St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-03


admirable address Mayor EuStlS TOOK
the floor and delivered his inaugural.
The mayor is noted for his eloquence
and mastery OF the queens English. lie
upheld his reputation in the address.
and when he took his seat the audience
applauded him heartily. During lis dis
course lie said:
Mr. President aud Gentlemen of the City
Council: This hour witnesses the transition
of authority and power from one set or CITY
officials to another. Some i'll honor are lay
ing aside official trust, and others are reeeiv7
ing it. This simple ceremony III TINS city
possesses mere than ordinary significance!
Rapidly. has the borough passed from the
hamlet stage to the great metropolis. with ltS
more than 200,000 souls. ranking eighteenth
in size with all the cities of the republic,
while in bank clearings only ten lead us. 10
inaugurate. ADOPT and execute the puDnc
Improvements OF the city during these rap
Idly changing conditions requires breadth
and strength OF character. united with cont
fidence in the present and faith in the nut
IRE. That this branch of the public service!
devolvlng upon The city fathers Of today and
yesterday, has been wisely, economically
and honestly administered is demonstrated
not only in the magnificent showing
which the able report OF our mayor mas
made together with those made by the heads
of the various departments under him, but
th t proof is an open book to every citizen,
through our thoroughfares or parkways. Our
city fathers have always had patriotic pride
i'll this city of destiny.
Cheerfully have our people borne the heat
and burden OF taxation incident to this pne-
nomenal growth and condition. 1t should,
therefore, be our pleasure, as it is our duty,
to tighten this burden wherever it can be
done, and not interfere with The present or
retard our future growth. In my judgment
the council should carefully scrutinize every
proposed extension of sewers, water mains.
payements or curb and gutter, as well as side
walks in the outlying portions of the
city. These special assessments pear
heavily, in many instances on UNI
improved and unplatted property lying to-
wards the outskirts of the city. When unim-
proved real estate is active 1T does not feel
taxation as il does when for period of years
II has been quiet. ! he general taxation on
this class Of uuproductive property rapidly
increasing in assessed valuation, is burden
some, but when we add to it unnecessary
special assessments, 1t works hardship.
While our real estate is III healthy c0nQl-
ton and shows decided upward tendency,
ii does not occupy the crest of prosperity
like nearly every other line of trade i'll the
city. Patiently does this industry bear the
great bulk Of all our taxation.
If it shall be i'll your power in some sub
stanlial manner TO reduce the rate Of taxa
zion, it will accelerate, i'll a marked manner.
the return of former activity Ill these circles.
This interest is commended TO your careful
and conscientious consideration, because IL
pays more than nine,enths OF all our taxes,
and revived activity would greatly enhance
our general growth and prosperity.
Policemen and Firemen
While the city council has more authority.
and, therefore, more responsibility than the
mayor in the administration of affairs, so far
as they relate TO public improvements, the
fire and other departments there is one
branch of the public service the authority
and raS,,onShilItv of 1pbiph iS LARGELY a
signed by the charter to the mayor. This is
the police department. The reason for the
existence of such department should form
the core of its policy. In this city the char
ter limits the force to 225, and the city coun
Gil appropriates annually for its support up
ward of S.s0000. This force constitutes the
standing army of the community. Its num-
bers being limited, its efficiency in Il large
measure depends upon the discipline of the
whole force, the physical strength and char
acter of eacn individual member. The
duties of the patrolmen are onerous and Sc
we're, but these duties are necessary for the
proper protection and lives of our citizens,
and strangers who visit our city by day and
by night, and it is for the efficient discharge
of these duties that the city pays
this large sum, it is in the nature OF an
insurance. Hence to put upon the force
men who cannot perform their whole duty,
is i'll Il measure To rob The city of much
protection. Two hundred and twenty five
able bodied men, constantly on the alert,
keen in the discharge of their duties, ami
mated by single purpose, ought 10 make
this city an uncomfortable resort for those
seeking TO harm, in person and property, our
people.
Whatever has been said of the police APP
plies, with added force, to the fire depart
ment, and have no doubt that this honor
able council will see that that department is
maintained at the highest possible human
efficiency. In neither of these departments
should there be place for any man except
that he Is first able To perform all its duties.
While the two departments of which have.
spoken are sacred trusts, the one coniided
more particularly to the charge of the coun-
Gil, the other 10 the executive. Yet q similar
unseltish, patriotIc and business like spirit
should in large measure, animate all our
official acts.
A Few Suggestions.
Permit what seem to me two practical sug-
gestions: Modern thought on the proper
functions OF city is tending TO the conclu-
sion that 1t is both wise and profitable for
municipality to do its own lighting. We are
now spending annually about $4,000 for
lighting our streets. This amour: will in
future necessarily increase. Our citv should
be well lighted as well as well watered, 1t is
not many years since it was a common &C.
currence for individuals to own and control
municipal water supplies Our experience
has demonstrated its wisdt m, both as to
utility and profit. | think like results will
follow similar experiences with Lighting.
To-day we enter upon lighting contract
hich runs for five years. This contract
should be carried out in good faith. In the
meantime we should carefully examine into
the eXpediency and feasibility of the city
attempting this new departure, so that if
it is thought best, the city will be in
position. at the end of that time, to
do this work economically and well. To this
end committee of citizens, best qualified by
experience to serve without compensation,
should be appointed, authorized to make a
most thorough and exhaustive examination
of the question, and report the results, with
suggestions, to the council, at the end of one
or two years Then. il on such examination
and report it should be deemed by the coun
Gil feasible and eXpedient, ample time will
still be left for the wise arrangement of the
system and economical construction of the
plant. If found otherwise no harm will have
been done and no expense incurred.
The other suggestion refers to the smoke
nuisance in the center OF our city. Among
| our streets, Nicollet avenue is our pride, yet
| there are days, when the atmospheric con
| ditions are favorable. that vast volumes of
| denye black smoke ill the avenue from Sixth
| to Washington, literally converting day into
night, and necessarily injuring great quant-
ties of goods in the various retail stores that
| line the avenue. The time has come when
this can be abated without hardship on
any one. Smokeess furnaces have passed the
| experimental stage. They can be examined in
| the New York Life building i'll this cily,
| Wnere cheap sou coal is burned, ana the re-
| suits are all that can be desired. l have
| faith 10 believe that if this council shall ap-
point committee TO examine the matter. and
call the attention of the property owners
whose chimneys belch forth this heavy black
smoke into the very heart of city to this
evil and show them the simple and mex
pensive remedy, that they will quickly, as a
matter OF patriotic pride. correct the same.
Such action would Il t only be profitable to
them, but add materially 10 the cleanliness
of that portion of our city. 1t is difficult for
me to separate the responsibility of the coun-
! Gil from that of the mayor. The council
must share in the success or failure of the
| admin >tration. In order that our people
may attend to their private affairs in
pence and security, they have COM
mitted their municipal affairs to our
keeping, reserving the right 20 crili-
else or approve, as i'll their judgment we
prove faithful or false to the trust they have
assigned 10 us. The prosperity of the city
as whole is affected in no small measure by
the economy the integrity and the wisdom
with which her permanent improvements
are planned and executed, her current ex.
peuses applied, and her finances guarded.
Approaching the honor which our fellow
citizens have conferred upon u.s. may we as
faithful public servants forget party lines