Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-02-22
" Our Municipal Affairs. ="

"0ur Municipal Affairs"
Our eye rested on this caption to the leader
in the Tribune of Saturday, and as that paper
is now understood TO be the organ of the
Know-Nothing party, we commenced read
ing with some interest, hoping 10 find some
light reflected upon the proposed plan of that
party in the regulation and administration of
the municipal affairs of our CITY, But we
were disappointed. True, we met with words
aud sort of ad cdptdndem ruigus strain of re-
mark, evidently intended 10 be smart, and to
make decided impression somewhere. Our
'Hindoo" ghbor-pardon US, but this is
the new name now given to the KnowNoth
ings in the Empire state-is decided on one
point For Mayor, he wants man of '..tfrnl-
ness and backbone In other words, he wants
one of Horace Greeley's spinal columns"
brains being of no account as an element in
making up chief magistrate after his ideal.
ave need,' says he, ''doers rather than
takers" "Mum" is the word. Elect your
men through the agency of secret conclaves
and rigorous party machinery, and then let no
one presume TO question their edicts or dis
pute their wisdom, and the wheels will move
on as noiselessly and tremendously as can be
we'll desired. Says the article in question
ave have had enough of windy gentlemen
1 who are throwing away precious time in the
| introduction of nonsensical and meaningless
| orders and resolves
1t so happens, we are informed, that but
two resolves have been offered in the Common
Councll-the board to which the above remark
Is applied-during the past year; the first of
which related to the purchase of school
house lot in the southern portion of the city,
and which resolve subsequently rpened into
action, and the other resolve, unanimously
adopted by both boards in July last, rendering
to the Mavor the ha"--y -y",P~siry "r'd vV-vP-
GRAFTON Of the government in his efforts 10
put down the mob spirit with which the city
for season was cursed. Such resolves, TO
the editor of the Know-Nothing organ, were
meaningless and nonsensical."
We have the authority of members of the
board that but very few orders have been in
troduced during the year which have not been
of a purely practical character, and received
with general favor, and allowed passage.
The only one of the slightest importance TO
the city generally, which the Council have not
acted upon, is one presented few evenings
since, providing that the pay of the Mayor,
for the next municipal year, shall be fixed at
| 5000. That it is '.nonsensical' order but
/ few will dispute, but that it is meaningless
no one will pretend. The Tribune, in its al
/ fusion to ''nonsenslcal and meaningless orders
and resolves has unwittingIy hit this order
/ full in the face. The order is we'll under
stood 10 be move upon the Know-Nothing
chess-board to secure good living for some
one of the faithful who has not patriotism
enough, or regard for the city's interest, to
lead him 10 serve one year, as others have
done, for the small salary of 5000. The or
der has deep meaning nothing less than
that NnowN Nothing rule, if adopted in our
city, has got to be well paid for, and to be
made an expensive rule. We have no fears
for the present Council, that they will not
give the quietus to such orders. and to all of
like kidney. Before the city tries the exper-
iment of paying 5000 per year, TO a Mayor,
simply to induce new lot of competitors to
enter the list for this office, we think they
will require that one of the new nags should
be trotted out so that they may look upon him,
and judge whether his elevation TO the chief
executive office will be worth $500 more than
the elevation of other men who have served,
or who probably will serve, when the will of
their fellow citizens shall require the service
from them. We hardly think our citizens
will try the required experiment this season,
albeit they may, by refusal, be classed by our
nelgtbor among those whose ''penny wisdom
he says, "always proves to be pound foolish.
ness" The Tribune man winds up his arti-
ticle with the very modest and courteous in
situation that the members of the City Coun-
Gil, nearly all Of whom were his former poit-
cal friends, are dependent upon their neigh
bors to knew how to vote, and that the men,
bers have no s'vote and voice of their own
Probably if the members would consent tc
: nave opinions manufactured for them at the
secret council which meets in Corinthian Hall
or would allow their resolves and orders to
undergo revision there, where the editorials
OF the Tribune seem of late to have received
special sanction, they would be spared such
severe criticism just as their term of Office is
J expiring.