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

4
of aldermen at the last session pre-
vious. After being taken from the Ia
BILE in the council that body voted Il
concur with the higher branch.
The committee on enrolled ordi-
dances, consisting OF Alderman Keene
and Councilman Harrington and Shell
don reported the ordinance to estab-
lish the salary of the beard of health
at $50 each per year back to the city
| government for second reading.
| When ii was brought up for considera-
ton ia the council it was freely dis
cussed and Councilman Groves raised
the point of its legality and moved
that it be referred to the city solicitor
This was opposed by several members.
The motion was carried by a vote of
| five to two. Messrs. Groves. Mason.
Chadwick and Hall in the affirmative
[and Harrington and Sheldon in the
| negative. The aldermen concurred in
| this action.
| An order receiving the various reports
| of city officials and referring them to
the city auditor was passed in both
branches and at 1920 the gavel in the
hands of the mayor fell announcing
that the last meeting of the city gov
eminent for 1912 was at an end.
In Joint Convention.
At the close of the session of the old
city government the members elect of
both branches assembled in the Council
room in joint convention. All the al
dermen and all the councilnien except
kinsman. Scribner and Savage We're
present and We're sworn i'll by City
Clerk Burleigh.
The aldermen and councilmen then
repaired to their respective rooms to
perfect the organization. Charles s.
Hichborn was unanimously elected
president of the board of aldermen and
E. c. Harrington, president of the com
mon council, with Fred w. Lee, clerk of
the same body. These officials " ere
then sworn in by the city clerk after
which the two bodies again went into
joint convention.
A committee consisting of Council
man Hall and Alderman Manley was
appointed to wait upon the mayor and
inform him that the city government
had organized and was ready to re-
ceive his annual address, The mayor
was escorted to the room by the COM
mittee They were also accompanied
by Rev. Charles w. Doherty who offer
ed prayer.
Mayor Titcomb gave his annual adj
dress reviewing the work of the past
year and making a forecast of future
operations. The address was able and
interesting and was as follows:
Gentlemen of the City Council:
Our fellow citizens have intrusted to
you the care and management of their
municipal affairs for the coming year.
Most of you have had experience in
the control of city affairs as members
of former city governments and l feel
that your experience and acquaintance
with city administration is such that
any lengthy statement of the cityS
condition is unnecessary, and any ex-
tended views of my own as to your
duties and obligations would be out of
place.
You are chosen not as the result of
heated political contest, but in a man.
ner which must be gratifying to you.
Your fellow citizens have given to you
the power to assess upon them taxes
for all city expenses. and they have
intrusted to you the expenditure of all
the sentiment of our people when
say / am sure you feel the weight of
this responsibility and I know that no
words of mine could increase your de-
sire to meet fully the high hopes of
your administration.
During the past year the city has
paid of its permanent Indebtedness
the sum of sixteen thousand and five
hundred dollars. BY reason of this
payment the amount hereafter or this
year to be paid as interest on the bond
ed debt of the city will be less by be-
tween nine hundred and one thousand
dollars. 1 believe that this payment
was not only sound as a matter Of
finance but I feel sure that it met the
appreciation of our people as long
step towards wiping out Indebtedness
which bore high rate of interest and
which was mortgage upon our annual
tax assessment.
Of our bonded indebtedness there will
become due the coming year eight
thousand dollars. The policy hereto
fore adopted 1 believe should be con-
tinued and this eight thousand dollars
Of bends be paid at maturity, again re-
ducing the annual amount hereafter
to be raised by taxation and paid as
interest.
There Will have to be raised the cur
rent year certain fixed sums for the
payment of which the credit Of the city
is pledged as follows:
Interest on the bonded debt, S12,210. %
Interest on the Sanford legacy, 5000
Interest on Lithgow Library
Trust Funds. 10000
Interest on St. Marks Home
Trust Funds, 600. 90
Making a total to be paid as in
terest of S14150.0o
There will also have to be paid
the current year
State Tax, q 500 AZ
County Tax, .. 1926 6
Adding these sums to the inter-
est account we have TO be raised
by taxation the large sum OF Si3,174. IS
Those who thoughtlessly criticize