The Portland daily press., 1899-03-14
The MAYORS MESSAGE.
inaugural Address Of Mayor Robinson
Of Greater Portland.
HIS RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERN
EG THE CITY DEPARTMENTS.

Grand Advises "a Construction OF
Portion of It--Defers Has Recon-
mendations Concerning Police De-
psrtment UntiI Later.
The following is the { xt OF Mayor
Robinson's address;
Conformably to the provisions OF the
charter we are now in convention for the
nurpose Of organization. and the occasion
Is made by custom an opportunity for the
Mayor in pursuance of his duty under
the charter, ITO communicates TO the city
Council such Information, and to reconi-
mend such measures, as the interests OF
The city may require
Our city government has found itsel'
confronted at the beginning of each sue
ceeding municipal year 10 the past, oy
conditions, measures and projects OF I'M
portance and difficulty; and the present
year is no exception. hecent legislation
TO effect the annexation Of the City OF
Deering to the City of Portland has given
rise to problems Of unusual character ana
far-reaching consequences, and has great
ly intensified the anxious concer1 win
which many pending questions We're al
ready beng considered by us. But, IN
turn, we OF the older city rejoice at the
advent into our municipal snalrs ot a
community so orderly anu well ulsposeu
towards our laws and institutions 80
loyaLto the principles OF right anu lustiee,
and SO progressive and public splFlted'
and with our hands strengthened for the
tasks before MS, we resolve TO em ulate
those qualities oil citizenship Whlch 80
highly distinguish our fellow -toWnsmeb'
We renew our hopes ana hhtlolpatlohs
for the future OF our city ana the enlarseu
pos,i llities which stIetch out peIoIe us
Happily. we are able. through our exist
ing departmental ORGANIZATIONS TO
promptly extend in large measure to the
new territory the benefit OF the privileges
and protection which we oil the oluef Guy
nov enjoy, and with the advice ana assis .
lance OF represen tatives OF the new WArus,
who are to take part in our deliberations,
we may confidently look forward To the
Just and equitable solution of the many
problems tnst await our attention ana nc
ton.
do not intend on this occasion to re-
view in detsil the work accomplished
during the past year by the several ue-
partIuents, nor 10 more than 20 make
few suggestions and recomme ndAlons Tor
your consideration. 4 he reports Of many
OF the departments have not teen made,
aud the situation with reference to all OF
the principal partments reqires further
time for mature consideration q thelr
needs and future work.
A general survey Of the situation renders
apparent the fact that although, with
some exceptions to be men loned latef, no
pan tic larly great or expensive undertak
ing appears to lie pressing Tor immediate
attert ion, there is a multitude oil COM
parntively small matters, which Will re-
qune prompt action, and that in the ag-
er,g =, their cost will be large. With
the additi1 n of the City Of l)eering our
are, Is increased f m 1880 acres To ABOUT
II, 600 acres, and from DO miles to about
40 miles of streets. 1t becomes obvious
at once that the maintenance repair, I'M =
proyemenu and control of this enlarged
inn fsrt,
tial or complete reorganization ana en-
largement of all the principal departments
OF the city. Yet, in this connection, 1t is
highly probable that in some Instances,
by a consolidation of the corresponding
departments of what until recently were
two cities, may be made TO result in n
reduction of the total cost of their separ-
ate maintenance.
In the matter OF estimates for appro-
priations the coming year, 1t is earnestly
hoped that the efforts OF this city govern e
ment will not lie confined to simply keep
ing the taxes within the rate OF the past
year. The citizens OF Portland have never
maize unreasonable oomplain5 ABOUT their
taxes, nor have they manifested other
than a generous and liberal spirit IN
this regard. Nevertheless. the present
burden weighs heavily upon them, ana 1t
Is prevalent belief That one great factor
whicn has REGARDED the growtn and pros
poets Of our city in the past has BEEN the
nigh rate OF LaxRtiOn. Accordingly, IT
is strenuously urgeu that in making your
estimates for the needs of this year, in
stead of proceeding upon the policy that
the tax rate should he maintained ut as
high rate as il is believed the citizens will
bear without rebe4llng, an effort should
b. made TO reduce, IL possible, the rate Oh
taxation, as even small decrease Will
give announcement anu relief, and will
lie nailed us hopeful earnest OF further
reduction.
1t is fully realized, however, that much
OF the RESPONSE biiity for the present con
dition OF things rests with the citizens
themselves. Without any adequate
knowledge and with no comprehensi' e
resignation of the public needs, ana
even, in some instances. with a selfish
Indifference thereto, the representatives
of une several wards are not intrequently
coaxed or urged by certain inter
ested constituents, in order TO secure APP
propria tions for this or that local. want.
The result is often IA scramble and some
times an ill natured contest for appropria
tions that wouli better for the public tn'
terests be deferred.
FINANCE
The City Treasurer has handed me q
statament of the bonded debt of the City
of Portland, March 4. 1899. 1t appears
that the gross debt March 3lst, ls9S
was. -, .oi,oo~ =
Gross debt March 4, 1898, $3.50, 535. Z,
Reductl on in the gross debt, o,ole 8.
Net uebt haaIch 81, 1873, zoo, 45i ot
Not debt March T. 1889, LIN, olo.@l
Reduction of net debt since
March 81, 1898, o4'o-'.li
The reduction may be further Increased
March 81, 1899, by additions to the SINK
ing fund. 1t will be seen that the balance
standing to the credit of the committee on
the reduction of the city debt has already
become the large SUN OF Sllo. 56i. 90 4he
Treasurer's statement informs us that nc
bonds will mature until March l, 1907,
and he recommends that some safe invest
ment should lie sought for the balance
standing TO the credit of the co:1mlttet
on reduction of the city debt.
1t is also recommended by the City
Treasurer that the present ystem OF ois
count on taxes paiu on or before The last
day of October in he year Of the assess
ment, should be abolished. 1t is pointed
out that the present system OF allowing