Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-20

S5oo are uae anu outstanding, 5000 ma
ture. July /, and the. per cent. bonds o.
1890, amounting+to 5000, also become due
| July l. making the total, sls,30O Foul
thousand and fifty dollars of these bond,
have been provided for by the sinking
fund, 900 may be paid from the cash II
the treasury. and the remaining 1855,
must be raised by taxation. This will be
$3.50 more than was raised last year, fol
payment of the debt
SCHOOLS.
The management of our schools is such
as to leave little to be desired The COM
mon or suburban schools under the
charge of the school committee. the Cony
High school under the control Of the
same committee with the addition of The
committee appointed by the city govern
ment, the Village and Williams districts
in charge OF the respective boards of di-
rectors, have produced results both in the
quality Of educational work and in finan-
cial management which it would be diff
cult to equal and would seem to be i'm
possible to surpass. If all could be con
solidated under one board Of management
and that board as free from selfish inter-
ests or political bias as each of the pres
ent subdivisions are now. our school sys-
tenn would be as nearly perfect as would
be possible in human affairs. | recon-
mend to your serious and careful consid-
GRAFTON whether the appropriation for
common schools may not be somewhat
increased, in order that in the apportion-
ment If funds, injustice may not be done
to the Village and Williams districts,
without most seriously mpairing the eff
cheney Of the suburban schools.
HIGHWAYS.
There i NJ inter. ST of the whole or
any part OF class of our citizens which
is not dire, thy effected BY the condition
IF our streets ana highways. A system
of improvements should be inaugural
ted which will be carried on from year
To year without being liable To change
suspension or interruption at the
caprice If Il ncW street commissioner
mayor or committee on highways. 1t
should not be open To objection of
enormous and burdenSome OUTLAWS in
particular sections. but should provide
for some Improvement upon each OF
the roads leading into the city every
y
ana extending in every direction.
II is unnecessary for me- t. 90 into
letails Of such a system but | earnest
~ recommend that you take prompt
action in order that the matter may be
thoroughly discussed with view that
the city council may unanimously ask
for the necessary legislation at the
next session If the Legislature.
Guide Boards-It will be your duty
I'd make suitable appropriation for the
erection upon our streets and high
ways the guide boards required by law.
This must be attended to as soon as
the frost is out Of the ground.
The particular, highway work which
should be done, this year, should re
ceive carly consideration. and | com
mend To your attention the report up
on this subject Of Alderman Carver.
chairman If the committee on high
ways. the past year, With the paper
annexed
The report and paper are submitted
herewith as Documents \ ana Il.
Sewers-Plans for general system
Of sewers have been perfected during
the year An account of sewers con-
Structed will be found in the report of
the street engineer:
DEPARTMENT. ACCOUNTS AND
EXPENSES.
There is no system of accounting by
the several city officers worthy the
name IF accounts. The bills approved
by certain officers are presented to the
auditor for examination. but no one
knows the condition Of any department.
bills are presented. months and even
years after the date Of the transaction
approved by the officer who should
The result is that appropriations are
To a considerable extent used in pay
ing Old bills. while the work for which
they were made must be crippled or the
account overdraWn. This is all wrong
would suggest that each officer be re-
quired to render a monthly report Of
all expenditures in his department with
4 schedule of bills and an affidavit that
the schedule was an accurate statement
of all bills contracted in his depart
ment If from any cause beyond his
control an officer could not obtain any
particular bill. I would have him Ger
tify to the fact and state the amount
of the bill if known, or the approx
mate amount if the exact amount was
not known.
Make the appropriation of a depart
ment to include also the salaries Of all
officers of such department. Stop pay
mtnt when the appropriation is eX-
hausted and thus cut off the salary Of
anv officer who exceeds his appropria-
ton.
Require Of every officer monthly
account Of office or other expenses.
Require every officer collecting or
receiving money on account of the city
10 pay the same to the treasurer forth
with. and notify the auditor Of such
payment
Require all purchases to be made on
an order in writing by the officer max
ing the purchases.
SALARIES.
| call upon every officer of the city
elected or appointed, or may be elect
ed. to make il one of his first duties.
if in his opinion the salary Is insuffi :
cipnt. to come to the city council forth
with and show cause why he should
have more. Any city officer who can
satisfy the city council that injustice