Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-22
MAJOR Sw,it's Statement


r.r H.. first tim" in the history of
>u-,ist, = clty guycrnplent continues in
..uc, ana enters upon the work OF
row municipal year with no change IN
membership or organization. The adop-
tio, of our am' udcd charter mace Soy
raj changes which are Of Importance IN
trrir honring pp"n the management OF
m. ,tty. one 81 which. is the election oil
.,, rotcrimont for n two year term.
eur work IN. coming year should prove
,n,. wisdom e this provision which VIII
H. au incentive 10 greater ell"ftS- We
have the advantages If th"fousI'
know Iedg, Of conditions gained through
.xpcrirpc. which VIII I've OF value I" us
aud tho, Who's interests we serve.
Tho ,ear rust past has been one OF
th,. most cv,utful IN history, our couh-
rr, has entered the great world wal
and our CIT, has generously and nobiy
tcsponJcd to every call t." assist IN its
,,roeecutiou our patriotic young men,
with loyaI devotion to their country
needs have enlisted in such hunipe'H
that our quota to date has been hIlcd
with men L. spare. by volunteers max
ing a draft unnecessary and TO-DAY our
at, - repr. ssnted in every branch OF
service A. I stand here / miss TWO
familiar faces. Edward u. Hinckley and
,heatcr NJ Redmond. who have joined
th. rolors While We regret their an
tcnco W. are proud to have TINS city
puvernmcnt SO well represented IN our
.'ouutr& 8 service.
in the deliberations of both branches
of tho council harmony and good feel
,nr have prevailed which has contribut-
"a TO efficiency and rladc the work and
Us associations pleasant. The commit
toes have wokcd untiringly III the in
,erests of the city and received the full
.n-opcration of the heads and members
uf all departments which has been re-
warded BY excellent results.
Excellent Financial Condition
Tho CITY is in excellent financial
condition as shown by the auditor S
statement. All outstanding bills pre-
scented have been paid which include
.alaries, wage. and team hire to De-
,emter SYST, and special effort has
been made to have all bills promptly
rendered Weekly payments for Ia
Lnr and teams were adopted several
Years ago hut were not entered on
rho auditors books and charged to
,,anartuents until the roll OF accounts
yxas charged about the middle Of the
,uoptb which made difference be
,uoo, the treasurer's and auditors
cash accounts. These items are now
entered and charged to departments
-, time OF payment which corrects
this. and places all salaries ior De
,rmter on 1917 accounts All depart
,uents have been efficiently managed
and their affairs kept upon strict
business basis. | will briefly call your
attention to some Of the Improvement;
(which have been made during the past
year.
now, system of bookkeeping has
been installed which is simple, easily
understood and places every depart
,,e,, ON us own basis. 1t is strictly
i'm accordance with modern methods
q municipal accounting ana ciasSi-
Tvs ill expenditures under proper
heads. iakirE IL easy TO OBTAIN inIor-
,nsticn II any time, which VIII De ol
,yreat allie when making approprla-
ton, and comparisons. The auditor
department is one of the most essentiai
in the transaction of the city's busi-
moss and at no time should we lose
sisht OF its Importance.
In the treasurer's department me
item OF uncollected sewer assessments
amounting TO ss.:1:.ss has been re-
d,ced TO sl7765S. Much Of this was
ahated as IL was worthless
TIE attachments We're in man! cases
10 correct errors some having been
maid or improperly assessed and out
lawed. In some cases assessments
..roulJ never have been made ana
agreements had been reached between
the city and property. owners. but had