Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-11
WATERVILLE.
INAUGURATION.
New City Government Takes
Charge Of City Affairs.
Mayor BIaisdeI's Address--AIderman
Vaughan Seated in Ward One.
City Marshal harrington and Deputy
Woodbury. Re-appointed.

The new city government was duly
inaugurated at the rooms in the Peevy
block, Monday. F. w. Alden was elect
ed temporary chairman and later Mr..
Grainey, who was chairman of the
board last year, was reelected for the
ensuing year, and Walter Noble, clerk.
Alderman Foster and Councilman
Bridges were made a committee to
notify Mayor Blaisdell that the council
was ready to receive him. After Mr..
Blaisdell had been conducted to the
chair and sworn in prayer was offered
by Rev. F. c. Whittemore of the Bap-
fist church. Mayor Blaisdell then de-
livered his address which was brief
and right to the point. 1t was a good
business document and was warmly
received The following is the add
dress in full:
Gentlemen of the City Council:
I'VE have met together here, today, for
the purpose of organizing a municipal
government for our beautiful city for the
coming year. and | trust we all fully ap-
preciate the responsibility which we a.
sumo and sacredness of the trust which
has been placed in our hands by our con-
StituentS.
Il do not see before me a single indi-
vidual whom | think will betray the
trust, yet | want to express my most ut
Ter contempt LOT any man VINO HaNlnS
been elected to an office uses that Office
for his own benefit. at the expense Of
those who have honored him.
THE past year has been very busy
one. We have erected "a new city build
ing at a cost. to the present time. of
about $4,000 20, 800 of which has been
raised by taxation the past year. leaving
debt already incurred by the city, OF
$780,
TT will require to finish. furnish and
fully equip the building for use. about
$65CO0 in all. Deduct from this s650H)
what has been raised the past year by
taxation-$22, 500-and you have left the
sum of $4,000 still to be paid. l would
recommend that one-half of this be raised
by taxation the coming year, and the bal
ance the year after. Then We shall nave
erected. furnished and paid for. a build
ing in three years, which will. l think,
be the pride of the city for many years
to come.
1.-THE various departments of the city
government are, as whole. in good
hands, and in Il very prosperous cond
ton; especially is this the case with the
school department.. which only needs a
new school building or two to make it
even better than that of any city the
size of our own in the State.
There is one branch of the fire depart
ment to which l will call your attention.
This is the fire alarm system. This has
been replaced. repaired and overhauled
at quite an expense and ~ quite an eX
tent. the past year, and is, think it safe
to say. in a worse condition than 1t was Il
year ago.
This trouble. I believe. results largely
from the careless manner in which the
city and the several companies using the
city poles have strung their wire through
streets. This same method of Stringing
wire also affects our street lighting sys-
tenn very much In many places the
wires are in such Il position that it is
very dangerous to the person who has the
care of the street lights.
Il therefore most earnestly recommend
that the city at once employ competent
electrical engineer who can tell us just
what the best method would be to rem
edy this trouble.
Il will not take your time in discussing
the many smaller needed improvements in
the city as | have no doubt those who
are most interested in them will bring
them to your attention in more forcible
manner than it would be seemly for me
to do here.
There is however one thing more
the Tooth annivery of our town occurs
this year, and l most earnestly recon-
| mend generous contribution to the cee-
bration fund by the city.
Gentlemen, | pledge my cO-operatioa
in whatever you may undertake for the
advancement of the business interests or
moral welfare of the city, and l appeal
to you for encouragement and support
the coming year"
After an order had been passed to
go into joint convention for the pur-
pose of electing a city clerk Alderman
Learned was made permanent chair
man of the board of aldermen. The
two branches then went into joint con-
vention and elected Frank E, Brown
clek. There We're 20 votes cast and
of these Mr.. Brown received 10, while
j. E. Nelson had 1.
On their return to their room the
IL ar 1;eta, -
Mr.. Vaughan, the Republican candi-
date in the contested election for al
derman in Ward l. In his petition
Mr.. Vaughan gave his reasons for be-
lieving that he had been legally elect
ed as alderman from his ward and
asked that he be allowed to take his
seat.
Alderman Learned moved that a
committee of three be appointed to
investigate the matter. Mayor Blais-
dell appointed on this committee AL
dermen Learned, Boshen and Ward
well. Alderman Learned asked to be
excused from serving on the commit
tee on the ground that he was
brother-in-law of Mr.. Barton ana
might be unduly prejudiced in his ia
vor. But Mr.. Learneds objections
were overruled and he was finally per-
suaded to serve on the committee.
Mr.. Barton, the Democratic candi-
date in Ward l and opponent of Mr..
Vaughan, then briefly addressed the
board. He had taken his usual place
during the preliminary work of or
ganization although he had not been
recognized by Temporary Chairman
Learned as he had no election papers
Mr.. Barton explained that as he I'M
derstood the ordinances he had the
right to hold over until his successor
was legally elected and seated For
that reason he had taken his seat. lie
recognized the position taken by the
aldermen and agreed that it was a
lust one. He wished to hold his seat
simply by right. He was willing to
withdraw and would do so, thus re-
lieving the committee just appointed
of what might be an unpleasant task.
With that Mr.. Barton left his seat and
taking his coat and hat started to
leave the room but was recalled.
Mr.. Barton's action was very gen.
erous and honest and created a very
favorable impression. His position