A new form of a city charter was presented to the Auburn Board of Trade last evening by a special committee appointed for that purpose. The government of the city would be invested in three men, a mayor, and two councilmen who would give their entire time to the work of the city. The mayor would receive $1,750 and the councilmen $1,500 each. These men would be selected biennially, and candidates voted upon would be nominated at a primary election two weeks previous. At that primary election, any citizen after certain formalities could become a candidate providing he had a petition signed by 25 voters.

50 years ago, 1958

Some of the worst traffic jams in history took place in Lewiston yesterday. Loosened by motor vehicles, the snow covering on streets in the business district turned into a slippery, slushy mixture and left wheels spinning and skidding. Autos often were lined up as far as the eye could see on Lisbon and Main streets and two main arteries. Police, try as they might, were unable to cope with the congestion. Some veteran observers said they’d never seen anything like it, especially the late afternoon tie-up on the North Bridge.

25 years ago, 1983

• The economists who are not taking the Fifth Amendment for their past crimes of prophecy are predicting that this will be – well, could be – the Year of the Car. The automobiles collectively coughing smoke on the American Highways are said to average an age of seven-and-a-half years. How long, economists ask themselves, can these poor excuses for chariots of fire chug on? And so, if in January – or even on Jan. 10 – say more cars are sold than on Jan. 10, 1982, the end of the recession will be proclaimed, with new wheels leading the way.

• Major banks dropped their prime lending rate a notch Tuesday to 11 percent, and a government report pointed to greater consumer confidence in the economic outlook.