USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1894 > Part 1
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City of Newburyport
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CITY
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City Treasurer's Office
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Boston Public Library
https://archive.org/details/cityofficersannu1894city
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
CITY OFFICERS,
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
AND THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE CITY COUNCIL,
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT
TERRA
MARIQUE
MDCCCLI
FOR THE YEAR 1894,
TOGETHER WITH
CITY OFFICERS, AND MAYOR'S ADDRESS AT THE ORGAN- IZATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 7, 1895.
NEWBURYPORT : NEWS PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1895.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE PRINTING COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF NEWBURYPORT.
3
NOTICES.
OFFICE HOURS.
MAYOR : From 11 a. m. to 12 m.
CITY CLERK : From 9 a. m. to 12 m ; 2 to 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m. June, July and August, 8.30 a. m. to I p. m.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR : From 9 a. m. to 12 m. ; 2 to 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to I p. m. First Thursday evening after the first Monday, 7 to 9. June, July and August, 8.30 a. m. to I p. m.
CLERK OF OVERSEERS OF THE POOR : From 9 a. m. to 12 m. ; 2 10 4 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m. June, July and August, 8.30 a. m. to I p. m.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS : From 4 to 5 p. m., Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; from 9 a. m. to 10 a. m .; Wednesdays and Saturdays.
PAY DAYS.
CITY TREASURER'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, 1
January, 1895.
Regular weekly pay day, Monday. Monthly pay day, first Thursday after first Monday of each month. Military aid is payable the first day of each month.
Please call on the regular pay day for your money.
JAMES V. FELKER, City Treasurer.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE CITY.
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, CITY HALL, January, 1895.
Persons having bills against the city are requested to present them at this office on or before the last Monday of each month.
Charges against the different departments must be made out on separate bills.
Be careful and note who ordered the article or articles; and if for labor. where it was performed, and under whose direction, with the proper dates, and approval of person ordering the same.5.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk.
CITY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICERS, 1894.
MAYOR, ORRIN J. GURNEY. Residence, 65 Washington street. Office, City Hall.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Ward One.
CHARLES H. BLISS,
IO Allen street.
Ward Two.
CHARLES W. PAGE,
12 Horton street.
Ward Three.
Dalton street.
CHARLES C. STOCKMAN,
IO Titcomb street.
Ward Five.
GEORGE E. STICKNEY,
Summit place.
Ward Six.
ALVAH HOYT,
26 Oakland street.
Clerk of Board of Aldermen, GEORGE H. STEVENS.
EBEN A. YOUNG,
Ward Four.
6
ANNUAL REPORTS.
COMMON COUNCIL. ANDREW R. CURTIS, President.
Ward One.
HENRY W. LITTLE,
.
HENRY J. NOYES,
·
CHARLES L. PERKINS,
Ward Two.
EDWARD PERKINS,
CHARLES W. LADD,
JAMES F. CARENS,
.
13 Parsons street. 26 Atwood street. 4 Milk street.
Ward Three.
HENRY C. PLUMMER, MOODY KIMBALL,
.
.
IRVIN BESSE,
Ward Four.
281/2 Washington st. 153 High street. 5 Harris street.
Ward Five.
JEREMIAH HEALEY,
.
16 Dove street.
CHARLES W. JOHNSON,
·
43 Kent street. 38 Kent street.
Ward Six.
GEORGE W. COOPER,
WILLIAM C. COFFIN,
ANDREW R. CURTIS,
.
I No. Atkinson st. IO Tyng street. 274 Merrimac street.
Clerk of the Council, TIIOMAS E. CUTTER.
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE CITY COUNCIL. FINANCE-Mayor, ex-officio; Alderman Stickney; Councilmen Besse. Trask, E. Perkins, Little and Johnson.
ACCOUNTS-Aldermen Stickney and Bliss; Councilmen E. Perkins, Besse and Kimball.
3 Orange street. 27 Temple street. Io Garden street.
HENRY B. TRASK, WILLIAM H. T. DODGE,
WALDO B. SMITHI,
.
DANIEL F. BUCKLEY, ·
.
45 Purchase street. 68 Bromfield street. 1012 Bromfield street.
7
CITY GOVERNMENT.
PUBLIC PROPERTY -- Mayor Gurney; Aldermen Stockman, Page and Hoyt; Councilmen Coffin, Buckley, Dodge, Plummer, Carens and Noyes.
ALMSHOUSE AND POOR-Aldermen Hoyt and Stockman; Councilmen Johnson, C. L. Perkins, Carens, Healey and Trask.
FIRE DEPARTMENT-Aldermen Stickney, Young and Bliss; Councilmen Cooper, C. L. Perkins, Noyes and Ladd.
BRIDGES AND CULVERTS-Aldermen Page and Stockman; Councilmen Buckley, Kimball and Noyes.
SAWYER FUND-Alderman Bliss ; Councilmen Johnson and Smith.
BROWN FUND-Alderman Young; Councilmen Buckley and Trask.
DEXTER AND ATWOOD FUNDS-Mayor Gurney, Treasurer Felker and President Curtis.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION-Mayor, ex-officio; Aldermen Stickney and Bliss ; Councilmen President Curtis, Carens, Smith, Kimball and Besse.
CLAIMS-Aldermen Bliss and Page; Councilmen Johnson, Healey and Little.
ORDINANCES-Mayor, ex-officio ; Councilmen Healey and C. L. Perkins.
HIGHWAYS-Mayor Gurney, ex-officio; Board of Aldermen; Councilmen Little, Carens, Kimball, Dodge, Healey and Coffin.
FUEL-Aldermen Page and Hoyt; Councilmen Ladd, Plummer and Smith.
LIGHTING STREETS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS-Aldermen Young and Stickney; Councilmen Besse, Edward Perkins and Cooper.
PRINTING-Aldermen Stockman ; Councilmen Cooper and C. L. Perkins. WATER SUPPLY-Aldermen Hoyt and Page; Councilmen C. L. Perkins, E. Perkins and Healey.
SEWERAGE-Aldermen Stickney and Bliss ; Councilmen Johnson, Noyes and Cooper.
TODD FUND-Alderman Hoyt; Councilmen Johnson and E. Perkins.
JOINT SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
SALARIES-Aldermen Stockman and Page; Councilmen Johnson, Healey and Kimball.
MAYOR'S ADDRESS-Aldermen Page and Young; Councilmen Coffin, Johnson and Besse.
S
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
POLICE .- Mayor, ex-officio ; Aldermen Stockman and Page. ELECTIONS-Aldermen Young and Bliss.
BROMFIELD FUND-Aldermen Stickney, Hoyt and Bliss.
PUTNAM AND ATKINSON FUNDS-Aldermen Page, Young and Stockman.
LICENSES-Aldermen Stockman, Stickney and Page.
ENROLLED BILLS-Aldermen Hoyt, Stockman and Stickney.
FROTHINGHAM FUND-Aldermen Young, Bliss and Page. GREEN FUND-Aldermen Stockman, Hoyt and Bliss. TOPPAN FUND-Aldermen Stickney, Page and Young.
ABRAHAM WILLIAMS FUND-Aldermen Young and Stockman. STATE AID, SOLDIERS' RELIEF AND MILITARY AID-Aldermen Stock- man, Young and Page.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COMMON COUNCIL. ELECTIONS AND RETURNS-Councilmen Trask, Smith and Ladd. ENROLLED BILLS-Councilmen Carens, Little and Cooper. BILLS OF SECOND READING-Councilmen E. Perkins, Trask and Plummer.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORRIN J. GURNEY, [Mayor, ] Chairman, ex-officio. HENRY B. LITTLE, Vice Chairman, 215 High street.
WILLIAM P. LUNT, Secretary and Agent, - Office at City Hall.
Ward One.
WILLIAM T. HUMPHREYS [term expires 1895] - 56 Purchase street. 49 Purchase street.
EDWARD OSGOOD [term expires 1896]
Ward Two.
GEORGE E. L. NOYES [term expires 1895]
CHARLES W. POORE [term expires 1896]
10} Beck street. 65 Prospect street.
9
CITY GOVERNMENT.
Ward Three.
JOHN F. YOUNG [term expires 1895]
GEORGE H. PLUMER [term expires 1896] -
Ward Four.
SAMUEL C. BEANE [term expires 1895] - GEORGE W. WORCESTER [term expires 1896]
6 Harris street. 124 High street.
Ward Five.
EDWARD G. MOODY [term expires 1895]
HENRY B. LITTLE [term expires 1896] -
218 High street. 215 High street.
Ward Six.
PAUL A. MERRILL [term expires 1895] EMORY A. HOWARD [term expires 1896]
24 Tyng street. 15 Woodland st.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
CLARENCE C. DAY, M. D. [City Physician, ] ex-officio.
TERM TWO YEARS.
JOHN E. BAILEY [term expires 1895] G. W. WORCESTER, M. D. [term expires 1896]
6 Kent street. 124 High street.
Agent of Board.
D. CLARK BATCHELDER,
5 Fair street.
Clerk of Board. AMOS H. GEARY, [Office : City Hall] -
36 Prospect street.
ASSESSORS. Office : City Hall.
TERM THREE YEARS.
AMOS H. GEARY, Chairman [term expires 1895] J. L. JOHNSON, Secretary [term expires 1896] - J. OTIS WINKLEY [term expires 1894]
36 Prospect street. 27 Washington st. Parker street.
2
7 Fruit street. 93 High street.
10
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. ORRIN J. GURNEY, [Mayor] Chairman, ex-officio. TERM THREE YEARS.
L. W. SARGENT, Vice Chair. [term expires '94] 280 High street.
JOHN C. STEVENS [term expires 1896] - 2 Madison street.
LAWRENCE W. BROWN [term expires 1895] - 20 Fruit street.
Clerk of Overseers of the Poor. WILLIAM H. BAYLEY, [Office : City Hall] 27 Milk street.
BOARD OF REGISTRARS.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, City Clerk, -
37 Kent street.
TERM THREE YEARS.
ARTHUR L. HUSE [term expires 1895] Buck street,
NATHANIEL GREELEY [term expires 1894]
BENJAMIN G. DAVIS [term expires 1896]
37 Marlboro street. Horton street.
SINKING FUND COMMISSIONERS. ORRIN J. GURNEY (Mayor). ex-officio.
ANDREW R. CURTIS (President of Common Council), ex-officio.
WILLIAM H. WELCH (City Auditor), ex-officio.
CHARLES C. DAME (term expires 1894).
EBEN SUMNER (term expires 1895).
Treasurer and Clerk-JAMES V. FELKER (City Treasurer).
TRUSTEES OF SIMPSON FUND.
ORRIN J. GURNEY (Mayor), ex-officio.
ANDREW R. CURTIS (President of Common Council), ex-officio. THOMAS C. SIMPSON (term expires 1894).
CHARLES C. DAME (term expires 1895). ELIPHALET GRIFFIN (term expires 1896).
Treasurer and Clerk-JAMES V. FELKER (City Treasurer).
II
CITY GOVERNMENT.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS. ORRIN J GURNEY (Mayor), ex-officio.
ANDREW R. CURTIS (President of Common Council), ex-officio. TERM THREE YEARS. OLIVER O. JONES (term expires 1894). WILLIAM R. JOHNSON (term expires 1895). ELIPHALET GRIFFIN (term expires 1896).
COMMISSIONERS OF ATKINSON COMMON.
ORRIN J. GURNEY (Mayor), ex-officio. ANDREW R. CURTIS (President of Common Council), ex-officio. ELIPHALET GRIFFIN, JACOB T. ROWE, GEORGE E. CURRIER.
CITY CLERK.
GEORGE H. STEVENS, -
37 Kent street. Office : City Hall. Clerk of City Clerk-George F. Poor.
CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
JAMES V. FELKER,
- 12 Harris street. Office : City Hall. Clerk of City Treasurer-George E. Moulton.
CITY AUDITOR.
WILLIAM H. WELCH, 14 Harris street. Office : First National Bank.
1 2
ANNUAL REPORTS.
CITY SOLICITOR.
ROBERT E. BURKE, - 132 High street. Office : 76 State street.
CITY MESSENGER.
FRANK H. RUNDLETT,
28 Federal street.
Office : City Hall.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WILLIAM P. LUNT, - 19 Pond street.
Office : City Hall.
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS.
CHARLES M. PRITCHARD, 17 Atwood street.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SEWERS.
FRANCIS CURTIS,
3 Park street.
CITY PHYSICIAN. CLARENCE C. DAY, - - 10 Washington street.
CHIEF ENGINEER OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
SELWYN C REED,
- Io Charter street.
13
CITY GOVERNMENT.
SUPERINTENDENT OF FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH.
15} Walnut street. ORRIN J. WELCII,
LIBRARIAN PUBLIC LIBRARY.
JOHN D. PARSONS, - - 22{ Market street.
Office : Public Library.
SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC READING ROOM.
MARTHA P. LUNT, - -
- 19 Pond street.
NEWBURYPORT POLICE FORCE.
City Marshal. A. W. EMERSON, Office : Central Police Station.
Acting Assistant Marshal. ALBERT D. HALE.
Captain of the Watch. SIMON E. WILSON.
Day Officers.
PATRICK CREEDEN,
LEMUEL HICKEN.
Night Patrolmen.
SETH YOUNG, GEORGE J. Ross, JOHN L. MCLEAN, WILLIAM E. YOUNG, GEORGE W. LATTIME,
JAMES W. MERRITT, JOSEPH H. POST, WILLIAM H. PIKE, CHARLES W. WELLS,
WILLIAM GILLIS.
14
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Constables.
A. WARREN EMERSON, SIMON E. WILSON,
JOSEPH M. TAPPAN,
FRANK H. RUNDLETT, D. CLARK BATCHELDER, ROBERT G. ALLEN.
HENRY J. HIDDEN.
INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS. A.SA W. EMERSON.
-
INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS AND PROVISIONS.
GEORGE W. KNIGHT.
HARBOR MASTER. MICHAEL STEVENS.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. AMOS H. GEARY. Office : City Hall.
MEASURERS OF GRAIN.
MOSES H. ROLFE,
CHARLES B. KNIGHT.
INSPECTOR OF MILK AND VINEGAR. AMOS H. GEARY. Office : City Hall.
GAUGERS.
WILLIAM C. CUSECK, WILLIAM A. LITTLE, HIRAM P. MACINTOSH.
15
CITY GOVERNMENT.
SURVEYORS OF LUMBER.
John T. Filmore,
George W. Marston,
William B. Coffin,
William H. Morse,
John C. Kimball, Charles L. Perkins,
Moses P. Towne,
Gideon C. Webster,
Orlando F. Hatch,
Thomas F. Corey,
Edward Perkins,
Leonard W. Sargent,
WEIGHERS OF COAL, HAY AND OTHER MERCHANDISE.
William S. Coffin, Harry W. Bayley,
Lawrence Whalen,
Philip H. Creasey, John S. Brown,
John J. Collins,
Fred L. Mackintosh,
Edward E. Varina, Fred B. Fanning,
William Conley, John L. Noyes, .
John Reddy, Fred L. Atkinson,
James Conley, Walter E. Atkinson,
Amos H. Geary, Benjamin F. Atkinson,
Joseph L. Jacoby.
Rudolph Jacoby, John H. Balch, Jr.,
Alonzo C. Pearson,
Stephen P. Bray, William Noyes,
Charles C. Dame,
Charles A. Pearson, Jackson Greenaway,
john Collins,
FIELD DRIVERS.
Jeremiah S. Parker,
William A. Hopkinson.
POUND KEEPERS.
Pound No. 1-Auburn street,
Timothy Maroney.
Pound No. 2-Wesley street, -
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK.
Philip H. Creasey, Fred L. Atkinson,
John Reddy, Benjamin F. Atkinson, John J. Collins, Jere Healey, Charles W. Dame,
William Noyes,
John H. Balch, Jr.,
Frank A. Bray,
Stephen P. Bray, Charles A. Pearson, Jackson Greenaway.
John Collins, Fred B. Fanning, William S. Coffin, John L. Noyes, G. Edwin Creasey, Charles W. Nelson,
Daniel M. Felch.
Jere Healey, G. Edwin Creasey, James Joy,
Leonard W. Coker, Frank A. Bray.
16
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MEASURERS OF CHARCOAL.
Fred L. Atkinson,
Stephen P. Bray,
Jere Healey,
John H. Balch, Jr., Charles W. Dame, John L. Noyes,
Philip H. Creasey, William S. Coffin, Frank A. Bray,
WEIGHERS AND MEASURERS OF CITY FUEL.
Amos H. Geary, Charles W. Nelson, William S. Coffin, Leonard W. Coker.
INSPECTOR OF COAL BASKETS. Amos H. Geary. Office : City Hall.
FENCE VIEWERS.
Greenleaf Dodge, Nathaniel Morse,
William H. Whitmore.
MEASURER OF UPPER LEATHER. John E. Morgan.
17
CITY GOVERNMENT.
MEETINGS.
-
CITY COUNCI FIRST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE. LAST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. LAST MONDAY EVENING OF EACH MONTH.
REGULAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. Commencing with last Monday in each month.
Monday evening-School Committee; Lighting Streets, etc .; Bridges and Culverts ; Overseers of the Poor.
Tuesday evening-Public Property.
Wednesday evening-Highways; Police. Thursday evening-Fire Department.
Friday evening-Accounts.
3
MAYOR'S
INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
HON. ORRIN J. GURNEY, OF
DELIVERED JANUARY 1, 1894
Gentlemen of the City Council:
It is with a deep and sincere feeling of gratitude to my fellow-citizens that I stand here today to de- liver my third inaugural address; gratitude not only on account of the exceptional honor they have con- ferred upon me in again unanimously re-electing me to the responsible position of chief magistrate of the city, but gratitude also for the confidence they have retained in me through the nine years of my public service in the various offices which I have held in the city government. Such confidence on their part demands constant devotion and untiring labor on mine. It demands that I should, to the best of my ability, faithfully serve the interests and uphold the honor of the city; and fully realizing the justice of their claims upon me, I promise them today that I
ANNUAL REPORTS.
will honestly and fearlessly, in the future as I have in the past, endeavor at all times and under all cir- cumstances to so perform the duties of the office that they will have no reason to feel their confidence has been misplaced.
The mayor's position is not only one of great re- sponsibility, but in the performance of his duty he often finds it far from being a bed of roses. I do not expect and never have tried to please everyone, for the man who tries to do that will not succeed in pleasing anyone, not even himself. I shall simply try to perform my duty without fear or favor. In so doing I am fully aware that I shall make enemies, for the man has yet to be born, no matter how hum- ble his sphere in life may be, who has not in the per- formance of his duty offended someone.
During the two years that I have filled the mayor's position I have at all times tried to do what I believed to be right. To acknowlege that I have made mis- takes is but to demonstrate what we all know, that man is far from being perfect. Fair, honest, just criticism I invite. For that which is unfair and un- just I have no fear; it will injure only those who use it. I have unbounded faith in the intelligence of the people, and have no doubt but what they will readily sift the chaff from the wheat; and while I absolutely refuse to do the bidding of any party, clique or ring,
23
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
I gladly acknowledge myself the servant of the peo- ple, and to them alone shall I render my account.
I have the satisfaction of knowing that I have tried to serve the city faithfully, always doing that which I believed would be for its best interests, and also the satisfaction of knowing that the people believed it; for, inasmuch as I had been advertised by my enemies as a lost leader, upwards of eighteen hundred of the best citizens of Newburyport, comprising clergymen, lawyers, physicians, merchants, mechanics and honest laborers, all classes and conditions of men, united in one grand searching party, and they all gladly bear testimony today that when found there was no stain upon the official robes which they had entrusted to my care. The stern word of justice had parried every shaft of envy, malice, and of slander. Error and falsehood, low cunning and hypocrisy, had been hurled back by the almighty force and power of truth. For truth is mighty and will prevail; though crushed to earth it will rise again from the dust, nobler and grander than ever, for it stands upon a foundation which cannot be shaken, that of the eternal word of God.
And now, gentlemen, let us carefully consider some of the questions which will confront us the present year.
24
ANNUAL REPORTS.
First, I ask your attention to the financial condi- tion of the city. It has been said that figures will not lie, but this is not absolutely true, for they can be made to lie; it depends altogether upon who makes the figures and the honesty of the motives. In view of the false statements that have been cir- culated regarding last year's financial record, I would earnestly request every citizen to carefully study the statements and figures I shall make use of in discuss- ing this subject. They are not false figures, calcu- lated to mislead the people or to hide anything from them, but they are official facts, sworn to by the city treasurer and the city auditor, and they are absolutely true in every respect and can be verified at the treas- urer's office.
FINANCE.
As seen by the statement of the city treasurer, the net debt of the city on December 16, 1893, was $388,790.24, being an increase for the year of $10,- 035.68, the increase being caused by an expenditure of $20,324.46 for the construction of sewers in ward one, for which there was no appropriation. If there had been no sewers put in last year the debt, instead of being increased $10,035.68, would have been de- creased $10,988.78, which would have been an ex-
25
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
cellent showing. The appropriation for the year was $177,445.62 ; the income, $45,819.18; making a total of $223,264.80. The expenditure for the year, ex- clusive of the $20,324.46 for sewer construction, was $230,373.80, showing an overdraft for the year of $7109. About $3000, or nearly one-half of the whole amount, was paid in settlement of two claims against the city, which were left as a legacy by my prede- cessor, and which neither myself nor the city govern- ments of 1892 and 1893 were in any way responsible for; $2100 was paid on account of the legislative hearing whereby we obtained a charter to put in a water plant of our own, and that was certainly well expended. Nearly $1000 has been paid toward the expense now going on in ascertaining the source of supply and developing a plan for a system of water works; $500 was for part of the expense for the un- veiling of the Garrison statue on July 4, the rest being contributed by the citizens; so it will be seen that about $6500 of the overdraft, or within about $600 of the whole amount, was caused by unusual ex- penditure.
The financial policy and ability of myself and the members of the city government who supported me last year has been questioned, and by whom? Surely not by any honest men. And here they will perhaps accuse me of believing every man dishonest who
26
ANNUAL REPORTS.
differs from me, which is not true. For while I do believe the large majority of men to be honest, I am not quite so innocent as to believe that all men are honest, as I know from a sad experience that they are not; nor will any man with sufficient business capacity to understand such matters question our financial ability; for if such men will look into the matter carefully, they will be obliged to admit that for the last two years the city's business has been conducted upon business principles and by competent business men.
Those who are finding fault and making these false statements belong to that class of men who are always standing ready to dip their hands into the city treasury. They have not been very successful for the last two years. and they don't like it a bit. I met one of them upon the street, just before the election, who claims, whether rightfully or not I do not know, to have been the originator of the so-called business men's movement. He was very urgent in his de- mand that the whole board of aldermen, as well as the common council, should be turned out and an entirely new set of men elected; and before he got through talking I found out why he wished such a radical change made, for he informed me that he did not think he had been given his share of the city work lately. And he was a fair sample of the mana-
27
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
gers of that movement, for they all had some selfish motive; and if the truth could be known, it would be seen that there was not only some water in it but also a little rum, as some of the managers were in- terested in obtaining liquor licenses for their clients.
I am not referring in the least to any of the candi- dates who were nominated on that ticket, for they were all good men; nor do I refer to the number of honest citizens who afterward became identified with the movement. But I refer solely to the originators and managers, who all had some scheme to carry out; but so many honest men were taken into the movement that it upset all their calculations, and consequently their plans miscarried. Now I have a proposition to make to these men who have been cry- ing so loudly about the mismanagement of the city affairs, and the pressing need of electing business men to office, which is this: That they call a mass meeting of the citizens, in this hall; that they make their charges before the citizens to whom we are re- sponsible; and I agree to meet alone upon this plat- form, without any assistance, the whole fifty-one, I believe that is the number. I will meet them in- dividually or collectively; and I will guarantee to prove to the satisfaction of the citizens, not only that the city's business has been managed for the past two years in a manner that has not been excelled, but
-
28
ANNUAL REPORTS.
will also prove that the persons who have been mak- ing these false charges knew them to be false when they made them.
Your careful attention is now called to a compari- son of the financial condition of the city, beginning with the year 1889 and extending to the present time:
The net debt of the city Dec. 21, 1889, was $403,985 84 The net debt of the city Dec. 20, 1890, was 414,063 55 The net debt of the city Dec. 19, 1891, was 391,312 32 The net debt of the city Dec. 17, 1892, was 378,754 56
The net debt of the city Dec. 16, 1893, was 3SS,790 24
You will see by this table that the city debt was lowest by considerable at the close of my first ad- ministration. You will also notice that although the debt was increased last year, which was wholly on ac- count of putting in new sewers, and notwithstanding the sewer expense and the other unusual expendi- tures, the city debt is at the present time $2522.08 less than it was when we came into office. and there never has been a time when there were so few un- paid bills out as now. The $2104.45 for the legisla- tive hearing has all been paid, and also about one- half of the expense of the engineer's work now going on. Now there is not much lack of business ability or mismanagement of city affairs exhibited in this statement, which is all true, and has all been sworn to by the city treasurer and city auditor.
29
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
Now a comparison of the overdrafts for the same five years.
The overdraft for the year 1889 was $10,066 26
The overdraft for the year 1890 was 13,768 97
The overdraft for the year 1891 was 7275 47
The overdraft for the year IS92 was 195 62
The overdraft for the year 1893 was
7109 00
You will see by this table that the overdraft was the lowest during my first year's administration; and when I speak of my administration, I want it dis- tinctly understood that it includes all the members of both branches of the city council, who nobly sup- ported me during those two years. And here I am going to quote a little from the second inaugural ad- dress of the Hon. E. P. Dodge, in which he refers to his first year's account. The overdraft that year was $13,768.97 as against $7109 last year. The increase of the debt that year was $10,077.71 as against $10,035.68 last year; his overdraft that year being $5659.97 more than ours last year, and his increase of the debt that year being $42.03 more than ours last year. Mayor Dodge, referring to that year, re- marks as follows: "The increase of the net debt is accounted for by the fact that there has been paid during the last year on account of the construction of sewers $17,155. Had it not been for this item there would have been an actual decrease of the debt of
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