The Portland daily press., 1868-01-14

Tuesday Morning, January "A, 1893.
The Ci,y,Rlse,ieu.

l Tuesday hornins January IA, 1893.
The Oily ,Rlsctien. u ~ -la
In few weeks the voters OF Portland win
be called upon to select new city govern
ment. The election, coming q seek before
the New Hampshire election, In Presidential
year, will naturally excite good deal Of inter
est as an indication of the set OF the popular
current, and ditmay easily happen in the excite
ment OF the canvass that its real importance
may be overlooked and its relative signifi-
cance absorb more attention than really be-
longs 10 II. The actual business Of munich
pal election, as we all know well enough now,
seven weeks before the appointed time. is
simply TO select 4 committee of our fellow
citizens, called council, with the mayor for
chairman, to manage for US during the com
ing year these matters of business which con-
cern US as a a.eommunity. What aman thinks
about negro suffrage Is really of no account
in this ease; what he thinks about water
supply is tho vital mater. What eandi-
date thinks about taxation Of national securi-
Ties Is not Of the least consequence but his
opinion OF the utility of the city sinking fuad,
or the disposal of the annual appropriations,
may be Of very considerable consequence. 81.
: Nevertheless we must take things as they
are. The two parties are organized and viii
present two.sets OF candidates. Other things
being equal, voters who are accustomed to
act together on national issues win prefer to
act together on Observation-Disclosures III the
Republican candidates should be men better
fitted than their Democratic opponents TO-
command the respect and confidence OF their
fellow icitizens, Of course they should be.
elected. n they are equally well fitted, Re-
publican voters will prefer them. We must
have good nominations. The only SER
vice aparty Organization can render to the
public is to furnish good and iIusty public
servants, and when il fails to do thar It has
noil0nger any excuse for ptolonging its ex-l
istence. ,t,Ss s-9 . es,isso zsesiissia = a SO
What we want Of a city government tor
some years to come Is first of all wise econ
onny. Our corporate expenses since the FIRE
have necessarily been very large. The war
left US, in spite oflthe judicious management
under Mayor McLlellan's administration, with
adebt of about million dollars. Then came
the fire Of 1866, which destroyed half amfllon
dollars worth of city property in q single night.
The energy of the city government has near
ly obliterated the signs of that disaster. The
City Hall, the pride and ornament Of the
city, has been restored. The schools have
hardly been interrupted; temporary buildings
We're required for their accommodation, and
the new school house on Congress street Is
an honor to the city. Our Democratic friends
have already shown that they know how to
appreciate the little common which has been
laid out between Congress and Federal
Streets All these expenditures have been for
the public benefit, and were demanded by the
public; they were unavoidabl but they have
been heavy. 1t Is time now for rigid econ
omy,. All the liabilities OF the city are provid-
ed for BY funds set apart for the ppr-
pose, and can be. easily met as they ma
ture. The current expenses are al that
the city government should now as
sumo, and they should be reduced to the low
est practicable figures. We need a supply Of
pure water, and that we are In fair way to
get without costing the city, in its corporate
capacity, q dollar. ! The streets must be kept
in good repair, but this Is not favorable time
for opening new streets to accommodate a
prospective influx Of new business. The
health of the community requires perfect
system OF drains and sewers, but there Is no
need Of opening new sewers through unoccu-
pied lots. The harbor must not be neglected,
but moderate animal expenditure for Ciredg-
ing and a prudent care in authorizing any in
reference with the waters of Fore river and
Back Cove, will preserve It unimpaired.s
y. In short, we want a, zeal and not q false
economy city government that will do
everything which the immediate welfare Of
the city requires and win otstinately postpone
every proposition which viii bear postpone
ment. We want men in the co1kjl who are
accustomed to the details of business, who
know the value of thousand dollars, who
are acquainted with the needs OF the city and
can distinguish between those projects which
can walt and those which are of pressing i'm
portance. We want and must have the SER
vices of men who do not want the Offices.
The men who do want them are not, as
rule, the men whom the people want The
men who will perform these duties best are
those who would be glad to avoid new respon-
sibilities, but who, II they accept them, win
do faithfully all they undertake. No man has
any legitimate claim to public Office, nor
has any nuhlic-snirited cifizen a r;oh< "a 10
cline, when invited by his fellow citizens,
service which he can possibly render. ; ~ i
To secure the nomination of our best men,
the caucuses should be 30 conducted as to
leave no room for suspicion Of underhanded
management. Full and early notice should
be given. The business should not be done
in fifteen minutes by the few who happen to
be present at the appointed time. Let the
ward rooms be kept open for certain time,
specified in the notification, SO that all who
desire may take part in the choice of candi
dates. In this way we may get a full express
ion of the wishes of voters. Give us good
nominations and time enough to tconsider |
and compare them, and there can be no doubt |
Of the result. 1t would be well too, if the |
City Committee should before long provide
some head quarters, where Republicans may
meet and exchange opinions. We want not
only good city government next year, but
good State government, and a good President
of the United States, and 1t is time to adopt
all means which tend to promote good un
derstanding in the party. tasd. i4saa