Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-09
CITY GOVERNMENT
FOR WATERVILLE
IS INAUGURATED

people, the new city government was
inaugurated, Monday morning. The
CEREMONIES were simple, but yet i'm
pressive 1t has been six years since
the Republicans have held majority
in both divisions of the government,
and the seating of the new members
was attended with little less interest
than marked the recent election. Long
before the appointed hour, ten o.
clock the corridors were crowded with
men, new officials, and the retiring
officers, as well as the usual crowd
of spectators. Soon after their ar
rival the Republicans went into eau
Gus in the mayors office. II was some
few minutes after ten o'clock before
they came into the rooms, and at just
exactly 1925, L. E. Hilliard, the retir-
ing mayor called the upper board to
order.
The first motion was the appoint
ment by the chair Of committee on
credentials. Aldermen Austin. Spauld-
ing and Daviau were appointed and
reported favorably on all seven wards.
This was followed by a motion for
Joint session. The chair was moved to
appoint committee of two to wait
on, and escort the mayor elect to the
chair. Alderman Austin and Council
man Stewart composed the commit
tee. AS he entered the room, Mr..
Bartlett was greeted with round of
applause that was lasting and express
sive of the good will Of the people
and the members of the two bodies.
City Clerk Mark Bartlett then ad-
ninistered the oath OF office after
Mayor Hilliard had cordially shaken
hands with his successor and rendered
him the chair. The joint convention
was then dissolved Alderman spauld-
ing then nominated Frank H. Austin
for chairman Of the board Of alder
man, a nomination that was quickly
seconded and voted on by all members
of the upper board. Returning to Il
joint convention again, after the coun-
Gil had organized with Fred NJ. Rose
8 president and Guy w. Perry as Sec
rotary, Mayor Bartlett read his inaug-
Cral address. which was as follows:
Inaugural Address Of Mayor Bartlett
To the Members Of the City Council:
We meet here today TO enter upon the
work OF the government of this city to
which we have been elected 1t is Gus
tomery at this time for the mayor to cali
your special attention to matters pertain
ing to the city and to make such recon-
mendat!ons to You as may seem to him
proper.
In this. l shall be very brief.
Our first concern is TO elect and APP
point to the subordinate positions OF the
city such men as will be best fitted for
the offices. having in mind that we shall
be judged by the men who represent us.
1 feel sure that you all fully realize this
and will select wisely.
The finances Of our city must be care
fully guarded. The debt has increased
greatly during the past few years and
there appears some uncertainty as to just
what the financial standing is.
believe it is our duty to take inne
diate action to learn the exact standing
and l so recommend to you 1t is of
the utmost importance that we know
fully in regard to this at the beginning.
and ! hope you will arrange for some
auditor TO make as early examination as
possible and report to you.
The present method of keeping the va
rious accounts of the city should be
changed so as to be readily understand
able to all our people and such auditor
should take up this work also so that in
the future the city reports shall be clear
and in such form as can be readily I'M
derstood by all.
would also recommend that your COM
rnittee on accounts fix a. date for their
meeting in advance of the monthly city
meeting and make it rule that all bills
be presented before the meeting Of that
committee. in order to be placed on the
monthly roll of accounts to the end that
all bills may be properly audited. Also
that the city treasurer be instructed that
no bills are to be paid by him In advance
nor until regularly passed on roll Of ac-
counts. excepting city payroll accounts.
Until we know definitely just what this
statement is. it is impossible for me to
mako any definite recommendations rs
to future expenditure. nor can we decide
what is proper to consider in the way Of
improvements. When this is completed,
shall doubtless have some Recommended
tons to make to you.
1 would recommend to you also that in
making up Your rolls OF accounts you
separate all bills of this year from those
of previous years 30 that at the end OF
the year the people may know exactly
the amount that this years government
is accountable for.
The repairs on the new High school are
about to be undertaken. The committee
which had this in charge was composed
of men from these branches whose term
of office has expired. am informed that
within a few days they have arranged,
or entered into q contract for this work
the nature Of which have no knowledge
Of. You should elect today a new COM
mittee to cooperate with such commit
tee as the board Of education may des
ignate, investigate Immediately this con-
tract and nee that what Is done and the
manner Of doing It is such as is for the
best interests Of the city.
You with soon have to take up again
the licensing Of public carriages and in
connection with this I would recommend
that you consider the advisability Of
regular schedule Of charges and also the
nature and condition Of the vehicle and
equipment In a similar way to which
these matters are handled In other cities.
Later I shall doubtless have further
suggestions to make concerning other
matters.
Our work IL now before % and, to &C