The Portland daily press., 1872-03-12
Organization of the City Government for


1872.
The newly elected City Government for the
ensuing year was formally inaugurated yester-
day. ...-...... ......e
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
The members elect were called to order at 10
o'clock by H. l. Robinson, City Clerk, and Mar
quis +. King, Esq, of Ward was made tenn
porary chairman. t--... .-..
Messrs Winship and Mccarthy were made
Committee on Credentials, who subsequently
reported that the following gentlemen had GER
tificates of election and were entitled to seats
at the Board.
Ward l, Joseph S. York, Ward 2, George G..
Littlefeld; Ward 8. William H. Josselyn
Ward 4, Charles Mccarthy, Jr. Ward g. Mar
quis F. King; Ward g. Eben Corey; Ward Z,
VIM. A Winship.
A message was received from the Common
Council accouncing the temporary organization
of that Board.
The Clerk was charged with message to
the Common Council proposing joint conven
ton for the purpose of completing the organi-
cation of the city government.
IN COMMON COUNCIL.
The members elect of the Board of Common
SOuuCll were calleQ order at III o CLOCK Dy ID.
| Barnes, Jr., the clerk of the last Board.
Micah Sampson of Ward was chosen Presi-
| dent, pro tenn.
Messrs. Small of Ward Z, Perry of Ward 5
| and Yeaton of Ward were appointed COM
| mittee on Credentials
A message was received from the Board of
Aldermen, announcing that that body had or
| ganized by the choice of Marquis +. King
| temporary chairman.
| The Clerk was directed to notify the Board
/ of Aldermen of the temporary organization of
| this Board.
The Committee on Credentials reported the
following gentlemen duly elected and entitled
Ward il. F. Randall, H. P. De wey, E. N.
Greeley.
Ward Augustus F. Cox, Hiram H. Rich
Edward Thurston.
Ward 3-Samuel S. Rich, William L. L. Gill,
AlphenSO Brunei.
WaId edward H. Daveis, John Yeaton,
r. A Foster.
Ward 5-Micah Sampson, Lyman n Kim
ball, Ezra N. Perry.
Ward edwin Clement, VIM. III. Fessen-
den, Henry c. Newhall
Ward Fired w. Clark, Stephen r. Small,
Chauncey Barrett. -57 Is. a-H 9tt
A message was received from the Board of
Aldermen proposing convention of both
Boards for the organization of the city govern
ment and this Board concurred in the propo-
sition. " ,3 1
The Board of Aldermen came in and Mar
quis f. King was nominated President of the
Convention. 81 hAat4s'& : tAA -Wl "a |
The City Clerk read the record of votes for
Mayor, and declared Benjamin Kingsbury, Jr.,
duly elected for the ensuing year. .si
Alderman Corey and Councilmen Yeaton and
Rich were appointed committee to notify Mr.
Kingsbury of his election. ,~'h .
The Committee subsequently reported that
the Mayor was prepared to take the oath of
office and enter upon his duties.
The Mayor elect came in, accompanied by the
Committee, Rev. Mr.. Hayden and the City
Marshal. '.-- .4-sza
The oath of office was administered by Hosea
l. Robinson, City Clerk.
A portion of Scripture was read by Rev. Vim.
b. Hayden, of the New Church, followed by
prayer.
The oath of office was administered to the
Aldermen and Councilmen elect by the City
Clerk.
The Mayor then read his inaugural address
as follows: o,. ~ :
MAYOR sKINesBURY's INAUGURAL.
Gentlemen Of the City Comsca:. Y "a I
By the suffrages Of our fellow citizens, freely
and intelligently expressed, we have been Sc
lected to represent and watchfully guard their
interests and rights during the municipal year
now commencing 1t is duty of grave mo-
ment and not to be lightly regarded With a pop
ulation of nearly thirty five thousand and prop
erty valued at about thirty millions of dollars,
virtually in our charge, it becomes us to weigh
each measure presented to our consideration
in the scales of our most deliberate Judgment.
The people have appointed us custodians of sa-
cred trusts and L cannot permit myself to
doubt that it will be our honest endeavor to
discharge our obligations with scrupulous tidel-
ity. r.....q u. lra...-l ... F. -
FINANCES. lJ
Our first and paramount duty is,,to watch care
fully the public funds. There are two extremes
to be avoided One is the lavish use of the city
credit, or of its available cash means, on ex-
perimental schemes of doubtful advantage.
We have no right to involve the city unless the
no
Surate. .ts rE#EUa ffE+.at
The other extreme is in opposing every needed
improvement, and every measure that will en-
ure to the public benefit. i. t...l ..
1t becomes us, therefore, to ascertain, If pos
sible the medium between these two extremes;
in brief, to be conservativey progressive.
A liberal policy is a wise one. We claim for
our city superior advantages for manufacturing
and commercial purposes We have a harbor
unsurpassed ON the Atlantic coast, offering the
nearest route from the great markets of the
west to tide water, and thence across the ocean
to the great markets of the Eastern world. And by
tide water l mean not a creek, nor river, or ev-
en- the crooked channels and shoals, and cross
currents and hidden dangers of an extensive
bay estuary, but what, SO far as depth of
water and facility of ingress and egress are con-
to our wharves, and our railroads are washed by
the spray of the ocean, To open up to the trade
of the west a knowledge of these advantages,
and to give them all reasonable facilities to
make this their eastern terminus, so far as
can safely do So is what / in part mean by a
liberal policy. r. .ass...-s. ..7-
When the reports of the several departments
are placed in your hands, gentlemen, 1 think
you will be satisfied that during the past year
the financial interests of the city have been
guarded with care and but little, if any, use
less expenditure has been incurred. And, as at
present advised, l see no good reason for in
creasing, but some for diminishing the expen-
ses of the current year, with the hope that the
taxes may be still further reduced. t<
During the past few months certain questions
have occupied the public thought, which have
involved more or less of misrepresentation, I'M
intentional doubtless, as to the existing liabili
ties of the city. These misrepresentation have
been quoted in other States, and have. tended
to injure credit in the financial market. 1t
is therefore important that the facts should be
understood as they actually exist. The follow
ing statement furnished me by the City
Treasurer, presents this subject in full, clear,
and satisfactor Y manner:
Funded debt at close of financial year
March 81, 1871, S3,09S,2OO
The amount of bonds author ---
lied to be issued by the