Evening journal., 1909-07-02
MAYOR GpRIIANCE'G
s'us UsA ays HACS ntu OA< ~
FIRST MESSAGE
Read in Council President
Banning Also Made an
ADDRESS

Mayor j. Harvey Spruance sent a mes
sage TO City Council last ngAt which
while short contained good sound advice.
It follows:
TO the Council Of the city Of Wilmington:
Gentlemen.-In conducting tho affairs
OF the municipality. IL is important that
a good understanding and nntua. conf
dence should exist between its legis ative
body and executive head. To this end my
predecessor. in the Office of Mayor. has
wisely established the custom Of communi.
eating his views to the Council by writ
ten messages. desire TO continue that
good custom. on future occasions l shall
doubtless have communicated to make,
containing specific recommendations for
your consideration. At this time / merely
desire to congratulate the members Of
Council upon the opportunity which is be-
fore them, for service to the city and its
people. The situation OF our finances will
demand the strictest economy in the ex-
penditure Of our municipal fu I shall
expect to cooperate with the Council in
all efforts TO give to Win nston clean.
business like and efficient adm nistration.
with proper respect. / remain,
j. Harvey spruance. Mayor.
Following the reading of Mayor Spru-
ances message, President OF Council Ban
ming made an address. II was as follows:
"To my fellow members IN Council:
In opening the new Council 1 think a
/ brief statement proper; first to thank the
/ voters for their confidence in electlng us.
TO conduct the city's business affairs.
Personally, / have always been a DEM
ocrat. The Democrats nominated me; vot-
ed for me- and / was elected. Also large
number of Republicans cast their votes for
me. and for others on the Democratic
ticket and IL is safe TO say that without
this Independent vote some Of us would
not have been elected / esteem such an
election a very great compliment and ono
that ] desire to Justify by faithful per-
formance of duty in the interest Of the
whole people. whose welfare, along with
the other members of Council have been
elected to conserve
1T is my ambition that two years hence
at the close of our term Of office, II may
be said of this body of Councilmen. that
in our effort to give the city an efficient
and economical administration We hav,
executed our duties faithfully and we'll.
would urge there are Two courses open
zone is to establish a high standard fol
our party by doing it all the credit We
can, and the way to do II credit is to hav,
tho interests of the people our first in
centve always.
1.-THE other course is to allow the hes
interests of the people TO become second
AIRY TO party lines and policies. This is th'
short sighted policy of a day that hai
many time guided the actions Of boil
parties and it is my expectation that th'
independent voters will discriminate be
tween tho two courses and act according
ly at the next election.
IN coming into politics I find long es
tablished customs by which in some drec
tions VIC are largely TO be guided. SOM
of the customs are agreeable others ar
distasteful
1t is distastefui 10 me TO know tina
!. each official appointed. however faith
fully and capably- he has executed hi
= work, is nevertheless in fun expectation
I OF being turned out to make place for a
appontee Of the dominant party. Yet tina
is the custom under which he accepted hi
appointment and expects to abandon II
also his successor expects the same treat
ment. Such custom will not always pre-
vail. and think that some Of us will llv
long enough to remember such unbus mes
like methods with a smile Of derision on
of our first duties win be TO make ar
pointments subject to this old custom. an
It Will be inexcusable If we fail anon
the great number of applicants to at leas
select thoroughly capable men,"