The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-13
CITY FATHERS DINE.

CITY FATHERS DINE.
Many Speeches Including the valedic-
tory by Alderman Rounds.
"The King is dead. Long live the
King.
This was the sentiment of Saturday ev.
ening's love feast Of the old and the new
city governments 1t was held in the
cham bers of the Board of Aldermen.
Three long tables We're spread and bright
with silver and glass, decorated with
cut flowers, fruit and potted plants and
served In excellent manner by pretty
mattresses. There were present Mayor
Randall, who ceases to be mayor at ten
o clock on Monday; Mayor elect Robin
son, who will be the executive head OF
Greater Portland; Mayor Moulton OF
Deering, the mayor without city; all
OF the mem bers OF the city council who
retire on Monday; the mem bsrs-elect of
the city government and oil who hold the
mora important city offices, In all
there were over $50 present, including
many from the two Deering wards
Mayor Randall presided in most
graceful manner and introduced the
many speak srs. When MIR. Randall took
the floor TO speak he was greeted with en-
uhusiastic applause. He said that he had
lust completed his seventh year of service
in the Portland city government and to
him they had been years of pleasure, dur
ing which he had learned many things
concerning the administration of city
affairs. He said that training in the city
government was q liberal education to
any man and he believed it was lauda-
BILE ambition for any young man to aspire
to being mem Der of the city govern
ment. People who are not in office find
it easy to criticize the doings of those in
office They can always see many things
which they think can be improved upon
but when the administration of city
affairs come under the influence OF these
people they find that the city's affairs
are, as q general thing, run about as
we'll as they can be. He said that few
days ago he had heard City Treasurer
Libby remark that the city's affairs were
administered about as we'll as were the
affairs of any private business and Mr..
Randall said he thought this was trua
Sometimes 1t is impossible to prevent
appropriations being over run. Unforeseen
bills must be- paid and some expenditures
it Is impossib BILE to prevent. The past city
government has been severely criticized
in some quarters, especially the July Atm
celebration. IL / wers member OF the
city government again under like cfrcum-
stances | would advocate the expenditure
of as much money as was spent on that
occasion and as much more If necessary.
At that time we were at war with
foreign nation, We had been victor ious
at Manila. but besides that our navy had
BON barded a few sand banks and as is
now we'll known Skaters army was in
a bad state and would have been forced to
surrender in time. This country did not
know at what moment it might be
dragged into a war with another country.
We didn't know how soon We might
need friends among the European nations
and the Department of State at Washing
ton was doing its utmost to increase the
friendly feeling between this country and
England. At that time the Royal Scots
of Canada were in slted to Portland.
Their coming was, under the oircumsuan-
ces, an event of international Importance
1t may not be generally known but, | am
In IA position to know that the visit OF the
Royal Scots In this city was looked upon
in Washington as most significant
event. The State Department notified the
government officials here TO do their ut
most TO make the Royal Scots visit here
as pleasant AS possible. Under these cir
oulnstauces l regard the money expenG-
ed for this entertainment OF tbs Royal
Scots as well spent and believe we we're
justified in expanding 1t.
s'In the past year Portland has increased
from seven wards to nine, from 10000
population to 5000 The incoming city
gov eminent will have most important
a questions to settle and l congratulate
q reater PortIand on the gentlemen IL has
selected to carry on the work duriag the
coming year.
Mayor Randall closed by gracefully in
Producing Mayor-elect Robinson, who
was handsomely received. Judge Robin
son said that 1t was great pleasure Tor
him to be present on this occasion ana
to have an opportunity to meet the present.
and future members OF the city council.
a 2 hDr m
false imp essions which he had received
in the past had been removed ana some
things of which he had been misinformed
he now viewed in all entirely olnerent
light. He spoke OF the friendly spirit
which was now shown one another by
gentlemen who had only recently been
engaged in bitter contests and that these
men now met and greeted ono another AS
gentlemen and so conduct themselves ms
TO show themselves to be gentlemen OF the
best type. de said that he was afraid
on closer acquaintance De would not he
found as good as he had been pictured by
the Iapers. (Laughter) lie closed by
nron,ising to cooperate with the members
of the city government i'll promoting the
interests OF the city of Portland anu
hoped that the coming year would be as
happy and prosperous one tor inc city
as the past year had been.
At the conclusion of his oriet remarks
Judge Robinson was applauded literally
Augustus +. Moulton, Esq, alderman
elect from ward eight ana mayor Of Deer
ing was introduced by MIR. Randall as
"a mayor without city. Mr.. Monlton' =
remarks wore very happy. He said there
was a surplus Of mayors here present. As
| far as he was concerned he didn't know
| Just what he WAS. where he was from or
what he represented. On the map there
| is no such place as Deering and before
him he saw many statesmen who were