The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-04-18

son took the reins of city government
i last night amidst the applause Of th,
largest crowd that has ever assembl
/ ed in the council chambers. Withou
| delay or preliminaries the new mayol
\ proceeded to business and soon set a
| rest any doubts which might have beer
| entertained as to his appointees By
4 making the announcements.
Il Contrary to expectations every ap.
ipointmert OF the new mayor, with one
Iexception, was confirmed BY the city
council. Through his Loyalty to ex-
Mayor Wall, Alderman Stewart yotef
i mo to every confirmation, but his
was the only negative vote. The one
exception in the confirmation proceed,
1ngs was in the appointments >of city
Welgher. II. Fields was designated
Iby the mayor, but on motion OF Alder
imam Stern the confirmation was laid
lover for month pending the adjust
mrent OF matters pertaining to the city
.EscaleS.
/ 1T is not because / have any objec-
K ton to the mayors selection that / op-
Ipose the confirmation at this time,'
Iexplained Mr. Stern.
Long before Mayor Wall called the
Icouncil to order last night quite a
Icrowd had collected in front Of the city
hall. 3Rumors had been current on
1.-THE streets yesterday to the effect that
/ the council would decline to confirm
5several OF the new mayors appoint
ments and a lively session was antici-
pated. As a result many citizens were
In attendance to see the flirf.''
Alter the council had been called to
order and before the roll had been call
ed, Mayor Wall appointed committee
to canvass the returns OF the school
tboard election tAs soon as the com
mlttee had reported, the reports Of
lJndge Gearey and City Attorney New
man were read and adopted. The re-
iport OF the city atto1ns,r pertaitled es-
pecially to the recent sun brought by
| the city to recover for the care OF 4
smallpox patient in which a counter
claim against the city had been allow
ed. The city attorney advised that the
Icase be appealed. The regular
bills and the election bills were
allowed and then Mayor-elect
Johnson and Alderman Van Horn and
Elliott were invited by Mayor Wall TO
lcome forward
Mayor Wall turned overSfhe admin
liStration of the affairs OF the city in
a very few words. He said:
Il wish to thank you gentlemen, for
the courtesies you have extended to ME
during my administration Now / wish
TO present to You Mayor j. a. John
son.
Mayor johnson called the council 10
I:order and after the roll had been CALI
ed, handed his message to the city ati-
ditor to be read. The message fol-
lows:
Mayors office, Fargo, N. ID, April
18TH, 1000. The Honorable, the City
Council: rs
Paragraph g, Article 3 OF Chapter
62, Session Laws Of 1905, under which
chapter the city of Fargo exists, re-.
quires the mayor to annually and
from time to time, given the council
information relative to the affairs of
the city and to recommend SUI
measures as he may deem expedient
I wish first to thank the citizens Of
Fargo for Having for the fifth time
elected me 10 the honorable and re-
sponsiblc Office of mayor OF the fore.
most city in the state and one OF the
most progressive in the country. I
fully appreciate both the honor and
responsibility as well, and it shall be
my e1ldeayor to merit the confidence
reposed in me by the people of Far
go. 85..s
II wish to call your attention to only
a few matters ait this time. I trust
you will take the recommendation 1
make into favorable consideration
when the proper time comes.
he coming season promises to be
very busy one i'm Fargo both for the
city as a corporation, as we'll as for
It's citizens. Many residences, as we'll
as business blocks will be erected, the.
government building will be doubled
indicating the growth of Fargo, as it
is but short time since it was built
and it was then expected that iii
would he large enough for many years
to come. 81
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.
Many of our streets will be repaved1
the coming season, sewers will be put,
IN and sidewalks il, all parts Of the
city constructed, necessitating the out
lay Of large sums Of money and the
employment Of great many men In
all lines, While the taxpayers will
cheerfully pay their Just proportion
sof the expense Of any Improvement
made, they will expect, and SO far as
it lies in my power, they shall receive
one dollars worth Of work for each
dollar expended. In this I feel that Il
voice the sentiment Of your honorable
body.
Paragraph ISL of the chapter refer
red TO provides how payments may
Ebe made for repaving, sewer water
mains, sidewalks, etc. Warrants may
be issued to the contractors, or sold
for cash, in each case not less than
at par value. 1T also provides that
the interest Of the warrants issued
shall bear interest at not to excee u
per cent per atlnufn. and that they
shall be issued iii denominations oil
mot to exceed $1,000 each. Consider
ing the financial standing of Fargo,
which viii touch on later, it seems