The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-13

vations with regard to the necessity of
prompt attention to the outlets of the sewers
emptying into Back Bay, and to the outlet Of
the Emery street sewer, and also IN reference
to cleansing the mill pond between Green and
Grove streets.
The length of our sewers has now reached
between twenty -one and twenty-five miles,
and the decided benefit that the sewerage sys-
TEN has had upon the health of the city is
very apparent. A very large amount of
heavy work was done last year on the sewers,
exceeding the appropriation of $4,000 be-
tween one and two hundred dollars. This
year, | am happy to say, as assured by the
superintendent, the appropriation can safely
be cut down to $4,000.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The late chairman of the committee on this
department, whose opinion, from long ex-
perience, is entitled to great weight, reports
to me that the department is in excellent con-
dition. 1t deserves commentator for having
kept within its appropriation, and in examin-
ing the very full and satisfactory report of
the chief engineer, its expenditures do not
seem to have been excessive. Still, l trust
every member of this department,-as well
as of all other departments will consider it
one of his duties, and as important as any
other, to save whatever expense he can for
the city. The amount of losses sustained by
fire the past municipal year, as nearly as can
be ascertained, is $126,613
Amount of insurance paid. S6,567
Ez cess of loss over insurance, $40,046
1t is to be borne in mind that a part of the
expense of this department is returned to our
citizens in lessened rates of insurance and
increa sed security of property, and it may be
of life itself. Calling to mind the hre COM
panies of other days, with their rowdylsm
and dissipation, the old hand stub, and the
former means of giving the alarm OF hire and
calling out the department: and comparing
these with our select disciplined, and order
" organizations of to- day, our steam fire en-
gines our hydrants, our fire alarm telegraph I;
we cannot fail to acknowledge that the
world really moves.
Speaking in general TERMS the police of the
city have been faithful and efficient in the dis
charge of their duties. and will compare IA
| vorably with the force in other cities, es-
pecially in what is very important, respectful
demeanor, courteous manners and gentlemanly
| bearing. Dependent as we are upon them foI
| enforcement of good order and the protection
of person and property, they should always
receive the countenance and support OF all
good citizens in the performance of their du-
ties, sometimes difficult and delicate. By a
salutary enactment of our last legislature,
their appointment in the future is to be for
good behavior, subject to removal for inef-
fciency or other cause, thus giving perma-
| nence to their tenure of service, and prevent
| ing change of the force with every change
| of the city administration; and making it, as
I hope, sooner or later, independent OF party
politics.
And for one, should be glad to see the
time when all departments of our city gov
eminent shall be divorced from partisanship,
and our best men of both parties selected to
administer our city affairs, in which, certain
ly, no issues of State or federal politics are,
or at least ought to be, involved. AS it is
| now, by whatsoever of the political parties
| we have been chosen, after having taken the
| oath of Office, respectively, we, as public
| servants, in our official capacity, represent
| the whole body of citizens of whatever polit-
| ical affinities or religious creed.
To return to the subject Of the police. The
number of the force is thirty-nine, consisting OF
marshal, two deputy marshals and thirty-sx
men. suggest that the truant officer be at
tached to the force and subject to its discipline.
He can be directed to report to the Mayor, as
chairman of the school committee, for the per-
| Torrance of the usual duties OF truant
| officer, aud during the vacations of the
| schools and at other times he can be
| called to special police duty. Now that the
| police force is to be a permanent body, more
than ordinary care ought to be taken in their
l selection. Many of the qualities that mark
| the good soldier seem to me to be necessary to
render an applicant eligible for appointment
| on the police corps such as good character,
| temperate habits, sutableness Of age, health
| and vigor of body, physical and moral courage,
| promptness to obey and readiness to submit to
discipline, and last though not least, ability
| to read and write with facility.
This may be high standard, but we have
| the material, L am convinced, in our midst,
l and now we have the means, to attain unto
| such standard. and my strong desire is to
| organize police corps which shall be an honor
to the city, and equal to any in the country
ovERsEERs OF THE POOR
Their report, as we'll as accounts from all
| sources, show that the Aims House and the
Greedy Hospital are in the very best condition,
and we'll managed in every respect under the
| immediate care of Mr.. and Mrs. Joel w. Mer-
rill The labors OF the overseers have been great
| ly enhanced by the increased hardships and suf-
l ferings of the poor the past year, which have
taxed to the utmost both their best energies and
1 judgment to relieve. Much work has been done
by the inmates of the Aims House under the di.
| recton of the farming committee, especially II
| filling and grading up the low marshy tract OF
ground lying west of the Aims House, thereby
adding producing land to the city farm, and
| abating an almost intolerable nuisance. A
| large wooden building has alsU been constructed
| by the overseers out of the appropriation given
| them, but at what cost does not appear.
The auditor informs me that the appropriation
| to this department of 1000, Including there
| in the cost of this building will carry il
| through the year. The appropriation for
| the present year can be made, l think,
from all the information 1 can obtain, material
! ly less than last year, but am unable to make
| any reliable estimate, because, annexed to OF
| included in this otherwise very excellent
report, L do not find any account of the fnan-
cial transactions of the board, The gentlemen
composing it no doubt would have furnished
| such account with pleasure had 1t been custom
/ ary to do go, as find pom inquiry it has not.
But the propriety is obvious and the law seems
| to be imperative, as l understand it, that any
| board charged with the disbursement of SO
large a sum of the cty's money as $40, 900
| annually, or indeed any sum, should include
| in their written report to the city council, all
| their financial transactions, with full account
of receipts and disbursements, and to whom
| and for what purpose each item OF the same
was made. As it is now, the only way to get
| any information on these subjects, so far as
| this particular department is concernd, is
| through the auditors report, which is not
made till long after the commencement of the
municipal year, and then not in the itemized
| form desirable, and without giving the reasons
or explanations for the expenditures, which
| the board alone would be able to give.
| OTHER REPORTS.
The proper limits of this address permit me
only to refer you to the valuable reports of the
| City Solicitor, City Physician and Harbor
| Master, for information concerning the i'm
| portant matters in charge Of these officers
| respectively.
The importance of the requirement OF writ
ten reports from the city officials in the various
| departments cannot be overestimated. Pub
licity and accountability go hand in hand, and
| are the best guarantees of on hone est and eff
! Gent administration Of municipal affairs
When daylight is let in upon the proceedings
of public officers, there is little opportunity for
| fraud and dishonesty, and responsibility is
| brought home to the right parties. To
| these reports you and 1 in the discharge of
our duties must turn for much of the informa-
ton that is to guide our action the resent mu-
nicipal year. ana trust our fellow citizens
generally will avail themselves more freely
| than heretofore of the same sources of knowl-
| edge concerning the affairs of the city in
which their lot is cast SO as to enable them in
| diligently to select capable and efficient off
Gals, and to correct any abuses that may ex-
ist
LITTLE LEAKS.
The investigation respecting untaxed real es-
tate ard preparation of lists and desert ptions
thereof, and of all taxable real estate, has
4 -c..l Al