The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-03-12
Hon. Jacob Mcclellan.

To-day the new city government Is to be in
au,urated, and the Mayor whose name we
have placed at the head of this article, retires
from the position which he has filled for the
past three years, to that of private citizen,
giving place to one whose emphatic endorse
ment by the citizens at the late election,
shows that in him they repose the confidence
that they have SC largely given to his prede-
cessor We cannot permit the occasion OF
this change in the Mayoralty of our city to
pass by without giving for ourselves, and, we
doubt not, for a large majority Of our fellow
citizens, al expression of favorable opinion
concerning the administration which this day
closes. t... .t7..- .riIs.
Elected Mayor in 1863, in the midst of civil
war, at the darkest hour of our country's his
tory during that struggle, and when less de-
termined man would have shrunk from the
ca e and re possibility of such station, Mr.
Mcclellan took the helm of our municipal
ship; and he never showed more boIdness or
skill in the navigation of the ships of his for
mer command through stormy seas, than he
has evinced in this his later service. 1t is no
exaggeration to say that the duties of Mayor
of this city for the past three years have been
arduous than at amy other period OF our
eAts,s hAstory; I've ianportant 9pesllons con-
nected WIN the war, such as enlistment of re-
cruits, the draft, bounties, aid to families of
men absent in the defence Of the country, the
multitude OF matters growing out of these
subjects, and the ordinary public business
of fhn nitU oil
sonal attention, he exhibited so much applica-
ton and energy in their consideration and de-
cision, that the high position, patriotic and
financial, which this city has sustained dur
ing the war, may be said to be mainly due to
his systematic fidelity. A man of decided
opinions, the Mayor has not hesitated to ex-
press them clearly and forcbly on all subjects
connected with the interests OF the city, his
Judgment and action have of course been de-
termined by these opinions; and although at
times they may have been at variance with
the views of many citizens, still the result has
generally proved the correctness of his views.
Schemes OF expenditure not clearly within the
legitimate powers of the city, or for the bene-
fit of the few at the expense of the public.
have met with no countenance or favor, while
those measures which were for the permanent
improvement of the city, received from hun
the most favorable consideration. An enemy
OF all monopolies, corporations which wished
or endeavored to encroach on the rights of the
public, received from him determined oppo-
sition.
With this introduction we propose briefly to
review some of the acts of Mayor McLelIan's
administration, confnlns ourselves to those
salient points which are peculiarly charac-
teristic. Pre-eminent among all is the depart
ment Of finance. All, even those who on 9TH
er matters have maintained a vigorous opposi-
tion, will admit that his success in this res
pect should receive the appreciation of the
community. After period of three
years of civil commotion and arrangement of
currency, when large sacrifices by munIcipali-
ties as well as States and individuals, were
necessary to save our government from actual
ruin, when men, and the means to pay them,
must be had at any sacrifice, when most
places were rapidly mourning a large debt for
posterity to take care of; and notwithstand-
ing an expenditure for war purposes of nearly
three hundred thousand dollars, the total CITY
debt at the close Of the present financial wear
will be less than forty thousand dollars more
than waen Mayor McLellan took his Office
in April, 1861 No debt has been created
FOR any other purposes than those connactad
with the war. In accordance with the s,o-
gestions of the Mayor, by some additional tay-
alton, and by saving of expenditures in vari-
GUS directions, the sinking fund for the re-
demption of the city debt established under a
previous administra ion, and from which bu.
little benefit had been derived, has been in
creased to such an extent as to Offset within
forty thousand dollars the entire war debt.
All the time of his election and during all
his administration Mayor Nc Lellan has been
accused openly by some, and covertly by 9th
ers, of being in sympathy with the rum traffic,
and opposed to the execution of the liquor
law. The following figures from the records
of the Municipal Court show however. that
the liquor prosecutions during the three years
of his government were more in number Than
during the three previous years. Tn 1880
there were S. prosecutions; in 1861. 10. in
1902, So. Total, 1877. In 1868, 81; in 1894
81; in 1885, Is. Total, PIT.
The duties of the city to the national gov
eminent, in filling the various calls for troops
from 1863 to the close of the war, were the
most important of NJ ryor Nc Lellan's admin
istration, and were discharged in the most
satisfactory manner, both as to the class of re-
cruits furnished, and the expenditure Of mon
ey thereby occasioned. A much less sum for
bounties and recruiting expenses was paid
than in other localities. Instead of employ
ing the services Of substitute brokers' dealings |