Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-14
The Old Council go out and the New Council
Come in.

Come H.
The Inauguration Of newly elected city Of
feers took place at the Council Hall yester-
day afternoon, and was attended by large
number Of citizens. Mayor Flint called the
Council to order, and then proceeded to read
the following ysledietory address
GEN1LnES OF The CoUNcIL.-On this Oc
easion shall be very brief.
The Mayor and Council just about to dis
place US, it is expected, will make good the
deficiencies if any, justly ehargeable upon
the present retiring Mayor and Council.
tits truly matter of congratulatisn that
orr beautiful city, notwithstanding the war,
is in all its business interests day unusu-
ally prosperous. During no previous year of
our history as q city, have the manufacturing
interests especially, made 50 great strides rs
in the past year, and it is gratifying to be able
70 note thatit has been done mainly by the
wealth, energy, and public spirit of our own
citizens. Yet the war has put upon US unu-
suaI responsibilities, and burdens that must
be periodically met, and met promptly, and
not alone such responsibilities and burdens
as direct taxation and military conscription-
the one to supply the required sinews Of war,
the other to keep full and efficient our brave
armies Uuk OAuGEb luha III u CGEAhlI bcu5c
may be called charities. What mean to say
here is, that we ought not to permit in our
midst the needy families OF absent soldiers
to endure want, whether those soldiers yet
live to fight, or have died in the service.
Public and private charity should vie with
each other in relieving all such cases, and in
this connection / must commend our Sol
dier's Aid Society,"" It has done a good
work for the soldier himself, and done it
we'll.
Permanent street surface improvements
the past year have been limited to the pave
ment Of that portion Of MerEin street be-
tween Superior and Center streets. This, to-
gether with the pavement Of Water street,
between ST. Clair and Front streets, and a
small amount at the foot OF Superior street,
comprise all the street paving laid down
during the last two years. Almost one and
one half miles of grading have also been done
during the same time, on other streets than
those paved.
The sewerage completed during the same
time measures no less than three miles in
length. More sewerage is still in progress
where actually needed, and upon streets
which must undoubtedly soon be paved, it is
important that this be not delayed. 1t is
certainly sound economy and altogether con-
sistent with the entrenehment policy hereto
fore advocated, that when practicable all
work below the snrface Of streets be done be :
fore the surface pavement is put on. I'm
proved piers and new superstructure to take
The place of the present Center street bridge,
for which the contract was made in the Fall,
are to be completed early this season.
The new City Prison, begun during the
last year, ought and it is expected will soon
be completed, a long ago demanded improve
ment.
I do not propose to repeat the figures you
will fnd in detail in the Annual Report Of
the Auditor, exhibiting the financial condi-
tion Of the city, its receipts, expenditures,
&c. 1t is sufficient to say that our city hnan-
cially is sound in this respect it never was
in better shape than to day.
Notwithstanding the small number Of pO-
lice, amid ell the unusual excitement and
responsibility growing out of the war, it gives
me pleasure TO be able to affirm that both
Chief Of Police and subOrdinates have faith
fully done their whole duty, and are entitled
to the commendations Of every good citizen.
Our public schools are, it is believed, we'll
sustained in all important respects, and the
attendance satisfactory.
The Infrmary, under its efficient manage
ment, has fully, and at the same time eco
nomieally, accomplished the charitable OBJ
lect OF It's establishment.
The steam fire engines, which, under the
wise direction Of the Committee on Fire and
Water, are being substituted for hand en-
gines, are found to give general satisfaction.
The steam engine, doubt not, will in all
important cities be universally adopted be
cause much more largely effective in ordi-
nary fires, at the same time affording almost
absolute security against extensive conha-
grafton.
Another, and on a subject which it can do
no harm to throw out a few suggestions.
That subject is the amount Of actual respon-
sibility devolving upon the Mayor in the ex-
eeution Of his office. It is generally assumed
that the Mayor has some authority over the
different officers and departments. But un-
der our charter, his sole power is to dismiss
one or all of the subordinate police, which
extreme power Of dismissal however, mere
comfy towards the Marshall, who by law is
constituted their superior, forbids him to eX-
ercise except the Marshal desire it. This
having a so-called executive officer, with
power to execute nothing of any practical
| import, either to check reckless expenditures
or to put a stop to unnecessary additional in
debtedness, or to compel, under penalty, the
faithful performance Of plain duty by the DIFF
ferent officers Of the different departments,
may be good policy. But this much ought
10 be well understood That the Mayor is
not rightly to be held very largely aecounta-
bic for either the faults, or omissions of 9TH
ers than himself connected with the city
/ government.
do not mean by those remarks to hint
/ that every officer or department, during my
official term, has been dereIict, on the con
trary. But it is full time il should be more
generally accepted as an undeniable fact,
that our Executive officer Is practically,
without real executive powers, the only
propermeasures Of his official responsibility
The annual reports from the different de-
partments, complete and detailed, submitted
and soon to be published in full, relieve me
from all necessity for speaking otherwise
than generally Of city affairs.
EDWARD S. FLINT.
The old Council proceeded to conclude its
business.
REPORTS.
Annual report Of the Board Of Inhrmsry
! Number Of Inmates remaining March SIst,
Number received during the year..............-So.
Number discharged
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