The Portland daily press., 1885-03-24
CITY GOVERNMENT.
inauguration of Mayor Deeriug Yesterday


AT ten o'clock yesterday morning when the
City Government convened for the purpose Of
inaugurating the Mayor elect, the portion of
each chamber set apart for spectators, the ante
rooms and corridors were blocked by the crowd
in attendance
I'm BOard of Mayor and Aldermen.
The Board came to order on the call of AL
derman Gallagher, full board being present.
A message was sent to the lower Board re-
questing joint convention and was concurred
in by that body.
In BOARD of Common Council.
President Woodbury. in the chair. Absent
Messrs. Beals, Wilson and Simonds. In the
absence of the clerk of the Board, L. Clifford
Wade, \. G. Fassett was elected clerk pro
TEN. An invitation from the upper Board re-
qnesting joint convention was received and
accepted.
In Joint Convention.
Alderman Gallagher called the convention
to order and stated the object for which it had
convened. Milton Higgins qualified as men,
Der of the lower board. Alderman Russell and
Oouncilmen Carney and Shaw were appointed
committee to wait upon the Mayor and
Msyor-elect and request their presence. The
committee retired and escorted the Mayor and
Mayor-elect to Highlander. After the admin
stering of the oath of ofhce to Mr.. Deering by
City Clerk Burgess, prayer vas offered by the
Rev. Mr.. Fem. Mayor Deering then deliver
ed his inaugural address.
MAYOR DEERINGs ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the City Council:
The citizens of Portland have confded to
our care their most important trust, and we
have assembled this morning to assume the re-
saonsibilities OF the office. The city will re-
vuire considerable of your time, and all of
mine, for the municipal year and for the faith
full execution of this trust our citizens will
hold ns accountable.
Many among you are fully prepared by prac-
ticaliexperience in previous years, and those
who are chosen for the first time will find their
task an easy one il they resolve to do their
best for the Interests of the city, and to vote
for those measures only which will promote
the happiness and prosperity of our people.
THE GRAND ARMY ENcAMPMENT
The citizens Of Portland will always sustain
you in voting sufficient amount of money to
make each department effective. They will
sustain you, fully believe, in voting special
and liberal sum TO be used for the entertain
ment of the distinguished officers and soldiers
who fought the battles of the civil war, and
who are to visit Portland the last week in
June, These men, Portland, in common with
the whole country, honors, and our citizens
will honor themselves by doing honor to those
who, barring their breasts to the enemy, went
forth to fight our battles, that the nation might
live. You will see the necessity of providing
for this exigency, at an early date, and have
no doubt you will vote an appropriation for
that purpose.
CITY FINANCES.
also feel it my duty to caution you. The
condition OF our municipal finances impera-
lively demands rigid economy in every de-
partment Of the government. Upon you, the
chartered cust9dians of the public property
devolves the duty to scrutinize each item Of
proposed expenditure, and above all, to take
care that not dollar of the money of our tax
payers shall pass out of the treasury without
strict warrant of law. Such Disbursements
however specious the pretext, cannot be too Sc
verely condemned, for they open the door to
under-hand robbery of the treasury, and are,
indeed, themselves, frauds upon our citizens.
do not wish to be understood to say, that our
citizens will not sustain US In voting liberal ex-
penditures, but desire to impress upon each
member Of the council, that they will demand
of us faithful, economical and honest at min
stratiop.
The City Treasurer presents me the follow
ing array OF figures concerning our financial
affairs:
Muuicipal debt, March 81. 1884. includ-
ing S787 900 of bonds issued in aid
of the Atlantic & st. Lawrence rail
road, was.........;.......... 81 ,s02, 500
Less city paid since March 81,
1884, 49,. 500 past due, but not pre-
sented for payment). )........-...... =. $4,000
s1,717 500
Building loan bonds, secured by mort
cages of real estate etc.. Original
issue Of 1895 o00), outstanding -. 325, 900
Bonds in aid of Portland & Rochester
railroad. Original issue of 81. 100 ,0O0)
outstanding .;...:-....:.... 49,. 1,O43, 800
Gonds in aid of Portland & Ogdensburg
railroad Original issue S1,35O,00Ol,
outstanding ..,........................ 100000
"a oSe ooo