USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1893 > Part 3
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mon, but when he discusses outside matters, he is much like a ship at sea without a rudder, going every way but the right; he will make statements that are perfectly wild, and soon convinces his hearers that he does not know what he is talking about. Such was the case at the late meetings which I had the pleasure of attending. He has since informed me that he reported his speeches at that time himself, and I notice that he very shrewd- ly failed to report most of the principal parts, but I will quote a few of them. Holding a Municipal Register in his hand, he started in by saying that he had come all loaded, and then he opened his fire, until I could only think of a Gatling gun throwing a conglomeration of missiles into the audience. He enlarged upon the powers of the mayor, until I was almost led to believe that I had only to raise a finger and all the evil in our midst would im- mediately disappear. Then he charged me with being utterly negligent of my duty in regard to closing houses of ill-fame, notwithstanding the fact that he had been informed the very day before by a friend of his that I had closed five such places within a short time. Then he went for the police force in a way that would have fairly delighted the hood- lums and ruffians, finally denouncing them as an invalid corps, and fairly shrieking aloud for
48
ANNUAL REPORTS.
the ambulance to carry them to the hospital, but it was only for effect; he knew that our police of- ficers were brave and trusty, and that, if he should be followed some dark night, he would hasten to them for protection, and feel perfectly safe while sheltered by the skirts of one of these invalids. He next landed at the mayor's office at City Hall, and, with a great flourish, announced that there were three houses of prostitution to be seen from the window in that office; but he afterwards admitted to me that he was mistaken, saying, with a laugh, that they could be seen from the roof of the hall, knowing that the whole of the city could be seen from that elevation. In one of his speeches, he said, to use his own words: "Perhaps some of you will say that Mr. A. don't know what he is talking about. Don't you fear but what Mr. A. knows what he is talking about. He has not made many pastoral calls the past week -- he has been enquiring of police officers and ex-police officers, and he has been out late nights looking into this matter, and he knows just what he is talking about." And yet, when I informed him afterwards, that I thought some of having him summoned in the police court to give his testimony, that wemight break up some of these places, he looked at me in astonishment, and said he could not testify to anything on the
49
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
witness stand ! Well, I did not think he could; but when a man makes a positive statement, he should find out whether it is true or not before he makes it. He also said that, no matter what one might think of a law, if it was the law we should respect and enforce it, but I hardly think he realized what he was saying then, for it was only a few years ago that I saw him stand on a raised platform, in the chapel connected with his church, and, as an auc- tioneer, sell at auction a large number of packages, done up in such a manner that the purchaser did not know what he was buying. Now, at that time, he deliberately violated two laws: First, by selling goods at auction without a license; secondly, by engaging in gambling, and he could have been ar- rested and fined in the police court for so doing. So you will see that it is sometimes better to put a liberal and not a literal interpretation to the law. But I came very near forgetting that, in one of his speeches, he requested that if I took him up in this address, he hoped I would take him up gently, and bear him along tenderly, as he was so young and so fair. I have tried to do so, and will now lay him down by wishing him, not only one, but a great many happy New Years, and once more consider the evils that are in our midst.
It has been said that one-half the world does not
50
ANNUAL, REPORTS.
know how the other half are living, and it is well that it is so. There are some things that are better covered up, and none but gossips and scandal- mongers have any desire to bring them to light. But, after all, the world is not all bad, there are a great many good people in it ; and if each one of us would first endeavor to do right ourselves, and then try to help those who are unfortunate, and perhaps too weak to help themselves, the world will be the better for our having lived in it. While it is true that it is not the duty of the church to enforce the law, it is just as true that it is not the duty of the city government to do the work of the church.
In this book which I hold in my hand-the book of law by which every clergyman and every mem- ber of the church is supposed to be governed, I read that there is rejoicing among the angels of heaven over a sinner that repenteth; that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might not perish but have everlasting life. I read here the command : "Go yeinto all the world, and preach this gospel to every creature! go into the by-ways and hedges and compel them to come in !" and I ask you, cler- gymen,-you Christian men and women of New- buryport, if you believe the poor, unfortunate girls who inhabit these houses of ill-fame have souls? I
5.I
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
ask you who are so ready to condemn those in au- thority for not bringing down upon these poor girls the iron hand of the law, thereby crushing out their last hope, if one of you-even one-have ever taken them by the hand and tried to show them the error of their ways and to lead them to a better life? I have closed during the past year five of these places ; in every instance I have tried to show them the end if they persisted in the life they were leading. I promise you today that, if my life is spared, I will close every known house of the kind in the city ; but if I can possibly avoid arresting one of the inmates, I shall do so, for I can but pity them. I look back to the time when they were innocent maidens, to the time when some wolf in sheep's clothing-per- chance some villain clothed in the livery of heaven, but only too eager to serve the devil-who, winning their affections but to accomplish their ruin, cast them aside, until, shunned by those who once re- spected them, there were but two ways open to them. One way which many have taken, a plunge into the dark waters, which would forever conceal their shame; the other way, to enter one of these houses -to them a house of refuge-there to meet those who, like themselves, had been deceived and ruined, and could sympathize with them in their trouble. You clergymen give out word that you are
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
going to preach about the social evil, and you never once allude to it. To be sure, you denounce the houses of prostitution ; but they are not the social evil, they are but the natural result of that evil. The social evil is above and beyond these places.
There is recorded in this good book a very beauti- ful and touching story. You will find it in the eighth chapter of the gospel according to St. John. At one time, when Christ was sitting in the temple, a number of the scribes and Pharisees, what we call the better class of people in the community, came rushing into the temple, dragging a poor woman before the Savior whom they said was caught in the act of committing adultery. You will notice that they only brought the woman. Nothing was said about the man, and they wanted Christ to give them permission to stone her to death. But He, knowing them well, looked down upon the ground, saying: "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." There were no stones thrown; they all slunk away like whipped curs.
Did the thought ever come to you in reading this story, that the man in the case was in that crowd, probably the most eager of them all to have the woman put out of the way? If you will observe closely you will find that it is generally the case that the one who cries sin the loudest will prove to
53
MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
be the greater sinner. If Christ was upon the earth today, and those of us who are so anxious to have the law visited upon all sinners should bring one of these poor, unfortunate girls before Him for judg- ment, when met with the words: "Let him that is without sin cast the first stone," do you suppose that one of us would stoop to pick up a stone? I think not. We should fall all over each other in our haste to get out of the sight of one who could read our inmost thoughts.
About eighteen or nineteen years ago, a woman in this city, the keeper of a house of ill-fame, for some reason or other, made an attempt to reform. She sent her little girl to the North church Sabbath school, gave up the business in which she was en- gaged, and opened a little store down on Pleasant street. Being an expert in fine needle work, she soon had her store well stocked with first-class goods, such as are found in a store of that kind. What was the result? Was there one clergyman, one member of the church, that went to the woman and took her by the hand to encourage her in the efforts she was making to live a better life? Not one. Rather, as they passed by, they would gather their skirts about them as if afraid of being con- taminated by her presence; some even making re- marks that would reach her ears in regard to her
54
ANNUAL REPORTS.
former character. So, after a short struggle, she was driven from her shop, back to her former busi- ness-absolutely forced back into her former life by those who should have held out the helping hand ; and, standing here today, I say, without hesitation, that the churches of this city have been responsible for the existence of that house of prostitution for the past ninetcen years, until I closed it about two months ago. Yet, the clergymen-some of them, I will not say all-accuse poor mortals, like the mayor and aldermen, with being negligent of our duty in regard to such things. I answer them by saying: First, do your own duty in this respect, then, and then only, will it be proper for you to condemn others. Do not waste the talents God has given you by trying to build up a reputation as a sensa- tional preacher, but devote them to a better and higher purpose; that of preaching the gospel of sal- vation. The world has too many sensational preach- ers now; it does not need them. What the world needs today is ministers of the gospel ; true disciples of Christ, who, not feeling above their Master, will go down into the low places-even into the slums -in their efforts to raise fallen humanity. I say to you who clamor for justice, you do not want justice ; neither do I. Justice is the last thing we should ask for. What we want is charity-that charity which
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
covereth a multitude of sins ; the charity which will enable us to see in a fellow-being, no matter how low he may have fallen, the image of his Maker, and it is not for us to say that the souls of such are not just as precious in the sight of God as your soul or mine. Shall we not, then, whenever we feel like dealing harshly with the poor and un- fortunate, remember that the old Mosaic law, "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," was abol- ished nineteen hundred years ago, when, upon that bright Christmas morn, Jesus, the babe of Bethle- hem, was born, and that we are now living under the light of His glorious gospel, and exclaim, as did the heavenly hosts in Judea's land "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, good will toward men."
A few words more and I will close. In treating upon the subject which has just been considered, I am well aware that I have done something out of the ordinary course. I fully realize that it was a . delicate question to handle upon an occasion like the present one, for it was probably never treated before in a document of this kind. Yet, tomy mind, it has seemed perfectly proper. At the time the meetings were held for the purpose of considering this question, I was invited by one of the clergy- men to speak upon the subject in his church.
56
ANNUAL REPORTS.
It did not seem to me to be a proper time or place for me to discuss the question, and I informed him that I would consider it in my inaugural, and I have done so. As, in the compact made between the clergymen in the meetings, that each one should be responsible only for his own utterances, no one is responsible but myself for what has been said here today. I have not tried to give the views of some one else in the manner of handling the subject, but have simply acted myself and handled it in my own way. The fair name of the city has been un- justly assailed, and who, if not the chief executive of the city, should be ready to defend her? And what more fitting place than here, in the building devoted to the government of the city? If, in de- fending her reputation, I may have spoken plainly, it was not that I had any malice toward any one, for I have nothing but good wishes toward those whom I may have criticized. They, surely, have no . reason to find fault if, in criticizing others, they themselves are criticized in return. But I have spoken earnestly, because of my love for this good old city. It is the place of my birth; here my an- cestors lived for many years; all through my own life I have made it my home, and nothing could ever induce me to forsake its familiar streets and its old associations. To me every foot of its ground is
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS.
sacred ground; and at last, when the time shall come, which sooner or later will come to each one of us, when I shall be called upon to lay down the burden of life, I have but one request to make: that here, I care not where, if only somewhere within the borders of my native city-my body shall be laid at rest, there to remain "until the day break, and the shadows flee away."
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Receipts and Expenditures
OF THE
City of Newburyport,
FOR THE
Year Ending December 16, 1893.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT, Dec. 20, 1893.
To the City Council of the City of Newburyport :
GENTLEMEN : The Joint Standing Committee on Finance respectfully sub- mit the following statements and reports of the City Treasurer and Collector and the City Auditor for the financial year ending December 16, 1893.
The books and accounts of the City Treasurer and Collector have been ex- amined, under the direction of the Committee, by the City Auditor, and found them to be correct and properly vouched.
For the Committee,
ORRIN J. GURNEY, Chairman.
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
CITY OF NEWBURYPORT, - AUDITOR'S OFFICE, December 16, 1893. (
To the Committee on Finance :
Gentlemen : In conformity with the requirements of the ordinances of the city, I herewith present my report of the receipts and expenditures of the City of Newburyport for the financial year ending De- cember 16th, 1893, (including the sum of $195.62 expended in 1892 and remaining unpaid December 17th, 1892), together with a schedule of the real and personal property belonging to the city, and a statement of the city debt, and debts due the city.
I have audited the books of the city treasurer, city clerk, and clerk of the overseers of the poor, and find the same correct and properly vouched. The various balances in the ledger are correct and agree with the balance sheet of the treasurer.
I have examined all securities in the possession of the treasurer belonging to the city, including the sinking fund investments, and find that they agree with his report as rendered.
I have verified the accounts of the collector of
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
taxes, including the amount committed to him by the assessors, the abatements made by them during the year, and the amount collected.
I examined all bills passed by the committee on accounts, as presented monthly, and found the same correctly cast, properly approved and accurately placed upon the books.
The city debt has been increased during the year $10,035.68.
The overdraft for the year is $7,109.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. WELCH, City Auditor.
The balance in the treasury Dec.
17, 1892, was $ 29,159 48
Total amount received by the treasurer from all sources from Dec. 17, 1892, to Dec. 16, 1893, as speci- fied below 547,132 40
Making a total of $576,591 88
Total amount expended and ordered to be paid from the treasury from Dec. 17, 1892, to Dec. 16, 1893, (including $195.62 expended in 1892) as specified below 546,875 86
The balance in the treasury Dec. 16, 1893, is 29.716 02 ·
63
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
Poor department
$ 3,230 91
School department
1,008 15
Fire department
23 93
Highway department
97 05
Incidentals
515 70
Public property
922 05
Police department ·
1,100 30
Lighting streets and public buildings
9 75
Interest on overdue taxes
$1.468 91
dividends B. & M. R. R. stock 4,641 84
66 bank deposit 437 14
6,547 89
Public library .
150 00
Sidewalks and edgestones .
1,279 58
Culverts .
1 30
Notes payable .
236,692 73
State of Massachusetts, State Aid, chap. 301
5,602 50
Military Aid, chap. 279
715 96
Armory rents 350 00
66 66 Burial expenses 17 50
Bromfield fund
400 00
Liquor licenses
22,297 25
Sinking fund commissioners
15,000 00
Ashes and rubbish .
34 20
Non-resident bank tax, city banks
$4,235 92
66
66 " State of Mass. 3,214 35
7,450 27
Simpson fund .
900 00
Income, corporation taxes, State of Mass.
$29,080 65
Income, foreign shipping, State of Mass. 2,280 56
31,361 21
Sewerage construction
560 44
Parks
5 00
Amount carried forward .
$336,273 67
·
64
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$336,273 67
Soldiers' relief .
316 47
County of Essex, seal account
69 00
Dog licenses
806 78
City bonds, 4 per cent
55,000 00
Betterment assessments
1,627 06
City Hall
907 00
Burial lots
220 00
Tax of 1890
25
1891
5,505 47
1892
22,199 95
66 1893
124,206 75
151,912 42
Making a total of
$547,132 40
EXPENDITURES.
Poor department
$ 22,219 58
School department
26,964 26
Fire department
9,864 71
Highway department .
27,680 39
Incidentals
11,207 05
Public property
8,051 54
Police department
13,594 58
Lighting streets and public buildings
11,541 32
Interest
23,945 57
Public library
2,925 57
Sidewalks and edgestones
18,943 06
Newburyport bridge .
3,302 90
Essex Merrimac bridge
50 75
Culverts .
868 93
Notes payable .
223,885 46
State of Massachusetts, State aid, chap. 301
6,244 00
Amount carried forward .
$411,289 67
·
65
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward .
$411,289 67
State of Massachusetts, Military aid, chap. 279 .
898 47
Armory rents
· 700 00
66 66 Burial expenses
105 00
Bromfield fund
424 66
Liquor licenses, 25 per cent to State
.
5,574 31
Fuel
919 23
Salaries
8,214 56
Board of Health
1,069 06
Printing
1,618 75
Sinking fund commissioners
11,000 00
Ashes and rubbish
1,152 80
Water supply
8,065 00
State tax .
11,700 00
County tax
11,113 70
Non-resident bank tax, (State of Mass.)
6,192 88
Simpson fund
900 00
Income
2,016 53
Memorial day ·
150 00
Sewerage, (construction)
20,884 90
Sewers, (maintenance)
124 94
Parks
454 16
Soldiers' relief .
2,229 24
County of Essex (seal account)
69 00
City bonds, 4 per cent
40,000 00
Commissioners of Atkinson common
9 00
Making a total of
$546,875 86
CITY DEBT.
The amount of the net city debt Dec. 17,
1892, was . . $378,754 56
The city debt has been increased during 1893 as follows :
Amount carried forward .
. $378,754 56
66
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward . $378,754 56
By the amount of a note issued to the order of D. A. Whittier and C. A. Whittier, executors, dated January 2, 1893, payable in one year with in- terest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum . 9,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated January 11, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum 3,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated January 14, 1893, payable in one year, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum · 9,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated January 14, 1893, payable in one year, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum
1,000 00 .
By the amount of a note issued to the order of A. W. Greenleaf, trustee under the will of R. W. Drown, dated February 8, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 32 per cent per annum · 8,967 73
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated February 9, 1893, payable in eight months, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum 25,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of committee on Todd fund,
Amount carried forward . . $434,722 29
67
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
· Amount brought forward . $434,722 29 dated January 24, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum . 10,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated June 29, 1893, payable in three months, discounted at the rate of 6 per cent per annum · 4,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated June 29, 1893, payable in two months, discounted at the rate of 6 per cent per annum
5,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of Joshua Hale, dated June 29, 1893, payable October 1, 1893, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum . 900 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 6, 1893, payable in two months, with interest at the rate of 62 per cent per annum
5,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of Hiram Lowell, dated July 6, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum .
By the amount of a note issued to the order of Mehitable T. Plumer; dated July 6, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 500 00
1,000 00
Amount carried forward .
. $461,122 29
68
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward $461,122 29
By the amount of a note issued to the order of Maria Plumer, dated July 6, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum . · 500 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of Daniel T. Plumer, dated July 6, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 500 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 13, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum
2,800 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 8, 1893, payable on de- mand, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum
1,500 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 18, 1893, payable on de- mand, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 1,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 24, 1893, payable on de- mand, with interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum 3,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 25, 1893, payable on de-
Amount carried forward . $470,422 29
69
AUDITORS REPORT.
Amount brought forward $470,422 29 mand, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum . 800 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated July 26, 1893, payable on de- mand, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum · 600 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated August 1, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum · 500 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated August 1, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum · 400 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated August 1, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum
450 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated August 1, 1893, payable in three months, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 4,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated August 1, 1893, payable in three months, discounted at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 5,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the
Amount carried forward .
$482,172 29
70
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward . $482,172 29
order of the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, dated August 1, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent per annum 10,000 00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of the Institution for Savings in Newburyport and its Vicinity, dated October 26, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum 30,000,00
By the amount of a note issued to the order of J. V. Felker, city treasurer, dated November 1, 1893, payable on demand, with interest at the rate of 4 per cent per annum
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