Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-16

"A
ssens and the present year We ought IL
make small appropriation to provide
closets In the rooms Of tha Can,ta
Iuarus ana to furnish some other room.
tor city officers. ! congratulate you ir
ment inaugurated in this building,
polles.
Inc ample accommodations which Tvs
now have enabled the police d,,rinr ths
last winter to lodge a very large numbe,
f tho warrants, probably a larger number
Great care should be taken In tho 90.
lection Of our police force and We should
insist that those who compose 1t shorid
Pc ne men Of character, who will dominant
devote their time and energies "a wv NV
prompt and efficient discharge Of thei,
duties, Tor, upon them depends In a 0teal
measure the safety OF, persons and pfob.
srty and the good order Of our city.
fee. :" ms u
Fire Department
ProMpthess and efficiency have char.
9asc!efiaed the work Of this department
Turing the past year; the burning Of the
ing the only serious fire during the year
and the extent Of this cannot in any way
be attributed to any lack OF good servic.
on the part or this department. The fire
It's branches we should make every pos.
sibie provision to maintain the present
high standing of our fire service.
Law caees.
Under the management OF our efficient
anu painstaking city solicitor the litiga-
ton In which the city has beeii a Marty
has been carried on III a very Satisfactory a
manner during the year. his report which
- IAN before you will show in detail the
work In this department ''N
49,, WOULD suggest for your consideration
OF pauper cases In the hands of the city
solcitor as being a matter particularly in
the line OF his profession.
By the adoption an amendment to the
ots charter reiating to the appointment
OF an overseer Of the poor, d radical
chanse will be made In the management
OF this department.. The amendment ptf,
vldes for the appointment by the mayor.
OF on as overseer of the poor who is to hold
ias. o rl,, nol the term OF three years ufl-
iees removed, which removal must be by
the mayor and aldermen. after notice and
nearing. by majority vote. The uverseer
IS 70 perform such duties az may be pre-
s serb by the city council and Is to per-
NSNAHs suC Nutscs dlu exercise all the
powers Incumbent Upon or rested In over.
seers or the poor by law.
Inc terms OF office of the present over
seers cease when one is appointed under
tnis act anu that appointment is to be
made within thirty days after the section
took effect, which was on the Sth day of
the present month, the day when It re-
ceived the affirmative endorsement of n
majority of the qualified voters voting
upon the same.
Certain rest rictinns ana lt,,,I,a,to,. 49,
put upon the overseer by the act referred
to-he shall not be directly or Indirectly
interested In any contract for or furnish
ing peuper sMppliesi and the fuel pro-
visions, supplies and such other articles
as the. nature of the case will admit pur-
chased for the nlmshouse and farm must
be obtained upon annual contracts after
notice for proposals published in at least
two newspapers representing different
political parties the contract to be award I,
ed to the lowest responsible bidder reserv-
ing the right to reject any or all bids and
to advertise anew.
The provision In this amendment which
prohibits the overseer from being inter-
ested in any contract for supplies furn-
ished to this department and in which
he is acting as the officer or agent of the
city. Is to my mind unauestionably
sound. do not wish to be understood as
fairly by the city. though he should
himself furnish the goods. But the sys-
tenn is open to criticism and l can con-
ceive of no good reason why the same
rule should not be applied in this case as
Is provided by the statutes in case of
members of city governments
The provision for annual contracts will
give all traders an opportunity to bid
upon supplies and should enable the city
to get them at the lowest market prices.
The entire work of the department be-
ing now placed upon one overseer will re-
quire Reimbursement of the salary and
while we should make the compensation
as low as is consistent with a proper per-
should be sufficient to enable us to de-
mand the full and conscientious discharge
of such duties.
Much criticism has been politically
made on the conduct of this department
and. while some of 1t may be warranted
by the facts. yet I feel that more is due
to the system under which II has been
carried on for many years than to any
on the part of those hav-
ing it in charge, and hope that all this
may be avoided by the complete change
which is required by the amendment.
petition will be presented to you ask
ing for the appointment of lady visitor
who shall be authorized to visit the aims
house and see the condition of those OF
our fellow citizens. whose misfortunes
require that they should be placed there.
/ trust the request will receive your
prompt and favorable action and believe
that any suggestion which may be made
the inmates will receive your cordial APP
proval.
APPROPRIATIONS.