Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-09
LIBBY STRESSES
ECONOMY PROGRAM
FOR WATERV|LLE

A policy of the strictest economy,
wise road building and an effort to
break the lease under which the City
Opera House is controlled was the
program outlined for the looming
year by DR.. Herbert c. Libby at his
Inauguration as the 25th mayor of
Waterville at the City Opera House
yesterday morning. The exercises
We're attended by an audience which
completely filled the Opera House.
DIR. Paul r. Baird, the retiring may
or, opened the meeting and after
congratulating DR.. Libby on becom-
ing mayor. turned the proceedings
over to his successor.
Prayer was offered by DR.. E. c.
Whittemore, DID,, and the new may
or was sworn into his Office by
Charles w. Atchley, judge of the
Waterville municipal court. During
the exercises music was furnished
by an orchestra of Colby college stu
dents. The mayors inaugural was
in part as follows
Il desire to express to the retiring
mayor my deep appreciation Of the
numberless courtesies he has extend
ed to me and of the many helpful
suggestions he has made that l
might avoid some of the pitfalls that
lie in my path. / know l voice the
opinion of the citizens of Waterville
when I say to him that they are ex-
ceedingly grateful to him and his as
sociateS for the excellent admins
tration now closing, for wise policies
inaugurated,. and for instructive
work done. He carries with him into
private life the good wishes Of all.
"The general policy of the admin
istration for the year to come will
be that of making every dollar go
dollars length. ito show something
the pressing needs of a constantly
growing and insistently demanding
city, and to keep the rate of taxation
as low as is consistent with what the
citizens themselves demand.
Il have spent a large amount of
time in the past ten days in an eff
fort to get at the exact facts regard
ing our finances. I have consulted
the best accountants. and when /
say to you that we are in bad finan-
cial condition ] am using very gen.
tie language. We have been going
it blind for number of years with
no expert steersman to tell us
whether we needed SO mills or 40
mills to meet out constantly accumu-
lating expenses. Year after year.
the auditors report would seem to
show that we are not on the brink.
Bills are held back from the Feb
ruary roll that a good showing may
be made in March.
Il think the time has come when
the facts should be made clear. II
we need 40 mill tax here in Water
Ill II fo lot,
it is vastly better to come out fatty
with the facts and suffer political de-
feat than to twist along a tortuous
course by floating a few more tenn
porary loans and accommodating year
by year a constantly mounting def
cit that will mean more trouble some
day.
"Our total revenue last year was
$552. 631.93. 1t will be approximately
that much this year. Our legal bor-
rowing power Of percent of our
total valuation of approximately 3d.
100000 is $675,950, and our funded
debt is now ..654,50O. The difference
between $654,500 and $675,950 or $21,-
900 represents what additional reve-
nue. might be possible from the sale
OF bonds. But we have 100000 aud
more of outstanding interest bearing
temporary loans which added to our
total funded debt of $654,5OO gives
you the interesting total of a figure
rising rapidly toward the million
mark.
I'VE are up to our debt limit, un-
able to retire 100000 of temporary
loans, accommodating deficit at the
rate of 100000 in only four years
time, and citizens generally expect
that hot hn hnA f,,J ;rrr
School building has been paid for
we shall go back to the 33 mill rate.
I haven't vet dared to figure what
the deficit is bound to be for the
current year. My best Judgment
leads me to believe that we are get
ting ourselves directly in line for q
40 mill tax rate.
I'm the meantime, with evidence
at hand that we are in bad way
financially. we must, not should, but
must, keep the expenses of the city
to the lowest possible point consist
ent with health and safety. I be-
lieve our first duty is to keep what
we have in first class condition, and
to meet, secondly, only the most
pressing demands. This is no year
for the head of any department to
ask for money In excess of what
he had last year, and in some cases
that should be cut. / am convinced
that by careful planning we can eff
feet some saving in the street de-
partment, and in the police depart
ment, and in the school department,
and in the health and sanitation de-
partment.
"A fixed policy is undoubtedly to
be carried out in the street depart
ment. namely. the building of a
small but permanent piece Of street
each year. Last year q piece was
built between the upper crossing and
the Sisters hospital. This year, the
piece in front of the college should
be constructed, the expense borne
equally by the city and the State.
An additional piece should be built
from lower Main to the Ticonic
bridge, and then the main thorough
fare is complete.
II regard the Office Of street COM
missioner as one of the two or three
most important offices in the entire
list. 1t is within his power to make
or break the city. His responsibility
and his opportunity for genuine
service is great. How wise he is.
how we'll informed about street
building he is willing to become,
how expert he Is in getting value
received out of his men, how care
full he is in caring for city property,
how cooperative he is with the pau
per department in finding employ
ment, at right wages, for deserving
casss-these suggest how extremely
important it is to find the right man,
to retain him when he makes good,
or to drop him when he fails to
measure to the standard. -
'There has been a vast improve
ment in the police department over
that of year ago. The personnel