The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-21
MAYOR McLEANs ADDRESS

ing Of the minutes, Mayor Mclean reaC
his annual report. as follows:
MAYOR McLEANS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen Of the Council-AboGt TIVE
years ago 1. for the first time, calleS
this body together as your presiding Of
ficer. 1 now stand before you as th'
chosen servant Of this city, TO preside
over your deliberations for a second tern
OF office.
have endeavored in the past TO do
what l thought TO be right and for the
best interests Of all. l have been cruelty
and unjusuy DETAINED and criticised By
my opponets and certain ungrsteful indi
viduals whom / have always helped anc
befriended when they needed ray hell
and friendship. My record as an Officer
and business man has alwys been ar
open page before the citizens Of WITCH
ita, and they have seen fit to ratify and
endorse the same. and to rebuke the
method Of my opponents in a manner
most gratifying TO myself
For my official acts during the past two
years 1 have no apologies 10 make, as
stood squarely upon the same for re-
election. Before proceeding with the reg
ular order Of business / think it proper
TO extend to this council a word of
thanks for the faithful manner in which
they have aided me in administering the
duties imposed upon us all.
] wish 10 especially thank the city at
torney for his work and vigilance in
guarding the legal interests Of the city
during the two years just past.
The members now before us compose
the old council. Soon a new one will or
ganize. To the retiring member-Mr.
Smith, wish especially to extend my
thanks anu kindest wishes. He has
proven himself valuable member of
this body, and on benalf of this body, l
extend to him a cordial invitation and
request to be present at our future
meetings as often as possible and feel
that his advice will be acceptable at any
and all times.
As the old and new council with this
exception Will be composed of the same
individuals. I wish to say to you, gentle
men, that the policy Of the past shall be
the policy Of the future. with this word
Of caution-that you, each from your
various districts, aid and assist me in
exercising great care and prudence in
the matter of reaching out with too many
sidewalks, curbs and street openings.
l well know the pressure that is con-
stanly being brought to bear on each
one of you by your constituents, for these
improvements. and the very nature of
our rapidly growing city induces these
demands, yet / must ask and insist that
these be kept within the bounds of our
actual needs and only be ordered when
absolutely necessary.
The annual reports of city officers
were made on January l. excepting that
Of the city attorney, who was absent on
Official business at that time, which we
will hear tonight.
In closing | wish to express the hope
that our business relations in the future
may be as pleasant as they have been in
the past.
Respectfully submitted.
B. F. MLEAN.
Immediately following him came the
report of the retiring city attorney A
E Helm Immediately after the reading
of the report. Mr.. Helm introduced his
successor. Mr.. Earl Blake The following
IS the report:
CITY ATTORNEYS REPORT.
To the Honorable Mayor and City Coun-
ell Of the City of Wichita. Kan:
Gentlemen have the honor to submit
herewith my fourth annual report as city
attorney.
The business transacted by this de
partment has been unusually large. in
matters of the greatest import
ance to the city and the business inter
ests of our citizens. In addition to the
usual detail work requiring the atten-
tion of the city attorney, a number of
cases were brought before the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the name OF
the city. for the purpose Of compelling
the railroad companies to give our mer-
chants and shippers fair and reasonable
freight rates. and to prohibit the dis
in rates against Wichita,
and in favor Of competing points.
These suits were brought at the re-
quest of the Chamber of Commerce and F.
the Commercial club OF this city. and
were made Of discrimination /
and excessive rates charged by the de-
PENDANT companies on shipments into this
city on lumber. coal general merchandise F..
sugar and bananas. and upon shipments :
out of Wichita on grain and -four. max
ing seven cases in all
In three Of the cases involving the
question of discrimination in rates upon
bananas. sugar and general merchan-
disc. the railroads have conceded the
business Of our complaints and have put
tie rates demanded by Wichita into ef-
feet Prior 10 the bringing of these
suits by the city. the rates per 10o pounds
for the transportation of bananas in car