The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-13
MAYOR BAXTER'S ADDRESS.
Valuable Suggestions for the Welfare
of the City.

The City Finances-Good Work of the
Scholastic Rebuilding of Tukey's
Bridge-Liquor Agency Management
Anew Armory-Other Matters.
The following is the inaugural address
read by Mayor Baxter at the meeting OF
new City Council yesterday forenoon:
Gentlemen Of the City Council
We have assembled here today to in
augurate a new city government, and
following the custom of long line of
worthy predecessors, it becomes equally
a duty and privilege for me to address
you upon subjects pertaining to the well
being of this municipality.
At the outset, we should consider the
relations which we hold to the commu-
nifty, which has selected us above all
others to honor with official power.
A city of forty Thousand people. pos
sesses interests Of greater magnitude and
of more complicated nature than any
private corporation in the State, and
demands as wise foresight; as strict in
teprity; as prudent management; in a
word, as much business ability as such
a corporation requires, to secure salts
factory results. 1t is therefore an honor,
which we all without doubt appreciate,
to be selected by our fellow citizens as
their trustees, to hold and administer IN
their behalf the Important trusts. Whlch
they have confided to our charge, ana
am sure that we all realize the imDortanG
fact. that if we fail to administer these
trusts impartially for the pu bile welfare,
wa shall not only be derelict to duty,
but criminally culpable. Realizing
then, fully, our relations to the conn
munity, and the responsibilities which
we assume upon the threshold OF our
+ Sc a1n w
would be worthy of the honoTs bestowed
upon us. we must work together har-
moniously and zealously to promote pub
lie interests to the best of our ability. :
Many questions OF. an. important nature
will come before us during the coming
year and in my review OF the transactions
of the wear which has closed l shall adj
vert to some of them.
Municipal Finances will first engage
my attention. Early in the past muni-
cipal year we experienced financial
disturbance which not only made it
difficult for the city to borrow money to
carry on Its affairs; but nearly doubled
the rate of interest, thereby subJect1ng
If to considera BILE cost. Many of our
citizens, however. by anticipating the
payment of their taxes, considerably re-
iieyed the situation. By the Treasurer
account you will see, that the recon-
mendation which I made in my last
message to pass to the credit of the
Sinking Fund the stock of the Portland
Gas Light Co. and the Portland & og-
densburg Railway Go. was adopted by
the City Council. By this action the
Treasurer's account shows the net debt to
be on March 9th, 1894, 81, 347, SAC. 80,
which is reduction for the year of
SIC, 1880. AS the last valuation of the
city was $50. s23. $3.50. it will be seen that
we are below the five per cent. limit OF
Indebtedness fixed by law. 1898, 652.6 5.
1t is my opinion that when the proper
time is reached, it will be advisable to
dispose of the stock in the Sinking
Fund, and apply it to the payment of
the public debt.
Two years ago the United States gov
eminent notified the city that it must at