Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-05

them principally am indebted for whatever sue
cess my administration has attained.
Inc work of the year was begun with much to
discourage and dishearten The affairs of the city
We're involved in much uncertainty and confusion.
Inc accounts of the various departments had been
kept without any uniform method. Almost the
only thing that could be ascertained with certainty
was the fact that We're in debt tlCO million and
nay Of dollars. Out of this uncertainty and con-
fusiona complete bureau of accounts has been or
ganlzed and svstematized, and now you may ascer-
tam with as much accuracy and certainty the Oper
aIohs OF any department and its financial condition
as you can the operations and financial condition
ofthe best regulated business firm or corporation in
your midst. The accomplishment of this much
needed reform has been the work Of almost the
ceSsful operation.
There are now several enterprises under consider
atlon ana upon which much labor has been eXpend-
ed towards bringing them to satisfactory ISSUE of
great practical importance to the city, and
whlch vet require patient and careful at
tsntlon. These are the Lake avenue the
Newton hill park project, the establishment of
a location for the northern railroads,
the union passenger depot, the Jaques
hospital and the ordinance for the establishment
OF board of public works, by which it is believed
saving to the city of very large sum might be
accomplished in the annual disbursement of Its
million OF dollars if wisely established and properly
administered. But neither time nor your patience,
nor perhaps the proprieties of the occasion will al
low me to enter upon any general discussion of
these projects.
You will trust, pardon me if / trespass upon
your time in abiding to one or two matters which
nave been subjects Of some criticism. At the be-
ginning or the year for reasons that seemed to me
suflclenf, made some changes in the police force
py leaving Ofsome Of the old officers, and appoint
ing Others in their place, Not long after was in-
iSrmed, by the way, and from various sources that
mere was feeling of hostility on the part OF some
OF the Old men toward tine new appontees, and tnat
they intended to make the place so uncomfortable
for them that they would be glad to resign their
positions. | endeavOrcd to ascertain the truth OF
these reports, but found no such evidence, in my
Judgment; authorized any action on my
part although there seemed to be manls
Of INSTRUMENTATION Stili later we had considera-
PIE trouble with some of the men, their conduct
having been such as to bring the entire force into
general disrepnta. But, with one exception, these
complaints were occasioned by men whom l found
and retained on the force These men were sum-
marty suspended and believe that the force as
now constituted will compare favOraby in inte-
gence and efficiency with other similar organiza-
tOns
A word with reference to the financial condition
of the city, and will relieve your patience. can
not help feeling that financial condition has
somewhat improved during the past year, and that
what seemed 10 many TO be too lavish eNpendi-
tqre of the peoples money has been summarily
checked
Dnring the three preceding years, 1868, 10 and
~, our debt was increased s1,S39,O0O0O, and
amounts:
Ascertained Jan J. 1872 ,873615 Os
unascertalnad JAN !, 1872, .,......... 239 4l9 30
TotaI..............................s2 ,618,O8l IS
The debt Nov i, 1872, less cash in treas
ury, 3i,224 "
Showing decrease Of. ......t...u..S 1TS,S10 81
This shows, however, the operations of the city
for but eleven months, The debt has not been in
creased during the astlm0nth, and estimate that
the November bills will reduce the balance to prob
ably 100000.
There are now assets in the treasury drawing in-
terest at the rate of seven per cent amounting to
S325,000,
We have paid for the high service water pipe as
1t has been put in, SlS3947 81.
we have contracted debts to no considerable
amount that will be carried over, and there Is nd
reason to believe that the revenues of the city will
not be sufficient the next year to pay all claims and
contracts that may now exist, together with any
needed or contemplated public expenditures,
mHhot '1creGSing the debt another dollar, and it is
to be hoped that a very considerable reduction OF
the existing debt may be made.
so that instead of increasing the debt ut the rate
OF 100000 year, before, IL has been actually
reduced, and at the same time believe that no
needed public improvement has been permitted to
suffer from neglect or inattention.
Gentlemen OF the convention, l trust you will not
forget, during the brief campaign which is to fol-
low that flushed with recent victory, the opposition
relies upon an organization which 1t deems invinci
Bile and a recorded majority which it fancies can
not be overcome. Let no feeling of security keep
you from action; let no belief in the weakness Of
the opposition induce ycu to be idle, but by ener-
getic and Well directed labor show at the polls on
Monday next that the sacred right of the people to
select their own officers is not TO be trafcked away
thank you Tor TINS expression of your confidence
and If, by your votes on Monday next You shall
affirm the doings Of this convention, pledge my
self TO an earnest and faithful performance Of the
duties imposed on me.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Verry's speech, a
committee of one from each ward was appointed
on motion of Chas B. Pratt, to call caucuses in
each Of the wards for the purpose of completing
the nominations. The committee is as follows,
by wards.
Ward !, Benz Walker; ., N A Lombard; 8, Geo
Z Hewett; 4, + b Norton; 8, Levi Barker; g. Geo
woodward; I, P Murray; s, David Manning.
After authorizing the committee that reported
the list denominations for aldermen, TO fill any
vacancies that may occur, the meeting adj.
journcd.