Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-16
To Govern Bath Recon-
mended by Mayor Hyde.
Mayor Hanson |nauguIaied
Again al Belfast
John F. Woodman Sworn in for
Third Time As Mayor Of Bangor.

Bath. Me, March En- his inauSu-
IN. Monday morning at the oIganiza
ton IF IN" GA municinal government
OF Bath. M;tlor John $ Hyde recon-
N. nucd the reorganization OF Baths
guyernm"ntal machinery.
He <aid: a successful corporations
OF business enterprise, doing tno yearly
amount Of business. measured in dol
lars and cents. that is done by The city,
would not be governed by Il president
and two boards of directors. At most,
one board IF directors would have
charge
1T IS growing more and more diff
edit t. find % representative citizens,
no can spare time to devote each year
- thc duty, though sometimes Z
ti:ankless one. d city governmental
N"lk | believe it would be better to
have one board made up of two repre-
sontatlvrs from each ward. one to be
c.cctcu each year to serve two years,
: Us having at least. half the board at
ali times. men, who have hai ut least
one vear'S experience in the city
coun. i! This board should be charged
with ali the duties now falling to the
two boards as they Row exist. | believe
it Woud be still better to reduce the
number still further by reducing the
number Of the wards say to five. Full
authority given to a small body makes
for a definite fixing Of responsibility
and ,lorc complete supervision Of at
fairs;
Mayor Hyde recommended the util-
izatio, for municipal Offices of the
waste space in the CITY building caused
by the conuemninG Of City hall as Z
pli]ic place. He urged the Peoples
ferry's return to the former schedule
Of running; the conservation of the
natural beauties Of the city and encr-
sc;ic work AT once to meet the raw
| ages of the broWn-tail moths.
Referring to the city liquor agency,
Mayor Hyde said: Il believe it fills q
| place as Il necessity under our exist
| ing statutes. but deplorc the fact that
| the city is making profits from a traf-
| fc which, by the laws of our state. is
dc clared a crime as the business OF in
,!iVidualS."
lie also favored a rcvaluation by the
~
purpose Of taxation. He said it was a
question in his mind whether or not Il
higher valuation of property with the
consequent lower tax rate would not be
| of advantage.
Briefly touching on the financial condi-
| ton of the city. Mayor Hyde said
During the coming municipal year.
city of Bath bonds in the sum of Sll.WW
will he due. This amount should be def
nittly included in the appropriation bill
in order that the bonds may be paid at
maturity. thus making Il definite reduc-
ton in the city debt
In the conduct of city affairs there is
too frequent excess Of expenditures over
appropriation. believe that if the city
auditor should make y report to us at
least once in two months. showing tn"
expenditure under each appropriation ana
the balance remaining, we could keep
better control of this matter. 5" tar AS
it comes under my hand, within the linn
itations of authority. | propose TO Sc
that no appropriation b. exceeded.
~ believe the sanitary condition and
heating ARRANGEMENTS of some Of our
schools to be very far from desirable 1t
is cur duty to see thu; all our schools ar
properly heated and ventilated and san
t"rN.
'Fath needs things: Fer ""anple
otter City building which would provide
for all offices under ON" roof. an extern
sion OF our permanent sewer system
more permanent road work and side
walks, and believe that some at least of
Ills work can be don" at the same time
,y, are reducing oar city debt, bat We can
aft ord the improvements at an Garner lu-
turc date if we first work T. rcducH our
II, bt