr. Johnson felt at the time that if he had had united support his election to the highest office in the State would
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
have been certain. Continued and overwhelming defeats in the past, lack of funds, and general discouragement, were the principal causes for the general apathy in the Democratic party. Mr. John- son's brilliant campaign however, reduced the Republican plurality to the smallest figure for years, and it was especially gratifying to his legion of friends, and a personal tribute to his character and ability, that he received one of the largest votes ever given a Dem- ocratic candidate.
VOTE OF THE STATE
Whole vote,
130,262
Henry B. Cleaves, Rep.,
67,900
Charles F. Johnson, Dem.,
55,397
Timothy B. Hussey, Pro.,
3,864
Luther C. Bateman, People's,
2,888
E. F. Knowlton, Union Labor,
201
Scattering,
12
Republican majority,
5,538
Republican plurality,
12,503
VOTE OF THE CITY
.
Charles F. Johnson,
904
Henry B. Cleaves,
665
Scattering,
26
NO CITY ELECTION
There was no city election held in the city in 1892, owing to a misunderstanding relative to the registration laws. The of- ficers elected in 1891 "held over" during the year.
It appears that different views of the law, which has since been changed so as to make similar conditions impossible, were taken by Mayor Jones and Appleton H. Plaisted, who had been
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Charles F. Johnson
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appointed chairman of the board of registration by the Governor. Mayor Jones contended that whoever he might appoint could not resign from or decline to serve on the board until the board had met for organization after being officially notified. On the other hand Mr. Plaisted took the ground that when Mayor Jones ap- pointed Ex-Mayor Reuben Foster a member of the board, he then became a member and could decline to accept the office whenever he chose without an official meeting of the board to be called by the chairman, and he considered it the Mayor's duty to appoint his successor upon the receipt of that declination. The result was much discussion, but no election.
Mayor Jones' side of the case and perhaps the best general re- view of the trouble without delving too deeply into party poli- tics, can be found in the Mayor's inaugural address as follows : "Probably no New England city ever allowed a municipal election to go by default before, and I propose to show you in a few words that the city government of Waterville is not to blame for the present state of affairs. We have performed every legal act re- quired of us to assist the new registration board. There is but one legal way to settle the question, and that is so simple that it could have been done before and can be done now in twenty-four hours. The highest court in our State has decided that my ap- pointments for that board were legal. I notified the chairman of- ficially that I had made the appointments, gave him the names of the appointees and also informed him that the gentlemen so ap- pointed awaited his pleasure.
"Having done everything the law required of me, I could do no more until the chairman called the board together for organi- zation. Then if it appeared that if either or both of my appoin- tees declined to take the oath of office, and be present at such time and place as the chairman should designate, it would be my duty and pleasure to appoint others in their places.
"The best counsel I could procure and all the business methods of banks and corporations assure me that I could not legally appoint
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
two men for the same place, unless the members appointed refused to attend a meeting of the board to which they had been officially notified. Then the case is simply this-the Mayor has no official knowledge, you have none, that these men will or will not serve until he officially notifies them of a meeting of the board.
"At the time of the decision of the court, the Mayor supposed that he had power to appoint before the board was called together, and consulted several persons about taking the place, in case either or both of the appointees should decline. The fact appeared that the Mayor could have no official knowledge of any such declina- tion until the board was officially called for organization."
Mr. Plaisted's friends claimed that the stand taken by him for the solution of the difficulty was substantiated when Mayor Jones was obliged later to appoint members of the board upon a writ of mandamus issued by the court, the case being prepared at the office of the Attorney General of Maine, and that those ap- pointments were made without calling together of the board of registration, either officially or unofficially, and that no official re- port was made to the city government that any of the former ap- pointees refused to take the oath of office or had declined to serve.
The election in 1893 was held as usual and the unpleasant in- cident of 1892 is almost forgotten.
1893
Frank L. Thayer appointed postmaster for the second time by President Cleveland.
1894
First issue of the agricultural paper, Turf, Farm, and Home, printed June 1.
Special meeting of the citizens was called on Sept. 14 to vote on the following question, "Shall the city loan its credit to aid in
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the construction of the Waterville and Wiscasset Railroad ?" The following is the result by wards:
WARD
YES
NO
1
32
31
2
24
18
3
46
11
4
44
21
5
53
14
6
58
35
7
21
33
278
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Charles F. Johnson renominated at a convention held at Lew- iston, by the Democratic party as its candidate for Governor. National politics were in such a condition owing to differences be- tween President Cleveland and some Democratic members of the United States Senate and a serious financial panic, that a cam- paign upon the issues that were successfully used two years previ- ous was entirely out of the question. Not even a semblance of a fight was made and the Republican candidates were elected by tremendous majorities.
VOTE OF THE STATE
Whole number of votes,
107,776
Henry B. Cleaves, Portland, Rep.,
69,322
Charles F. Johnson, Waterville, Dem., 30,405
Luther C. Bateman, Auburn, People's,
5,328
Ira G. Hersey, Pro., 2,721
Republican plurality,
38,917
Republican majority, 30,868
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
VOTE OF THE CITY
Charles F. Johnson, 637
Henry B. Cleaves, 844
Luther C. Bateman,
27
1895
Colby College celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary.
CONTESTED ELECTION IN WARD ONE
At the annual spring election held March 4 for the city of . ficers in ward one the election was contested. The Republicans had elected Christian Knauff, Mayor, by a plurality of 208 and the members of the city government in wards three, four, and five, while the Democrats had been successful in wards two, six, and seven. Grounds for the contest were occasioned by the ward clerk's construction of the law relative to whether certain defective bal- lots should or should not be counted. The city record reads as follows :
The vote as returned by the ward clerk is as follows:
For Mayor
Christian Knauff, 141
Chas. A. Hill, 141
Alderman
Levi Bushey,
136
Edward C. Laselle, 146
Councilmen
Frank Williams, 140
Albert Wade,
138
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Richard Dunn, 142
Geo. W. Fitzgerald, 143
Board of Education
Martin F. Bartlett, 140
John J. Reid, 142
Warden
J. H. N. Penney, 140
George A. Wilson, 142
Ward Clerk
Edward L. Meader,
140
Edward L. Hall, 142
Constable
Edwin E. Hall,
140
Wilfred Norman,
142
At the Supreme Judicial Court sitting in Kennebec County, March term, the following decision was given. The Court held that there was an error in the returns of the ward clerk of ward one, and that the vote of the different city and ward officers should be as follows :
For Mayor
Christian Knauff,
147
Charles A. Hill,
144
Alderman
Levi Bushey,
142
Edward C. Laselle,
149
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
Councilmen
Frank Williams, 146
Albert Wade, 144
Richard Dunn, 145
Geo. W. Fitzgerald,
146
Board of Education
Martin F. Bartlett,
146
John J. Reid, 145
Warden
J. H. N. Penney, 146
George A. Wilson, 145
Ward Clerk
Edward L. Meader,
146
Edward L. Hall, 145
Constable
Edwin E. Hall, 146
Wilfred Norman, 145
CHANGE OF WARD LINES
An act providing for the change of ward lines in the city was passed by the Legislature and approved March 21, 1895, being Chapter 211 of the Private Laws of the year 1895. The act pro- vided that a commission be appointed by the Governor to hold a hearing for the purpose of determining the lines of the new wards. The Governor appointed Seth M. Carter of Auburn, Charles M. Moses of Saco, and Isaiah K. Stetson of Bangor as members of the commission. A meeting was held in the municipal court room on
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August 12. The move occasioned considerable interest and not a little excitement. The commission attended to their duties, how- ever, and their report was approved by John A. Peters, Chief Jus- tice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, January 13, 1896, as follows :
Bangor, January 13, 1896.
To the City Clerk and Mayor of the City of Waterville :-
DEAR SIRS :- By Chapter 211 of the private acts of the Leg- islature of 1895, it was provided that a commission should be ap- pointed by the Governor to readjust the boundary lines of the wards of the city of Waterville, which commission should exam- ine into the location, size, and population of the several wards as they then existed, and, if by them deemed expedient, should read- just the boundary lines of said wards, having reference in their readjustment, if any such be made, to such a division of the city into wards as its present number of legal voters and their needs may require. The act further requires that a final report of the doings of the commission be made to the Chief Justice of the Su- preme Judicial Court of the State on or before Sept. 1, 1895, and that upon his approval, and not otherwise, the doings of said com- mission shall become binding and valid.
The commission, appointed by the Governor in pursuance of the terms of the act, after granting certain public hearings and giving due notice thereof, agreed upon a readjustment of the wards of the city, and made a final report of their doings for my approv- al, presenting the same with accompanying papers to me on some day in August preceding the first day of September last.
At a hearing before me on the question whether the report should or not be approved by me, several objections were presented by persons remonstrating against it.
It was alleged that the act itself was obtained from the Leg- islature by unfair means.
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This objection is easily disposed of by the fact that I am not empowered by the act to approve or disapprove any doings of the Legislature, but only the doings of the commission.
Objections were made at the hearing, though not strongly urged, that the act is unconstitutional as being special to Water- ville only, out of all the cities in the State, and depriving her of a power to manage some of her local affairs. I think this proposi- tion untenable. The objection, however, evidently most relied on by the remonstrants, is that, in their view, the alteration of the ward lines made by the commission will give the Republican party, in the election of members of the two boards of the city council, an undue preponderance of power in comparison with its proportion of the whole number of votes usually cast by the two parties in the entire city.
I find that the commissioners made the readjustment after an examination of the several wards as now existing, having refer- ence to such a division of the city into wards as the present num- ber of its voters and their needs require.
And I have no reason to doubt that a different result might have been correctly reached which would be more favorable to the Democratic party than this is. But, after much reflection on the subject, I cannot bring myself to the belief that the Legislature intended to impose upon me, in my official capacity, the respon- sibility of deciding any question which involves nothing more than party politics. There is no evidence to my mind in the legisla- tive act itself of any such intention. There is nothing indicating that I am required to give to any party a hearing, although I did so, or that I am empowered to take evidence of any kind on any question. Much less is there any indication that I am to insti- tute an inquiry to ascertain what political party may reap the most advantage by the readjustment, or that I shall act upon any such considerations.
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On the contrary my opinion is that the object of having the doings of the commission approved by myself is that any irregu- larity or illegality may as far as possible be excluded from the pro- ceedings, and also that as a matter of form it was supposed to be better that the report should be regularly accepted by the act of some person or tribunal.
Perceiving no objection to the report upon any legal grounds, and none being suggested, in consonance with my judgment of the duty conferred upon me, I have approved the report of the com- mission, and send it with accompanying papers to the clerk of the City of Waterville that the same may be and remain in the archives of that office for the use and benefit of the city and public.
Very respectfully,
John A. Peters.
1896
First number of the Waterville Evening Mail issued Jan- uary 29.
Perham S. Heald elected a member of the Maine Senate from Kennebec County.
Andrew L. McFadden elected Sheriff of Kennebec County.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Mckinley and Hobart, Rep., 946
Bryan and Sewall, Dem., 427
Palmer and Buckner, Gold Dem., 13
Bryan and Watson, People's, 55
Scattering, 13
CITY BUILDING
A public meeting was held on May 18 to enable the citizens to express themselves upon the following article: "To see if the voters
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
of said city will instruct the city council to build a city hall and opera house this season." The meeting was held in the town hall and was largely attended. It was voted, "That the city council be and is hereby instructed by the voters assembled in mass meeting to commence as soon as possible after due deliberation, the con- struction of a city building, said building to contain rooms and apartments for all city officers, vaults for the city records, rooms for a public library, an assembly hall and an armory for the militia. The ways and means to be determined by the city council. Said building not to cost over $75,000; and that it is the sense of the meeting that the city shall so arrange to build a city building and provide for the paying of it in such a manner and under such con- tract and conditions that the city shall own it as soon as may be practical, considering the financial condition of the city and the cost of said building."
On June 4 the city government elected a New City Hall Building Commission. Mayor Webb, Alderman William M. Lin- coln, Councilman H. R. Dunham, Ex-Mayor Charles F. Johnson, and Dr. Frederick C. Thayer were members chosen and they were instructed to report at an adjourned meeting to be held June 17. On June 17 the committee reported and asked for an extension of time, and again on July 2. On July 21 they made a report favor- ing the construction of the building. It was voted to sell the old town hall and on Aug. 8 it was voted to proceed with the building.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Although the Waterville Public Library Association was first organized in March, 1873, it was not until 1906 that it was placed on a basis that has resulted in its present very successful organiza- tion. Solyman Heath was president of the association when it was organized in 1873. A small number of books were placed in circulation, but lack of interest caused the decline of that organi- zation and all the books were placed in the rooms of the Women's
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Association. For more than a hundred years Waterville had had a library where the public could obtain books, but not until a number of ladies interested themselves was a start made that led to a permanent organization. On February 13, 1906, these ladies met together, chose Mrs. Willard B. Arnold, president, and origi- nated the plans that led to the reorganization of the association. On March 25 a meeting was held and an organization effected. A number of prominent gentlemen interested themselves in the mat- ter which, together with the enthusiasm of the ladies, brought forth ultimate success. Mayor Edmund F. Webb was chosen president of the society, books were purchased, shelves placed in the law office of Harvey D. Eaton, and the public were invited to the use of the library. Mrs. Agnes Johnson was the first librarian. In this man- ner a start was made that culminated in the present finely equipped library building, the gift of Andrew Carnegie, and a large and ever increasing collection of books for public use, and papers of historical interest.
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION
On Aug. 6 a Democratic State convention met at the old city hall. A convention had been held previously at Portland, presided over by Charles F. Johnson of Waterville, and nominated Edward B. Winslow of Portland as its candidate for Governor. The Port- land convention was held previous to the national convention and had declared for the gold standard. The national convention met a few days later and nominated Bryan and adopted a silver platform. This was not in accord with the views of Mr. Winslow and he withdrew his name which gave the Democrats who favored the silver side of the ques- tion an opportunity to nominate a gentleman whose opinion cor- responded with those expressed in the Chicago platform. Hon. John Scott of Bath presided at the Waterville convention. Two candidates were placed in nomination, Hon. Melvin P. Frank of Portland and Mayor E. F. Hanson of Belfast, both silver men. Hon. M. P. Frank received the nomination.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
A contest arose over the adoption of resolutions favoring the coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1. William Henry Clifford of Portland opposed the resolutions, and the convention was in an uproar in a moment. The confusion was so great that Mr. Clifford could not proceed with his speech and not until the "gold men" had withdrawn from the convention and left the hall, was Chair- man Scott able to restore order.
After this interruption the business of the convention pro- ceeded smoothly, the "silver Democrats" being in complete control. The usual speeches were made endorsing the nominations, and the convention formally adjourned after being in session about two hours. The feeling of the convention was very bitter and was probably one of the stormiest sessions that any party in Maine ever held.
1897
William T. Haines elected Attorney General of Maine.
Frank K. Shaw appointed Judge of the Municipal Court.
Willard M. Dunn appointed postmaster by President McKin- ley. Mr. Dunn served as postmaster until July 4, 1906, when he was succeeded by Perham S. Heald. He served his government in this capacity for twenty years in a highly efficient manner, re- ceiving the commendation of the postoffice department on numer- ous occasions and deserving the compliments of his townsmen which were freely bestowed.
Myrtle street schoolhouse built under the direction of a com- mittee, the members of which were George K. Boutelle, Henry C. Prince, S. F. Merrill, Simon S. Brown, and A. L. Lane. The con- tract was awarded to Stephen F. Brann. The building was ded- icated with appropriate services Dec. 17.
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William T. Haines
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On March 21 an important mass temperance meeting was held that filled the old city hall to the doors. A petition was circulated and twelve hundred and twenty-seven names secured, requesting Mayor Charles H. Redington to instruct the city officers to enforce the prohibitory law.
CITY BUILDING
On May 7, 1897, at a public meeting the citizens of the city by a vote of five hundred and twenty-six in favor to four hundred and four opposed, expressed themselves in favor of incorporating the City Building Commission and commencing building opera- tions at once. Work was commenced by removing the old town hall from the site of the new building to its present location and excavation was made preparatory to placing the foundation. So much discussion had arisen regarding the advisability of erecting so expensive a building, and the opposition was so strong, that the whole question was in a state of violent agitation and every move towards proceeding with the work was opposed. Those in favor of erecting the building were persistent in their demands that the work be pushed to completion, regardless of all opposition, and the condition of affairs arrived to a point where there were two parties of about equal strength, numerically, one favoring imme- diate building and the other claiming a conservative position that undue haste was not required and that the city resources should not be taxed too heavily. Affairs soon came to a point, however, that to prevent what the opposition pleased to call extravagance, some decided action was necessary and in order to carry their point, the Supreme Court was appealed to and an injunction granted restraining the city from proceeding further on the grounds that the legal debt limit would be exceeded. This settled the question for a while and the operations were immediately stopped and the affairs were allowed to assume their own ยท course, and it was not until 1901 that any further action was taken.
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1898
Andrew L. McFadden re-elected sheriff.
Perham S. Heald re-elected to a seat in the Maine Senate.
THE SPANISH WAR
The city was not called upon to raise funds for war expenses and as a municipality did not take any part in the proceedings. The wave of patriotism that swept over the country did not pass the individual however. Co. H, 2nd Regiment, N. G. S. M., Capt. Shurtleff commanding, responded, with a full quota of men, to the Governor's call for the 1st and 2nd regiments to go into camp at Augusta. They left the city on May 2 and were given a rous- ing send-off by the people. The streets were decorated, business suspended and the company was escorted to the railroad station by the Grand Army veterans, secret societies, Colby College students and a body of citizens. Patriotic addresses were made by promi- nent citizens. The services of the company as a body were not required and they returned to the city after a short sojourn at camp. A large number of the company enlisted in the First Maine Infantry that went to Chickamauga, and in the First Maine Heavy Artillery that were on duty at Savannah, Ga., and Havana. Af- ter completing the duties required a number of men re-enlisted for service in the Philippine Islands, most of whom were mustered into the 43rd U. S. Infantry where all saw active service and par- ticipated in numerous engagements.
1899
William T. Haines re-elected Attorney General of Maine. Name of Colby University changed to Colby College.
KENNEBEC WAEER DISTRICT
At a public meeting held April 1, by a vote of three hundred and fifty-five. in favor to ten opposed, the city voted to approve
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an act of the Legislature, entitled, "An act to incorporate the Kennebec Water District." The act had been approved by the Gov- ernor on March 17.
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