Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-20
INAUGURATION.
New City Government Enters
Upon Its Duties.
AStong and Able Address Delivered
by Mayor Lane.
City Officials Elected as Nominated al Sat-
urday's Republican Caucus.


journed. There was but one sur
prise in store for the members of the
city government and that was that
the appointment of the overseer of tle
poor was not made. That will be made
later in the month.
There were a number of spectators
present, at 10 O'clock when the mayor
delivered his inaugural and when he
| had finished it was greeted with APP
| plause, and many complimentary
| words We're spoken for it.
Under the head of unfinished bust
ness when the old city government
assembled for its last meeting the COM
mittee on ordinances reported that tn q
order relating to the establishment of
an ordinance. fixing the salary of the
mayor at $500 had gone through The
proper channels. 1t was therefore
signed and sent to the lower board.
When Alderman Sewall was called to
the chair which was subsequently
surrendered to the president, an order
t. abate the sewer tax Of Rev. y. A.
Ham, /, amounting to $1,000, consider
ing his expenditure of 5000 in making
improvements. was referred to the
next city government.
City Solicitor Leigh stated that he
had not received the bills relative to
quarantine matters in time to look up
the law points and 50 passed them over
TO the mayor. The aldermen referred
the bills to the incoming administra-
ton. Before this had been don
Mayor Lane said that in his opinion
il was not a question Of law. He said
The city will pay something. How
much is the question. We are charged
s. for disinfection and for similar
cases since have been charged but s..
l question if physician has a right
to make call on a patient every day
when other physicians equally as good
say it is not necessary to call oftener
! than once in three or four days
on the motion of Alderman SeWall
! the gavel which has been in use in the
| board was presented to Mayor Lane
with complimentary words.
| In response Mayor Lane said:
Il appreciate it all the more from the
fact that ii is the first gavel | have
ever had the chance to get hold of at
the close of an administration. l hope
your happiness will be as great as has
year
A vote of thanks was extended also
to the president of the board of alder
men and the meeting was declared
adjourned.
The new city government members
then met in the council rooms and
were called to order by City Clerk Bur
leigh. When the roll had been called
the two boards were sworn in by Mr.
Burleigh.
When the joint convention had been
dissolved Alderman Sewall was elected
president of the board of aldermen and
was given the oath of office. The
lower board organized with the choice
Of Chas. S. Hichborn as president and
Fred w. Lee as clerk. Resolutions of
appreciation of the services of Clerk
Chas Il. Hall We're passed by the
council.
Alderman Libby and Councilmen
Hiohborn and Harrington We're then
appointed a committee by President
Sewal to escort the mayor to the
chair. When Rev. Geo. +. Degen had
offered prayer Mayor Lane read his in
augural address as follows:
Gentlemen of the City Council:
We have been chosen by the legally
expressed voice of the people to adj
minister the affairs of the city for the
ensuing year, and obedient to that call
We are assembled according to law to
organize the 5lst city council of the
city of Augusta.
For the fourth time called by my
fellow citizens to the chair of the chief
executive of this city, should be lack
ing in, the common attributes of man
hood did | not feel the deepest sense
of gratitude for the honor conferred,
and especially for. the. repeated eX-
preston of confidence of my fellow
citizens. who year after year have hon
oreti me with an increased majority.
| invoke the. aid of the supreme Ruler
and earnestly pray that l may be en-
dowed with wisdom to SO execute Of
fetal duties that that confidence may
not be shaken or impaired
Il am but a little child: | know not
how to go out or come in
Give. therefore. thy servant an I'M
derstanding heart to judge thy people,
that | may discern between good and
bad"
This was the sense of self-abase-
ment and the prayer of the wisest
ruler Of history and should teach us
the important lesson. that however es-
'tablished we may be in our opinions
however sure of our position. we may
| be but as a little child. we may need
an understanding heart to discern be
| tween good and bad.
To most of you the duties of mem
bers Of the city government are not
unfamiliar Nearly all of the board 81
aldermen. and a majority of the entire
| council have served in some previou:
| city council.
| pledge you my earnest co-opera
ton in your endeavors to conserve the
public welfare, that in the future, few
may hope TO equal and none to sur
pass your good works.
FINANCIAL.
| on the Goth of March. 1899, as | took tn
oath of office my thought was: "Nha
= shall the harvest be? And an answe
I WHISPERED: whatsoever man sowetf
that shall he also reap If thou soviet
| sloth, and ease. and neglect, the harves
shall he extravaganza. and debt and dis
honor. If thou sowest good seed. tn
| harvest shall crown the year with fa'