Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-14
New City Government In
augurated Monday.
Touching Incident at Confer
ring Of Oath on New Mayor.
Four Ex-Mayors Among the Specta-
toYs--Who the aldermen Are.


dacted into Office under the most IA
vorable auspices. Among the specta
tors We're four x-mayors-Hons. Be,
Tenney. George A. Stafford. +. $. Win
gate and Fred Emery Beane. City
Clerk Z. NJ. Henderson called tn
meeting TO order and stated the object
DIR. il. A. Milliken. alderman at large
was made chairman. The certificates
of election Of DR.. n. 4. Mlliken and
Charles L. Hedrick, aldermcn-at- Large,
Bert A. Walker of ward one. a. d.
McGregor. ward two, L. w. Andrews.
ward three. Horace A. Church. ward
:1ur. and J. Y. Pettingill. ward five.
were presented and accepted. Judge
George A.. Stafford administered the
oath of Office to the members of the
council.
Alderman T. ". Andrews AMI \. D..
MctSregor were appointed committee
TO notify TIE mayor elect, Hon. Emery
.. Became, that the council had organ
lied and was ready TO receive him.
Upon being brought into the council
chamber. the oath of office was admin
istefed to the new mayor by his f3the:.
Hon. Fred Emery Became, in his ca
pacity as justice of the peace and
herein was g beautifully touching in
cident Just % years ago. March Is.
1891, when the elder Beane was inau
gurated mayor of Hallowell for the
first time, his father, the late Judge
Emery @. Beane, administered the oath
of Office to the father OF the present
mayor. The thought of it made the
eyes of more than one moisten.
a. 1f atE lad
taken. Mayor Beane, called upon his
pastor. Rev. j. W. Steele, of the First
Uniyersalist church t. offer prayer.
Following this came the reading of the
mayors message. which is conceded to
be a strong one and it was read in a
deliberate and emphatic voice indieat
ing that Names most youthful mayor
meant what he said.
Following is the mayors address;
Gentlemen of the City Council:
In conformity to the law and to our
duty rs the duly selected represe nta
tiyes OF the people of our city. having
come under solemn obligation to sup
port that law and perform that duty.
we meet here at this time tn inaugu-
rate a new administration which is to
carry on the civic business, upheld the
civic integrity. ard preserve the civic
rights of our city and its people. The
solemnity and dignity of that oath
which we today assume these respon-
slhilities must have impressed and
deeply, each and every one of us.
May we then. at the outset, although
realizing that we doubtless will be sub
jected at times to adverse criticism
and Impeachment as to our motives
and conduct endeavor to SO regulate
oar acts that each may say to himself
when our work draws to a close: Il
have done my best" No man can do
more.
The custom of years prescribes that
! should at this time review in a meas
ure municipal affairs, offering for your
consideration such suggestion snd
oplrion as may seem proper. 1t would
he impractical and improper for me
nov to attempt to even outline with
any degree Of completeness or detail
the work that lies before you. Condi-
tons cannot lie foreseen and must be
met as they arise. Judgment. after ma
ture elaboration, may be revised or
reversed
However, in Difference to usage,
desire to bring to your notice certain
matters that to me appear of moment
and deserving of your consideration and
action. whether favorable or adverse.
Possibly the matter of greatest i'm
Tprtance which will present itself to
your board at an early date Is the al
lotting Of appropriations for the en-
suing year and the raising of Che
amounts appropriated by means of
taxation.
And l would earnestly suggest, gen
tlemen that YOU give careful, thought
full study &c this very important item
in this respect; whether it is not bet
ter and more in accord with sound
business principles to make UP such
appropriations as Your judgment. aft
er due consultation and consideration
deems necessary and sufficient and
then cause such amount to be raised
by taxation at such rate on our VAL
uation returned by the assessors as
shall produce that amount, rather
than 10 arbitrarily select some rate of
taxation and then apportion your ap-
propriations up to the amount which
snch rate will produce on the Yalua-
ton returned. If you are honest pru
dent and economical III TalSllS Illedii'
10 carry on the affairs of the city. VIII.
should you or any citizen fear because
the rate of taxation might be altered
We need so much money to do oul
work properly and no more; then wha'
matters the exact rate? Is it not bet
. ter 10 supply sufficient funds by taxa
ton than to necessitate the negotiation
of temporary loans and the payment
OF interest thereon? But, gentlemen,
hope and believe, so far as l can see
at this time, that there will be no ne
cessity for an increased rate OF taxa
lion but on the other hand that you
will be able to lower the same, from
the rate of last year without enbar-
rassment TO the fiscal affairs of the
city. 1t would. from the examination CT
prior city reports. seem "xpedient &c
make due allowance for the miscella
neous account in making your appro.
priations.
. And l would add that l shall moi
sanction or permit the overarawing o!
any appropriation. 1t is unbusinesS.
like. improper and Illegal.
Cur streets. highways. and Sidewalk!
Gre of the first Importance. not onI,