Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-18

the yearly city expenditures ana rate
of taxation should remember how
large a share of the city's revepues
goes into these items for which there
is no apparent benefit for the time be-
ing to show.
In connection with the matter OF
trust funds I wish to call your atten-
ton to the ordinance in regard to trust
funds fer the care of lots in cemeteries.
Section 8. Of Chapter XIV. of the Re
ivised Ordinances provides that:
Any person owning or interested i'm a
lot in a public burying ground in the
city Of Augusta, may deposit in the
city treasury sum not exceeding five
hundred dollars for the purpose of
providing for the preservation and
\ care of said lot Interest at
I the ra;e of five Ger cent. per annum
shall be allowed by the city upon such
! deposit etc.
] The credit of the city of Augusta is
so high that it could borrow money at
a rate not much above three per cent.
per annum. When this ordinance was
passed. the rate of interest was much
higher than now, and then it may
have been reasonable for the city to
| pay that rate. But now conditions
have changed, and there seems to be no
good reason why the city, in addition
! to serving gratuitously as a trustee,
end guaranteeing the safety of the
1 fund, should also be taxed to add to
ad to the income of private funds.
While the city can borrow money at
practically three per cent, and in
coming years possibly less. / believe
the rate which the city should pay as
interest on trust funds Of which 1t as
sumeS the care ought not to exceed
three per cent per annum. Any great
er rate than this would be an enforced
| contribution from our people to private
beneficiaries. I believe that no funds
should be hereafter accepted by the
city as trustee under any agree
ment 10 pay a higher rate of interest
than three per cent. per annum. No
matter how deserving, how charitable
the purpose may be. it is not our privi-
lege to bestow other peoples money in
charity. That privilege belongs to the
people themselves and each person
has the right to be mis- own sole Judge
in such cases. / recommend that this
ordinance be changed. / feel also
that embarrassment may be saved to
the members of the city government in
the future if it be changed so as to
cover all trust funds that may here
after be rendered to the city. no mat
ter what the beneficiary.
You will have before you the detailed
reports of all the departments of the
city. 1t is unnecessary for me to go
over the different departments in de-
tail. In the matter of permanent i'm
provements on the highways 1 believe
that a system should be adopted under
which the improvements should be
made first at the congested centres of
our city where there is the greatest use
of them. If this should commend itself
to YOU. it would seem to call for ex-
ample for continuing the paving at
the upper end of Water street, and
then perhaps matchmaking the north !
end of State street before making i'm
prov ements of that character on streets
more distant from the city's centre |
where the travel is less.
/. For the management of the fire de-
partment 1 have nothing but COM
mendation. The high character of its
personnel is a matter of common
Knowledge. The promptness of it's
response to fire alarms and the small |
amount of fire loses taking into ac-
count the large territory the depart |
ment has to cover speak eloquently of |
the departments efficiency.
In the management of that public |
charity, the poor department, there are |
many constantly recurring problems. |
While all agree that the deserving poor |
should never be allowed to suffer there |
arc often cases of attempted i'm /
position on the city. The system of |
scientific charity has, made great /
progress within few years and tends /
to make the administered ton of poor |
departments better for the individual. |
and more economical for the city in |
mary ways.
One OF the principles of scientific
charity calls for securing history of
the abilities and character of every APP |
plioant for aid from the city. A record |
is kept giving as much of the history of |
the probable pauper as possible, his,
family. his former occupation, the |
earning ability of the different men,
bers of his family, whether there are |
persons legally liable for his support. |
and all facts bearing on his ability to |
support himself. A record is also kept |
under this system of every item of as
sistance furnished. 1t is apparent that |
the city must be gamer in a pc |
cuniary sense under this system, but |
also the individual can often be aided |
to get work. Under this system repay |
ment is exacted in the form of work |
as FAR as possible. and the individual |
encouraged to get work. If You pay |
a man to beg he will beg. If you pay |
him to work he will work. The over
seer of the poor approves of the plan |
and hope to see it adopted as a step,
forward in the manner of caring for
the poor and needy wards of the city.
/. Our schools have continued to be a
source of pride to all our citizens. Our
school system is sometimes criticised.
as being complicated. but results prove
that though it may be complicated it
is eminently successful. 1t is not the