The Portland daily press., 1899-03-14

| fall to your lot will be the determining Of
the ward lines. It does not need 10 be
said by mo that this may prove TO be
delicate as well as Important work. The
ldispleasure Of those interested may be
avoiosd by the exercise OF careful re
gard for the rights Of all, and by ad-
herring Ms closely as may well be- done 70
the old school district lines, thus making
1t possible to associate those who In ne
past h ave been accustomed to act together
within certain well defined and recog-
nized limits. This task should have
prompt attention.
CITY OFFICES.
The town officsrs of last year have se-
cured tine rooms in the Masonic block ct
kightyille for the use Of the city. One OF
these offices should be properly fitted up
and furnished at once, in a manner suit
able for the meetings of the council and
school committee and for the sittings OF
our municipal court. The present
municipal court room is utterly unit Tor
sucb purpose. With the appointment OF
an experienced lawyer as Judge, and the
furnishing of a suitable court room our
municipal court may be made credit TO
the city. of course one room, properly
fitted up will meet these several needs.
The rooms which have been leased, stu
ated at the point where our street railway
/ lines converge, are easily accessible TO the
most of our own people as we'll as to those
| who live beyond our limits.
| 1t is my hope that an arrangement may
| be made between the city clerk and city
treasurer. by reason OF which taxes may
be paid and the records open TO Inspection
here, at stated hours each secular Gay.
CITY OBFICERS.
The charter provides for the election or
appointment of the required subordinate
officers, and places most of them at your
disposal.
The ogerseers of the poor In their re-
port recommend the establishing of the
office of city physician. This recommen-
dalton / approve. by the PROVISIONS of
the charter the offices of treasurer and
collector are com bined, thus saving TO the
| city the salsry of a treasurer. The ofnce
| OF auditor under the city charter assumes
considerable importance demanding much
more time ana attention than Is given by
a town auditor, and meriti1S a larger
4 compensation.
since the choice of all subordinate
officers Of the city Is practically in Jour
hands, | must remind you that In the ab-
| sence of experienced men for thes places
your duty 10 all the more imperative TO
| htltCt SUM as Will klNc lhc tiihcs hAA
make that Intelligent effort necessary to
master the details of the offices TO which
they are chosen, for, unless this Ia done,
our best efforts may be crippled and the
city's interests be imperilled.
SALARIES.
You will Iar6on mo for reminding you
that the purpose of making change
from the town system was that we might
obtain better results for our citizens at
the same outlay of their money COM
mitted to us to be expended in their in.
terest. To insure these results 1t will be
| necessary to fix with sparing hand the
| salaries of our various officials TO make
them ms low as possible consistent with
an intelligent and upright administration
of our affairs.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The advent of the Portland and Cape
Elizabeth railway company into the town
must tie regarded as one of the most i'm
portant advances which we have made.
Our present comforts and the possibili les
of future growth of the city have been
| thereby greatly increased. While the
benefits conferred are appreciated, II we
may correctly judge of the company s
financial status by the reports made 70
| the state in regard to bond and stock Is
sues, and interest and dividends paid,
considering the probable COST Of the plant.
we must conclude that very valuable
rights have been granted to the company
| by the town without any direct peeuniary
consideration paid therefor into the town
| treasury. In consideration OF this. and
| of the apparent fact that the railway Il
now In successful operation seems to me
Just that the interests of the city in this
particular should, in the future be jeal-
ously guarded.
am satisfied that the change in the
ownership. bringing it into the hands
| of local capitalists, and under the man
| agement of local men. familiar With our
people and their wants, will add greatly
to It's value to US, and will bring the
| people of Portland and South Portland
Into close touch and sympathy, and tend
to the building up of their material In
terssts In a manner mutually advantage
Gus TO both cities.
which 1 have made point out what
seem TO me to be the principal matters
awaiting your action:
The election of the best qualified
and most practical men for all suoordi-
nate positions
The making of arrangements for
the early and careful establishment OF
|
| 3.-Immediate attention to the pressing
needs of our schools for more room.
| A revision OF the city valuation and
reduction Of the tax rate.
| 5.-As to the advisabiiity of change In
| the almshouse accommodations.
GA systematic arrangement for the
gradual extension OF sewers and improved
| streets.
! THE fitting up and furnishing of the
| city offices.
| s. AS an important factor In determin-
ing the action TO be taken on the forego-
ling, with the exception of the first. the
question of what appropriations must be
made to meet the reasonable require.
ments Of our citize ms.
IN CONCLUSION.
l believe in the enforcement of the
laws. also believe in the economical ad'
ADMINISTRATION of all public affairs. But
upnn thaaa suhiactz | hava littla to say.