Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-03-27
INAUGURATION.
Meeting Of the Mayor and Board of Al
dermen.


seth Ma. g; whitehs.se l...s.ra.ed layer
MS Address-The City Marshal Fight.
The board of aldermen met in the alder
mems room at 10 O'Clock A. NJ, yesterday.
A crowd of men and boys was present, eager
to get an insight into the workings of the new
board. There was much caucusing among
the opposition members and their friends as
to the distribution of the offices and the OPEN
ing OF the meeting was delayed thereby. They
were unable to decide who should be city
marshal, which made much trouble for them.
1T has been an awful fgbt.'. said one of
their best men, yesterday.
City Clerk Lynch called the meeting to or
der, and on motion of Mr.. Atkins. Mayor
Philbrook being absent. Alderman Lane was
called to the chair.
The chairman announced that Seth C.,
Whitehouse, having received majority of
the votes, was elected mavor at the election
on Tuesday.
On motion of Mr. Atkins Mr.. Cony wa.
delegated to wait upon the nayor-elect, and
announce to him the fact of his election and
that the board of aldermen were in waiting
to receive him.
The mayor elect arriving, chairman Lane
administered the oath of Office.
Mayor Whitehouse proceeded to read his
inaugural address which is as follows:
THE MAYoR's ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Board of Adermen:
We have been elected to manage the muni-
cipal affairs of the city for the ensuing year.
and have accepted the important responsible
ity and taken-the solemn obligation to dis
charge faithfully the several trusts committed
to our care. l sincerely hope that each one
Of US may feel this responsibility, and that
the controlling motive in all our acts may be
the interests of the city and the welfare of
the citizens. Let US ignore party strife and
act independently and impartially. Let US
in performing our duties not feel that we are
beholden to any political party, but that we
are pledged to the faithful administration of the
laws, and to such measures will promote
the prosperity of the city. In entering upon
the duties of my Office feel additional con-
fidence from the fact that | have associated
with me gentlemen on whose integrity and
business capacity can implicitly rely; gen.
tlemen who am sure will give to the affairs
of the city the same attention and care that
they would z i've to their own business. 1t
belongs TO you to elect the subordinate Off
GERS. / trust that you will act in harmony
and with due deliberation, and select men in
whom the citizens have confidence; men of
good judgment, who will be faithful and en-
ergetic. Nor is your duty in this matter at
an end when you have elected your officers
1t belongs to you as well as to me to see that
in all things they execute the laws, and carry
out your measures. Shonld they not
do so, you ought without hesitation
to remove them and elect others in
their places. No administration, however
good its measures, can be successful unless
the subordinate offices are held by men eff
cient and conscientiously deter mined to do
their duty.
One of the mcst important questions for
your consideration Is the state of our fnan-
ces You will agree with me that the debt
is larger than it ought to be, and that it is
time that steps were taken gradually to re-
duce II do not recommend to you reduc-
tions in your appropriations which will in any
way impair the efficiency of the several de-
partments. Appropriate freely wherever the
prosperity and welfare OF the city demand it.
1t is however. a wise economy for city so
heavily in debt as we are, to see that its re-
sources are not exhausted where necessity
does not require it. If we are interested
in the future of our city we ought
gradually but surely to reduce our debt and
80 our rate of taxation. Until there is such
reduction we can not expect cur population
to increase, or capital to be brought within
our limits. When once the rate of taxation
reaches a low figure, then We may look to
see our numbers increase and manufactures
to spring up in our midst. Bonds to the
amount of $1,000 become due this year. Let
us pay this amount and set aside the sum of
at least $4,000 toward paying the indebted
ness which natures in 1887. The auditors
report which is before you shows you the ex-
act state of affairs.
The city is fortunate in having among its
resources an immense water power, which is,
to a limited extent, utilized. This property
has passed into the hands of the Edwards
Mans featuring Company. corporation
which has abundant capital and which. we
are assured, intends to further increase the
capacity of the present mills and to build
new one The new one will probably be built
this year The company is composed of men
who look sharply after their business, and we
may be sure that they will make further use
of our water power,if they can do so advant
ageously. Let us be in favor Of just and
liberal policy toward them. The citizens
have established a basis on which they are to
be taxed, and have exempted them from tax
alton on any improvements during
period of ten years. 1t is to be
nOpeu Iuat mcaSuiS 81 ihNotooiS w
them will be followed by prompt
action on their part, and that we may realize
in the near future what we have been antici-
psting so many years. But it is not to this
corporation alone that we should be liberal.
There are many other industries within the
city which are equally deserving of our care
full consideration. Let us hold out induce
ments to capitalists to establish msnufsc-
tories which will bring among US skilled me-
chanics and workmen who will become
useful citizens, and take an interest In our
affairs.
The temperance question is one in which
all good minded citizens should be interested.
The liquor traffic has been on the increase in
our city, in violation of all laws and notwith-
standing the most energetic exertions of our
temperance organizations. l can not too
forcibiy express my indignation against the
men who carry on the business of selling in