Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-26
OUR CITY AFFAIRS.
The Mayors Audress-EIec ton of CITY Of
ncers, &c.


held yesterday afternoon, at two o'clock. 4
committee consisting of Aldermen Hobbs,
Fowler and Townsend. was appointed TO wait
upon the Mayor and inform him that the
Board was in waiting to administer to him
the oaths of office. subsequently Hon. Chas.
+. Nash, Mayor elect, appeared, and the
oaths of office were administered by II. +.
Blanchard. City Clerk.
The Mayor then proceeded to deliver hi,
ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Boald of ildermen:
The honor of governing the city is attend
ed by great responsibilities and many impor-
tant duties, but by our presence here we
assume and agree to try to faithfully perform
them. May We in no degree underc stimatc
the weight of our obligations, but with
sincerity devote ourselves to the service to
which We have been assigned. first invoking
the benediction of our Father in Heaven.
whose protecting care has been signalv
vouchsafcd to this community during all of
its existence.
1t is very gratifying to me to have as my
associates gentlemen of large business ex-
perience, who possess the special quail
fication of familiarity with the duties of
their position. When such Aldermen. 50
evenly representing two great political par
ties, are given the care of the city. there is
no reason for the people to fear that their
affairs will not be conducted promptly and
we'll.
thank my fellow citizens for their great
and exceptional courtesy in asking me. with
out reference to party. to preside mt this
Board for another year. ! accepted their
invitation as a summons to duty, hoping
that the act might be the precursor of
the era when political ISSUES will
be excluded from municipal business
Theories views of the federal constitution
have no connection with the work of foster
in our schools or of keeping our highways
safe and convenient for travellers; these re-
quire the exercise merely of the busincs fac
ultics of business men. 1t is n healthy indi-
cation for citizens to momcntarlv sink their
partisanship> with a view to the general good
to allow their preference for party to be
secondary to their municipal interests.
wish to tender to each of the retiring Of
tcers my own thanks and those of the city.
for the faithful manner in which they dis
charged their several trusts. No more pains
taking. careful and efficient board of officers
ever served the city. appreciate especially
the many personal courtcsies for which am
their debtor.
The first and most important duty which
dcNoiNes upon the lty Council, i the cleo
ton of city officers to conduct the different
departments. 1t is vain to expect success
from an officer unless he has special fitnc.,
for his position. If the best man is not at
hand within your favorite party, do not hes
itate to look for him outside of it While
your act may be an innovation and
possibly require some courage the city
will be the gamer by it and the public will
approve it, As experiences valuable quail
ifcation in municipal work, it is not wise t.
displacc, merely at the suggestion of a caucus
an experienced and efficient officer bv new
one, unless by the exchange the city is to Sc
cure the services of a still better one.
Orr Finances.
II would be better if our financial wear end.
cd few weeks earlier, so that a more full
and satisfactory exhibit of the receipts and
expenditures of the preceding year might b,
accessible not only at the inauguration of tn,
new city government. but before the annual
election. | would suggest that a clause be
added to the ordinance requiring the Auditor
to submit public report as early as tn,
fourth day OF March annually. At present
the fiscal wear has different lengths and closes
when most convenient. Last year it endct
March 9th, this year the 18th. Uniformity i,
desirable. and commend the subject to YOU
The Auditor has kindly prepared for m,
a statement, in advance of his report, show
ing very approximately
The CITy's FISAScIAL CoNpITIoN.