Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-03-12

( changes of teachers until now, with Lieut.
Sturtevant as principal, and his corps of
assistants, and Superintendent Stevens
overlooking all, everything in the school
line, am informed, is running smoothly.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Every fire creates a loss. Unless the
| loss is again replaced, so much taxable
property is gone, not only for one year,
but forever. We have not been unmnd-
| full of the usefulness of this department
and anything that looked good for its
| Improvement has been given recognition.
| We have added a new motor truck to the
apparatus to take the place OF horses. A
few minutes gain at the start of an ordi-
nary fire will in nearly every case save
property enough to pay for this invest
ment. The members of the fire depart
ment receive small compensation, but |
have never heard OF an instance, night or
day, winter or summer, when they failed
to answer the alarm. Consider carefully
| the wants OF this department.
POLICE.
Perhaps in our city, with one day man
and one night man, their usefulness is not
always given consideration. The day
officer has many complaints to investi-
| gate and duties to perform during the
year, that the public never hear of. The
| night officer is on the lockout for fires,
for open doors to business places, and
order on the streets. Each performs
variety of duties which well repays for
their expense.
TAXES.
The city has no source OF revenue except
from taxes. The collection OF taxes after
the assessment is made is OF all import
auce. The contract system inaugurated
at my request in 1905, and continued since,
has been, feel safe in saying, more bene-
| fetal to Ellsworth than any change of
procedure during its existence. Under
the contract with Mr.. Bresnahan, who
has been collector for the greater part OF
the time since its adoption, 70 per cent. OF
he legal assessment is paid into the treas
ury during the first year and the balance
is settled in full at the end OF the second
year.
The salary or contract price is not for
one year, as may be stated by persons not
familiar with the contract, or who may
wish to misconstrue it, but is for the
period of two years covered by the con-
tract, and is payable one-h half the first
year, and one hafthe second year, on con-
dition that the second halt Of the contract
price is not payable unless the commit
ment is settled in full at the end OF the
second year. Compared with the percent
age system in use prior to tkis contract
system, under which the collector gath
cred in what he could easily, and turned
the uncollected over to the city as assets,
the collector of taxes now is practically of
no expense to the taxpayers, for the
amount previously lost, not considering
the percentage paid, was more than the
compensation now allowed under the con-
tract.
CONCLUSION.
One year ago, following the inaugural
exercises, what was considered as appro-
pirate on that occasion, viz, the unfurling
of service flag, upon which was placed a
blue star for every Ellsworth man in tn e
military service OF our country, was car
ried out. At that time one gold star had
the place OF honor. Since then more of
our boys have paid the supreme price,
and unfortunately more gold stars must
replace the blue.
1t has been suggested that many OF the
boys have returned home from overseas
and from the camps, and that on this &C.
casion some program should be arranged
in recognition of their return. | feel we
had better postpone the reception to our
boys until warmer weather, when, with
out danger to health in this climate, we
can all take part and do honor to those
who risked all and those who gave all.
want to thank the citizens OF Els
worth for the honor conferred upon me
by election eleven times as their mayor,
four times unopposed. In return l pro-
mise to do my best to look after their
interests,
Gentlemen, l await your pleasure.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The board then proceeded to the routine
OF business by the election oi onicers'
The mayor first announced the reappoint-
ment of John SiIvy as city marshal.
The following officers were then elected
by ballot:
City treasurer;
K. II. Smith................
Collector:
John III. nahan...............5
Assessor for three years, in place of VIM.
Goggins: Frank NJ. Moore........5
Chief engineer of fire department:
Roy J. Goodwin...... ..........o
First assistant:
William IL. Brown.
Second assistant:
Irving B. Salisbury.
k,,s