The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-05-10
DEMOCRATS N CHARGE.
Frederick Undergoes a Change
in Administration = Mayor
Smith and the Others Quail
ify and His Honor Delivers
his Inaugural = Committees
Appointed

Last Monday Mayor George
Edward Smith took the oath of
office III the presence of the re-
thing city officials and the new
ones, aud the latter qualified and
gave bond for the faithful per.
Torrance Of their duties. The
oath was administered by Deputy
Clerk Fearhake, in the Clerk of
the Courts office.
As soon as the affairs of the
city had been transferred 10 the
new administration, the Board
of Aldermen held a meeting pre-.
sided over by the President of
the Board, Mayor Smith. Before
any business was transacted the
Mayor made his inaugural adj
dress, which was as follows:
MAYOR SMITHS MESSAGE.
To the Honorable, the Mem bers
Of the Board Of Aldermen:
Under a late Act of Assem- blv
amending the Charter of the
City Of Frederick, the Mayor. as
You are aware. is made exotiicio
President Of the Board of Alder.
men, with certain rights and
privileges set forth in said Char.
ter.
In the capacity, therefore. as
your president, | presume it is
expected that | should follow a
long established custom. and pre.
sent to your Honorable Board
such views as | may have upon
questions etfecting the general
welfare of the community.
1t Is my desire, with your earn
est co operation, to bring about a
wise and progressive administra
ton OF our city affairs. | fully
appreciate the heavy Indebtedness
already imposed upon the city by
our war tax and other bonded III.
debtednesS, which is great bur
den to our taxpayers, and which.
50 far as the war debt is concern
ed. l tluSt Congress in its wisdom
Will one day see its way clear to
wipe out and thus relieve our PEG.
pie OF a debt which long ere this
should have been assumed by the
nlted States Government.
To be progressive necessarily
means TO be ready to make out
lays for such improvements as
will keep our city abreast of the
times. Our taxes are already
somewhat onerouS, and it will re-
qulre the strlcteSt economy with
the present rate Of taxation to
even meet the necessary demands
OF the city government.
The splendid city electric arc
light plant put in by a former
Democratic administration, is
hardly adequate to the increased
demands of our growing outskirts.
more lights are needed as an in.
ducement for building up the
beautiful suburbs of our city. |
have endeavOred to secure a most
competent engineer, one who
should be able to save the city
considerable money in repairs.
y competent lineman has also
been secured, man thoroughly
familiar with the business. The
water works which have recently
been enlarged will be in charge
of an expert in that line, and |
learn, with proper attention,
full supply OF water can be given
to the industrial enterprises To-
Gated in our midst.
As to the question of streets.
this has long been a subject of
discussion among our people; all
NldoSSo HNCHI dHAlOllS UudU we
should rid ourselves of the hor-
rible cobble stones, which MANY
claim are but relics of barharism.
To do this, however, means a con.
siderable outlay of money. A
further Indebtedness is hardly
justitiable and | should hesitate
to recommend such a course with.
out further consultation with our
business men and the taxpayers
of Frederick. Other cities much
less pretentious are going ahead
IN the way of improved streets
and it is hardly fair that we
should be willing to be behind
less favored locations. A square
at a time might be attempted or
an effort made to ascertain
whether asphalt could not be
placed over our cobble stones
with satisfactory results. These
are simply suggestions made in
the hope that they will inspire
some to move more i'll this impor.
tant matter.
L earnestly recommend the
building of lock up at the City
Hall; this has been discussed for
years. | feel confident that it
would result in great saving to