Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-22
FOR SECOND TIME.
Edwin l. Russell Enters Upon
Duties as Mayor.
Ills Address to the City Government
An Able One.
c. o. Wadsworth Receives 9th Con.
secutive Election as City Clerk.

At ten o'clock, Monday forenoon. the
h!crlpers OF the city council met in tho
rooms in the city building for organ
Ration and Il very pleasant session was
heid. The two Boards met in their
rooms and organized temporarily The
Board Of Aldermen was called to order
by City Clerk c. O. Wadsworth and
David r. Douglass was elected
temporary chairman and G. Q. Wads-
worth Clerk. Aldermen Blake ana
Surns were appointed a committee tc
examine the credentials of the mem
bers. In the Common Council l.. w
Robbins opened the meeting and W. +.
Wing was elected temporary chairman
and l.. w. Robbins temporary clerk
The two boards then met in the Council
Room and took the oath Of Office which
WAS administered by Judge !. NJ
LLarrabcc. Permanent organizations
were then effected. Alderman David Il
Douglass was elected President of the
Board of Aldermen. In the Common
Council Councilman w. F. King was
chosen President and on the ballot FOR
clerk l.. w. Robbins received Ii votes
and John Munro g. The two bodies
then met in joint conversation and
Judge j. II. Larrabee administered the
oath Of office to Mayor Edwin L. Bus
sell. Rev. Il. y. Joscelyn. pastor of the
Methodist church offered PRAYER
Mayor Russcll then delivered his
inaugural address as follows:
Gem iCnpn oT tbp ('jtv ("nrn.iI.
by the Kindness of my fellow citizens
l am permitted again to assume the
duties connected with the office q.
Mayor of your City.
Before entering upon such duties
permit III" to extend to you and
through ycu to your constituents my
thanks for the expression that nv
services during the year have been Sc
successful as to secure confidence anG
favor. When l began my duties last
year | knew but little of the needs OF
the various departments of the city:
and though helped largely by Il years
practical experience I still deem myself
unable to perform those duties as they
should be performed but with your
earnest and constant cooperation ]
of my ability the affairs of this city IN
z. business Ike way.
We have AL taken the obligation re-
Nuired to qualify ourselves as legal
representatives Of the city.
Let US not be unmindful of the great
trust cunfided to us ami Of the duties
which VIC have pledged ourselves to
perform.
I Wish to impress unon your mind,
the necessity Of prompt ana regular
attendance at all Of our meetings. Ey
doing this y0u will become not only
better acquainted with the general
routine of business. but you will create
among yourselves = mutual good feel
ing which will b" of great benefit in
the discharge of your duties
For thn inaHcial standing ana doings
Of the different departments of the city
refor you TO the printed reports which
are now bafor" you and which will cx-
plain the expenditures and needs of
these departments more thoroughly
than I can.
In the financial standing Of cur city
you will notice that the interest bear
ing debt has been lessened five thou
sand dollars during the past year. you
will also notice that our available rc-
sources are 4 little less than last year
This is due especially to the decrease
in the amount of uncollectcd taxes.
There are 10 outstanding bonds to
mature this year: but some provision
should be made for a note of five thou
sand dollars due oct. 3Oth.
1t seems to be u custom in recent
years to increase our debt with tempo
rary notes which are never paid. be-
licvo this is wrong ana | am satisfied
that we can pay one or more Of these
notes each year in addition to our
regular necessary expenses if we are
careful and economical and put The
Same indiN idunlity into the conduct vi
the 1fairs Of our city that is shown in
all successful private UNDERTAKINGS.
The amount of money appropriated for
general expenses seems t. increase each
year, and it is almost impossible to pre-
vent such increase without retardinS
the work of the various departments.
This is a progressive age. our people
are constantly demanding improve
ments. What was thought a luxury a
few years ago is a necessity now
Great care should he taken in making
your appropriations for the year.
II is your duty to thoroughly inyesti-
gate the needs of each department: and
though while l advocate economy in
everything. it would he as unwise TO
appropriate too little as too much. OF
course it is impossible to know the
exact amount required in each depart
ment: but by a careful examination of
the expenditures in the past and by
asct raining as nearly as possible the
requirements of the present. 1 trust
You will be able to fix the amount con-
servativcly. After the appropriations