The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-03-19
City Government Organized.

OuVy OVvOs sussVsss W 9us"Ous
The members of the city council elect met
in the common council room Monday, March
10th, and were called to order at 10 O'Clock
a. m. by the city clerk, Maurice W. Lord.
The certificate of the city clerk OF the elec-
ton of aldermen and councilman was read,
and the oaths were administered by William
P, Thompson, Esq The record of the elec
ton of the mayor was read by the city clerk,
and Edgar F. Hanson was sworn in as may
or by VIM. P. Thompson, j. P. Prayer was
offered by Rev. David L. Wilson. Mayor
Hanson delivered his address as follows,
after which the convention dissolved:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL:
As the result of hotly contested political
combat we are here today as the chosen rep
resentatves of our fellow citizens.
The political warfare is now ended ana so
far as possible we should forget its strife,
and realizing our responsibility, work TO-
getber for the best interests OF ALL
AS the servants of our fellow citizens, we
| should have no enemies to punish or frlends
| to reward, but should give careful considera-
| ton to our every act, realizing that we snail
| he subject to both fair and unfair criticism.
| We must work in harmony if we would
| serve our city'S best interest, ana L can as
sure every member of this Board that shall
| extend the same courteous treatment TO those
elected by the citizens. who opposed me, as
| to those elected by my supporters.
| am glad to see so many members OF last
| wears city government returned. 1t shows
| that YOUR effective work is appreciated ana
| | feel assured that you will strive to handle
| the business interests of our city tor the
| ensuing year III the same lalthlul lhahiei
| as in the past.
In making the appropriations last year
| the city government was careful not TO eX-
| ceed the amount that would be avallaDle
after providing for payment OF interest on
| bonded Indebtedness, and ether regular ana
| fixed charges, without any increase or Vaiua-
| tion, or increase of rate of taxation.
find that the disbursements for the past
| wear were kept very close to the approprla-
lions, yet Notwithstanding this fact, the
| treasurer'S report shows overdfafts OF diI-
| ferent amounts-the largest being in the
| fire department.
| This condition is due to the fact that the
roll of accounts allowed by the previous
| city government, March 4, 1907, together with
the teachers pay roll, making total OF
| S5,526 O4, had to be paid out OF the several
appropriations made by the last city govern
| ment. The roll of accounts allowed March
2, 1908, amounted to S2,S04 30, and shows the
| actual amount expended by the past city
government and being 81, 721.7 "a less than
| the roll passed March 4, 1907, considerably
| more than accounts for the overdrafts.
The system by which the clty>S DOCKS are
kent never shows in the treaSurer's annual
report the exact amount expended by any
one city government, the last pay roll pas
sed by each city government going over 10
be paid out of the appropriations maze oy
the succeeding city government. 1 MS makes
| the city's accounts confusing to the person
who desires to ascertain the exact amount
expended in the different departments by
any one city government
This system can be changed to show the
actual amount expended by each city gov
ernment, by holding all extra meeting TO ac-
cept the treasurer'S report, after the last
| regular meeting each year.
In the late municipal campaign 1T has
! been alleged that there are discrepancies
| and moneys unaccUunted Tor, ana such
| charges are now being made by lhe jour
| nal | would therefore recommend that an
up-to-date system of keeping the clty's ac-
counts be adopted, and that an expert ac-
countant be employed to go over the cltyS
accounts for period OF years I'D tne past,
and ascertain if there has been any criminal
INSTRUMENTATION of funds, or negligence OF
the citys business that has caused loss, to
the end that the guilty parties may bear the
responsibility. | recommend a thorough
investigation and that a system OF Keeping
the treaSuTer'S accounts be adopted that WI
enable any intelligent person to ascertain
the exact condition of every portion OF the
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
Our cty'S financial condition remains
substantially the same year after year.
Our bonded Indebtedness amounting to
$500 900 cannot be reduced except by eX-
ceSsive taxation, or the sale OF the city S
| railroad stock. AT present, because OF the
income from our lease to the Maine Central,
we carry the burden without serious tron-
Bile, but when the citizen having BeifaStS
future at heart looks into the coming years,
| to the time when the lease expires, the out
| look is not pleasant
The Treasurer's Report each year is sup
posed to show the city's ascertalned llabil-
| tiles IN excess of its nominal assets. The
| city's liabilities consisting OF Its bond
| ed indebtedness, outstanding orders unpaid,
! and the current Roll of Accounts allowed.
Its assets consist OF the cash in treasury,
amount due on taxes, rallroad STOCK, anu
, city property
| In going back a period of eight years,
| find that the city's ascertalned liabilities
| in excess of its assets, has varied from
| $4,000 to $50, 600, and have never been be-
| low the minimum figure until March 1907,
when as the result of a years Democratic
administration of the city's business, a
reduction of over $1,000 had taken place.
| March g 1908 the Treasurer's Report
shows the city's net liabilities to be $66, ,5O5.-
i "a, but this report does not make correct
| showing for it does not include some OF the
| ctys valuable assets.
| The Park property, originally costing
| $1,000, has been carried year after year as
an asset at the uniform figure OF $4,000,
| whereas through the extensive improve
ments the past year, its value has been en-
| HANGED more than $1,000, and should have
appeared in the report as an asset valued at
not less than 81, 600.
The new Steam Roller, Rock Crushing
Plant, with building, and other valuable
machinery, worth at the most conservative
estimate, more than $4,000, is not included
| in the assets at all. Had these assets been
| included, the net liabilities would have
been about $4,000 or a reduction of about
$4,000 during the past year, and $4,000
less than they were few years ago.
What would merchant think if his
bookkeeper should hand him balance
sheet showing his assets and liabilities,
and placing only the land on which his
store set, in his assets, ignoring the build
ing and stock of goods?
When the large increase in State and
County taxes, and the abatements and re-
turns to tax payers, necessitated by the
| closing up of the tax accounts in arrears,
are properly considered, making total of
$5O9294 that had to be paid or deducted
| from our assets, the present financial show
| ing is one of which the last City Govern
ment may well feel proud, and effectually
answers the continuous cry of our oppo-
nents that the city's business is being ham
died extravagantly and that taxes will be
increased, etc.
AT the last regular meeting of the City
| Government, after deducting the March
1 Roll of Accounts, there was S18,329,7 10 in