The Republican journal., 1919-03-20
City Government.

The meeting was called to order b,
City Clerk Chas. S. Bickford, who ad
mlnistered the oath of office to Alder
men V. A. Simmons, D. T. Clements, w
G. Hatch and T. S. Thompson; Council
men R. H. Howes, J. c. Durham, v. L
Hall, L. B. Thompson, H. j. Kimball, B
L. Davis, L. A. Payson, G. w. Lane, l. L
Perry and N. M. Staples.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Charles
W. Martin.
The oath of office was administered te
Mayor elect, C. W. Wescott, who late1
read his address as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CITY COUNCIL:
The city's affairs are again placed ir
your hands.
Nearly all of you gentlemen have been
on the job for the past year; your work
has been ratified and approved by the
recent election, and the public is fully
we'll informed of your plans. 1t is now
for you to 60 forward with those plans
and realize for the city the benefits to be
derived from their continuance or COM
pletion.
1t is with pleasure and satisfaction that
l congratulate you on your unanimous re-
election. notwithstanding the small num-
Der of votes cast, the election is as unani-
nous as though every voter had gone to
the polls.
1t is indeed remarkable that compara-
lively full city government should be re-
elected in Belfast without a dissenting
vote. This testifies to the public's appre-
citation of the honesty and sincerity of
purpose with which you have conducted
your work.
believe l can truthfully say that there
has not been the slightest friction the
past year in the decisions of the CITY
government, and l have no doubt this
spirit of cooperation will continue
l assure you it is pleasure to be asso-
ciated with such body of men, men who
have the interest, ability and willingness
to care for all matters referred to them
better than | would attend to them my
self. 1t is great relief to me, and other
wise | could not afford to have taken on
my part of the work.
The results of the past year are like
wise especially gratifying. Your unani-
nous reelection proves the correctness
OF the principle for which we stood then
and for which we stand today, namely, a
coalition government, or nom partisanship
in city affairs.
The general good feeling which exists
today is a powerful asset to the city in
its forward march, and help to US in
the further performance of the city's
business. 1t matters not to US whether
a man is Democrat or Republican. but
only whether he can deliver the service.
We sincerely regret that all of the men
associated with us last year are not able,
through ineliglbilty in their respective
wards, to be here again, but we are
pleased to be associated with the honor
able and capable gentlemen who fill their
places.
The city also has reason to congratu-
late itself that you gentlemen are willing
to assume these duties at the expense of
your own private interests, but it is
nevertheless an obligation which you
owe. Unless such men as you are will
ing to do this work what right have
they to complain of what the other fell
low does? | hope and expect the good
results from the continuance of your
labors the present year will cause other
men equally competent and responsible
to be willing to take on the work where
we leave it, that the spirit of unity and
cooperation in Belfast may he further
fostered and improved.
The past year has been hard one in
which to obtain results Labor has been
scarce and wages atnormally high. The
present year will be more favorable in
both respects, and with a return toward
normal, the standard of efficiency will be
increased, 1t is disappointing, but a
fact, that extremely high wages and
shortage of labor produce decrease OF
individual efficiency. 1t should be the
opposite.
We have held down well to our appro-
priations and have cleared the past veal
with reduction in the city's net liabjli-
ties. This is start in the right direction
and we hope permanent turn in the
city's financial affairs. The tax rate was
high, but abnormal expenditures had te
be met as well as high prices contendec
with. We can hope for little if any re.
duction this year, if anything is to be &C.
compllshed. An increase of S5, 600 Del
year for the next year and half is ad
ded to our bonded interest. We certain
ly cannot afford to see the city 60 back.
ward in its schools, roads, sidewalks
sewers, drainage and other necessaries.
The thing of first Importance of cours,
is our schools They appear to be il
capable hands. Every interest, encour
agement and cooperation should be ex
tended for their further Improvement
The growth of our city primarily rest
with our schools. They should be secon,
to none in the State. Our superlntend
ent said to me in recent commun1ca
ton: "a good school system will hell
more than any one thing to make this ;
bigger, better and buster Belfast. A poot
system will act as magnet drawing peo
pie to US More people means more in
dustries and more business"
We need most of all a new school
house. | want you, gentlemen, to con
slider, and II you regard it advisable
advocate the starting of drive to raise
by subscription, substantial amount fol
this purpose. If we undertake it in thu
right spirit and with the proper zeal, there
is no telling what we may accomplish
There are people who should give at least
81, 900 for this purpose and believe every
one would wish to help to the most of his
ability. For one, | am willing to triple
my subscription to the United War Drive
and | have no doubt everyone of vol
gentlemen would gladly do the same. !,
all in Belfast should do this even. we
would raise S39, 600 This undertakino
| is not so big as it looks Think it over
gentlemen.
The next of Importance is our streets
and roads. We are agreed that gravel is
the thino most adant hIa to tb,;r =: