Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-07

aud to express the earnest hope that the year
may be one of profit and prosperity to them,
satisfactory TO all of their constituents and that
a kind providence may smile upon lis in the
days TO come as in the days gone by.
The affirmation faithfully TO discharge the du-
ties of his office was then administered to the
new mayor by Mr.. Chaplin after which the city
clerk proclaimed him duly installed as mayor of
the city.
Mr. Earle spoke as follows on taking the
chair:
Gentlemen Of The Board Of aldermen and Gen
ue0'en Of the Common Council.
The sad event which has occurred since our
last regular city election, proves 10 us how i'm
possible 1t is to foresee what may befall US in
short period of time. NY position here cannot
be more Of q surprise to you than il is to my
sell. l need not deneate the past, all of you
have personally witnessed the sorrow of our
city on the death of its chosen leader, while
was in far-of land. The news reached me
only on the last days of the last year, and, for
time, felt ovel whclmed and was made TO eX-
claim, surely tie ways of Providence are past
finding out. | might comment further, but
consider that the good citizens of Worcester
look to me for works rather than words, and
they look to us untedly, gentlemen, for the safe
guidance of our city government the current
year.
Our ever ready and ever honored dd interim
mayor (Judge Chapin) has, with your efficient
and harmonious aid put the government in
working order, and as believe rejoices as he
leaves, seeming to say, go on and do your work
well and will stand by you.
Now as | take the place he leaves | see no
better way than TO take the condition of the city
affairs as described by him i'll his inaugural Of
the I'd ult. as a basis, and from this | hope we
can move on tremendously, aiming to bring
about thp hest results combined efforts
capable of.
desire that each and every one of us may at
all times be ready to cast the bal nee of the city
government on the side of right. There is
mighty difference whether If be a little in the
right or little in the wrong. Few cities have
been more blessed, perhaps. than ours, for many
years. Harmony, general good order and quiet
having mostly prevailed The vote on the beer
question last year was painful to me (no fault Of
the officers OF the government, howevcr,) and
think we should inquire how far the call for
larger accommodations at the house of correc-
ton is chargeable to that vote
We need not cast about for new things to do,
but rather study how best to go forward with
the works already commenced, as well as those
which are fores hadOwed. The subject of econ
omy is niue n talked of, and should be judicious-
ly needed. At BEST our city debt will, no doubt
be much increased in the completion of works
already under way; but the imperative neces-
sty of such completion must fully warrant that
increase.
The attention of city government is called to
important and varied su1jects-humanity, NOR
ais, education, correction, sanitary, ornamental
and useful improvement.
do not feel prepared to foreshadow my ac-
ton on all these important subjects, but trust
on feeling my way, aided by the wisdom of
your councils to arrive at just judgment as
matters are brought before us.
Gentlemen, invite your hearty cooperation
with my best efforts, and your generous for
bearance with my mistakes, in this new posi-
ton to which am called. And my ardent hope
is that rs we seek wisdom from Him who never
fails TO guide arlght we shall be able to so con-
duct the affairs entrusted to us as to promote
the best interest Of the city of our love.
The convention thenIdissolved.
communication was received from the city
engineer in regard to numbering the streets, as
recommended in his annual report, and an or
der was adopted for the appointment of a COM
mittee to take the matter in charge. The COM
mittee consists of Aldermen Kelley and Wy
man, and Councilman Hutchinson, Hartshom
and Combs.
The finance committee was instructed TO re-
port the salaries of various city officials at the
next meeting of the council, and an order author
izing the same committee to investigate and re.
port what additional legislation if any, is neces-
sary in relation to the sewers and other mat
tiers, was adopted. Other orders were adopted
as follows: Authorizing the mayor to issue
bill of sale of house owned by the city on
Union street; authorizing the committee on ed
ucation to complete the purchase of lot of land
on the north side of Walnut street, owned by
Sprague & Head, whercon to move the old high
school building, the mayor to draw his order on
the city treasurer for the sum of 200 to pay
for said land; instructing the joint standing
committee on water to examine the ordinance
relating to the duties of water commissioner
and report to the city council such alterations
and amendments as they may in their judy
ment deem best.
Aldermen Barnard and Sprague, and Council
men j. H. Walker, Towne and Childs were ap-
pointed special committee to inquire into the
duties of assessors, and see that the taxation is
made equal and just.
The committee on finance, according to in
structiOns to report to the council the present
liabilities of the city, and also the probable sum
required to complete work now in progress or
ordered to be done by the city council, made
the following statement of the liabilities upon
contracts, orders and damages: