Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-17
City Affairs.
Organization of the New City Government
Mayors Address Election of City OH i.

oAB"hi@atAoh Oh the new city GOStfhihtht
Mayors Address Election of City OH
GERS.
The members elect of the Board of Alder
men and Common council met in convention
yesterday forenoon, at ten o'clock, IN the
common council room, in conformity to the
provisions of the city charter. The conyen-
ton was called to order by the Mayor. Roll
of members elect was called by the Clerk, af-
ter which the members elect who were present
were qualified by the Mayor. The conven-
ton then dissolved.
In board of Aldermen, on motion of Alder
man Whitehouse, the members proceeded to
draw seats for the present municipal year.
The common council organized by the
election of George S. Ballard of Ward l, as
President, and H. A. b. Chandler, Clerk.
In Board of Aldermen, message was re-
ccived from the common council proposing 8
Joint convention of the two branches, for the
purpose Of qualifying the Mayor elect, and
hearing any communication he may be pleas
ed to make, and for the election of city Of
ticers. The City Clerk was charged with a
message from the board of Aldermen to the
Common Council, concurring with them in
their proposition and for the purpose indi-
Gated
In Convention.
The Mayor elect Hon. J. w. North, APP
peared, to whom the oath of office was ad-
Ininistered by r. w. Black, Esq, City Clerk.
The Mayor then proceeded to deliver his an
nual address.
MAYORS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the City Council:
Called again, by the Partially of my fellow
citizens, to the position which occupy, it be-
comes my duty, as well as pleasure, tc bring
to your notice such topics as may require
your consideration. l trust we shall be able
to devote ourselves to the duties before us
with sincere desire to promote, as far we
may, the general welfare of our city. Fortu-
nate will it be if we shall clearly discern its
true interests, and by united and harmonious
council be able to promote them. Diversity
of opinions and views on important subjects
presented for action may, and doubtless will
be entertained; but full and free discussion,
with a proper consideration and regard for
the views of each other, will, ordinarily, re-
suit in just conclusions and correct decisions.
A just accountability and strict economy in
the expenditures Of each department, should
be fundamental in our system of finance that
accountability which requires all disburse-
ments to be made by competent authority,
and to be fully and particularly vouched, so
that they can be readily understood and easily
traced; and that economy which skiltully
adapts the means to the end which allows no
waste in applying the means so as to accom-
plish the desired end, which, with correct
judgment and prudent forecast, places each
dollar of expenditure so that it will bring in
return its full equiv alent of value. The larger
expenditure is frequently true economy, par
ticular.y if we have with it the elements of
stability and permanence; the lesser expendi.
ture providing temporary expedients, and re-
curing renewed outlay when the temporary
occasion has passed, may be equivalent to
wasteiul extravaganza. In connection with
system of accountability your attention is
called to the office of Auditor of Accounts,
with view of submitting for your considera.
ton the expediency of placing that Office on a
broader basis of usefulness, more in accord
ance with similar offices in large cities. The
auditor now examines the accounts and
vouches at the end OF the municipal year, and
from them makes the financial report. He
examines records of accounts accrued and
settled, or in the process of settlement, and
vouchers for payments made; by passing upon
the accounts when first presented, and plac-
ing such as he may allow upon roll of &C.
counts, for the committee on accounts, and
subject to the revision of the committee, and
TO be reported as now, to the city council for
allowance, a safeguard ard check would be
had, which under the present system is lost
from the necessarily hasty manner in which
the accounts are examined and reported. Any
claims or accounts rejected by the auditor,
would be reported with his reasons to the
committee for its action and final report to the
city council
As the last edition OF TIE charter and ordi-
nances of the city is nearly exhausted, and as
a revision of some of the ordinances is needed
l would submit, whether it would not be eX-
pedient to have a revision this year. adding
such ordinances as the present condition of
the city may require. In doing this thor
ough examination should be made, and a
careful consideration had Of the ordinances
adopted by other cities in the State, in order
that we may have such light as may be shed
by the acts and experience OF others The
most economical system OF making repairs on
streets will be, as it ever has BEEN a prolific
topic for discussion, without, however, result
ing in any decidedly satisfactory solution of
the question.
The large expenditure which one hundred
and fifty miles of roads and streets, with the
sidewalks, may require for repairs and inn
provements, increasing as it is year by year,
is measurably owing to the urgent call of our
citizens for better roads, streets and sidewalks.
In answer to these calls, order after order
during the past year, directed the street COM
missioners to make Improvements, all neces-
sary and desirable, yet all involving expense,
and form numbers aggregating an amount
larger than may be approved by our citizens.
In order that improvements proposed may be
better considered by the city council, and the
expenditures limited to such sums as may be
thought expedient and within the means OF
the city, and that the same may be applied
where the greatest necessity exists, / would
recommend that an appropriate committee be
directed, at the commencement of the year,
TO examine and report what improvements, in
their judgment, may be made during the year,
and estimate the expense of each, and that
the report be made the basis of general or
der to the street commissioners directing the
improvements, and that no further order for
improvements should be adopted except from
some unforeseen cause, the same should be
imperatively demanded. This special action
however, should not control the commission
ers in the ordinary repairs, and the improve
ments necessarily incident thereto.
1t was anticipated, at the commencement
of the last municipal year, that the expendi-
ture on highways would be unusually large,
owing to expensive walls to be built on State