USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1907 > Part 10
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6 Parsons street
19 Toppan street
Expressman
23 1-2 Purchase street Trader
240
ANNUAL REPORTS
NAME
RESIDENCE
OCCUPATION
Noyes, Edgar F.
35 Milk street
Bank clerk
Noyes, Fred T.
21 Barton street
Grocer
Noyes, Davis F.
41 High street
Manufacturing
Nelson, Ralph W.
121 State street
Bookkeeper
Noyes Charles M.
167 State street
Boxmaker
Nice, William
105 Merrimac street
Foundryman
Noyes, Gilbert A. O'Brien, John J.
12 Kent street
Teamster
Pettingell. Peabody G.
20 Purchase street
Clerk
Packard, Henry B.
22 Dalton street
Carpenter
Page, Horace A. S.
11 Boardman street
Watchman
Plumer, Frederick C.
67 Federal street
Merchant
Poor, George E.
33 Lime street
Retired
Pray Charles G.
55 Federal street
Collector
Roeding, Herman A.
52 1-2 Purchase street Fisherman
Reed, Prentiss H.
55 Lime street
Salesman
Reed, Selwyn C.
11 Prospect street
Photographer
Rogers. Emerson S.
18 Market street
Telegraph oper.
Reade, Edgar C.
11 Kent street
Laundryman
Small, Albert J.
21 Union street
Insurance Conductor
Stevens, Luren
65 Prospect street
Silversmith
Stratton. Samuel
Sanders, Percival K.
7 Fruit street
Book store
Stinson, James E.
19 Tremont street
Engineer
Foreman
Undertaker
Stockman, Charles A.
Furniture
Smart, George H.
163 Merrimac street
20 Olive street
10 Johnson street
Gardener
Bow maker
Silversmith
Comb maker
Accountant
Grocer
Insurance
8 Purchase street
Painter Bookkeeper
Stover, Edw. B. Sullivan, Francis J.
Sargent. Leonard W. Spalding, Lewis H. Thompson, George E. Thurlow, Alfred W.
280 High street
3 Payson street 37 Lime street
60 Prospect street
46 Federal street
Tilton Daniel E. Todd, Edw. M.
20 Madison street
43 Federal street
Merchant
Stacey, Charles M.
18 Market street
Stickney. George E.
6 Titcomb street 153 High street
Stanwood, Wm. F.
44 Kent street
Gardener
·
JURY LIST
241
NAME
Tenney, George R.
Teel. Alfred W.
Towle, Wm. A.
Teague Herbert E.
Walsh, John J.
Winkley, Winfield B. Webster, Gideon C.
RESIDENCE
OCCUPATION
Shoemaker Barber
Silversmith
Silversmith
Express clerk
Farmer
Boat builder
5 Otis place
18 1-2 Market street
46 Boardman street
20 Warren street
7 Horton street Parker street
26 Eagle street
RETURNS OF THE ELECTIONS- 1907
STATE ELECTION
GOVERNOR
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Chas. W. Bartlett.
16
7
19
7
20
15
84
Thomas F. Brennan .
1
4
5
2
. .
3
15
John W. Brown.
10
5
9
1
2
15
42
Hervey S. Cowell. . .
2
2
3
8
Curtis Guild, Jr .....
211
120
199
147
97
253
1027
Thomas L. Hisgen. .
76
72
102
103
119
88
560
H. M. Whitney, D ...
23
44
56
24
35
22
204
H. M. Whitney, I. Cit
14
4
6
5
2
7
38
H. M. Whitney, N. P.
2
9
6
2
33
S
60
H. M. Whitney, No ..
3
. .
. .
1
4
Blanks
9
16
19
10
11
24
89
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
E. Gerry Brown
50
49
80
73
106
75
433
John T. Cahill
4
4
2
7
5
4
26
Eben S. Draper
180
104
188
127
85
221
905
Walter J. Hoar
3
3
1
3
. .
2
12
Robert Lawrence ....
5
5
5
2
3
13
33
Jonathan S. Lewis. .
4
1
.
1
2
4
12
Geo. A. Schofield. .
100
101
118
75
112
96
602
Blanks
18
14
30
15
7
24
108
. .
.
. .
. .
243
244
ANNUAL REPORTS
SECRETARY
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Solon W. Bingham. .
6
. .
6
1
2
3
18
Odilon Z. E. Charest.
24
60
73
29
71
36
293
John Hall, Jr.
10
22
8
6
6
25
77
William M. Olin.
218
108
203
154
116
263
1062
Arthur E. Reimer
5
2
2
2
5
1
17
Dennis J. Ring
31
41
60
59
79
51
321
Blanks
70
48
72
52
41
60
343
TREASURER
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Albert Barnes ..
7
4
5
3
1
. 4
24
Edward J. Cantwell.
28
34
47
48
65
51
273
Arthur B. Chapin ...
216
131
199
149
114
256
1065
William P. Connery.
3
4
3
8
17
8
43
Daniel F. Doherty ..
27
53
76
36
72
29
293
Chas. C. Hitchcock ..
8
7
10
4
7
25
61
Edward Kendall.
5
. .
4
3
2
5
19
Blanks
70
48
80
52
42
61
353
AUDITOR
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Joao Claudino.
4
3
3
3
4
17
Joseph A. Conry.
21
63
70
39
78
33
304
Thomas E. Finnerty .
40
33
50
50
71
43
287
George G. Hall.
10
7
10
4
7
30
68
James F. Pease.
8
3
8
6
2
11
38
Henry E. Turner.
196
122
197
141
111
245
1012
Blanks
85
50
86
60
51
73
4052
COUNCILLOR
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Ludlow J. Berkley . .
40
84
99
62
124
53
462
Samuel Cole ..
210
125
200
153
109
260
1057
John F. Putnam.
13
19
19
20
20
41
132
Willard O. Wylie.
7
3
8
6
5
6
35
Blanks.
94
50
98
62
62
79
445
245
ELECTION RETURNS
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Wards
1
2.
3
4
5
6 Total
Allen Coffin.
11
8
5
6
3
12
45
Dana Malone.
214
109
200
140
105
244
1012
John McCarty
12
11
11
4
9
21
68
Ames E. McConnell.
23
68
74
43
80
38
326
Wm. N. Osgood.
34
35
56
51
70
50
296
Harvey H. Pratt.
2
2
1
4
5
1
15
Gilbert G. Smith
1
1
3
4
7
16
Blanks
67
47
74
51
48
66
353
SENATOR
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Fred G. Richards.
87
113
142
94
160
118
714
James F. Shaw
200
126
206
160
116
235
1043
L. Bradbury
.
..
.
. .
. .
1
1
Blanks
77
42
76
49
44
85
373
REPRESENTATIVE-25th District
Wards.
1
2
3
4 105
5
6 Total
James F. Carens.
142
145
192
584
Clarence J. Fogg.
197
126
202
170
..
..
695
Blanks
25
10
30
28
. . 93
REPRESENTATIVE-26th District
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Samuel F. Coffin
222
177
399
Oscar H. Nelson
. .
. .
. .
. .
84
243
327
Blanks
..
. .
. .
. .
14
19
33
COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Joseph Bartlett.
15
11
12
8
9
13
68
J. M. Grosvenor, Jr. 198
121
198
151
108
246
1022
T. Dexter Johnson. .
42
81
99
67
128
62
479
Granville A. Kelly ..
24
17
24
12
32
36
145
Blanks
85
51
91
65
43
82
417
. .
. .
. .
246
ANNUAL REPORTS
ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONERS.
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
John W. Bridge
7
2
2
4
6
4 25
George A. Doucet.
29
65
82
46
96
43
361
Fred L. Johnson ...
11
18
18
10
18
32
107
Clarence E. Kimball. 172
105
174
132
99
225
907
Richard D. Long. .. . .
31
51
74
37
85
35
313
Joseph A. Marshall.
9
4
6
11
7
3
40
Sherman Nelson.
149
98
141
115
87
182
772
Angus N. Wilbur.
11
16
21
12
25
37
122
Blanks.
309
203
330
239
217
317
1615
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Clarence O. Libby.
43
56
68
43
64
82
356
W. Scott Peters.
249
159
262
195
200
286
1351
Robert E. Burke.
. .
. .
. .
. .
1
Arthur Withington
. .
. .
. .
. .
Blanks
72
66
94
65
53
71
421
SHERIFF
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Samuel A. Johnson. 220
174
267
182
191
274
1308
Jason Spofford. ..
40
31
38
28
51
70
258
Alpheus E. Tuttle. . ..
11
6
13
11
12
9
62
Blanks
93
70
106
82
66
86
503
AMENDMENT
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Yes
157
126
177
134
158
198
950
No
38
30
56
38
46
63
271
Blanks
169
125
191
131
116
178
910
TOTAL VOTE
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Total vote
364
281
424
303
320
439
2131
.
1
2
2
247
ELECTION RETURNS
REPRESENTATIVE VOTE-26th Essex District Town of West Newbury
Samuel F. Coffin 172
Oscar H. Nelson 77
Blanks, 12.
Town of Salisbury
Samuel F. Coffin 102
Oscar H. Nelson 90
Blanks, 9.
Town of Georgetown
Samuel F. Coffin. 127
Oscar H. Nelson. 177
Blanks 26. ,
Town of Newbury
Samuel F. Coffin
52
Oscar H. Nelson
101
Blanks, 8.
CITY ELECTION
MAYOR
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Irvin Besse
329
165
339
213
157
288
1491
Albert F. Hunt.
180
180
222
216
268
246
1312
Robert E. Burke ..
1
1
. .
. .
1 3
Moody B. Noyes.
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
1
1
H. Kelleher
. .
. .
. .
. .
1
1
Blanks
21
14
21
24
15
28
123
248
ANNUAL REPORTS
ALDERMAN AT LARGE
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Albert H. Beckford.
48
20
30
50
57
72
277
Orrin F. Files
162
79
133
89
67
134
664
John J. Kelleher. . . .
66
108
169
126
159
84
712
Michael J. Kelleher.
65
43
78
62
69
63
380
Edward M. Plumer. 159
72
136
85
56
175
683
Blanks.
30
38
37
41
32
37
215
ALDERMAN, WARD ONE
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Herbert S. Noyes.
289
162
291
179
186
291
1398
George H. Welch ...
211
153
213
213
207
215
1212
Blanks
30
45
79
61
47
59
321
ALDERMAN WARD TWO
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Lurens C. Emery.
222
100
210
178
171
275
1156
Geo. P. Peckham.
246
224
288
208
191
214
1371
Charles Thurlow
1
. .
1
R. E. Burke.
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
1
Blanks
62
36
85
67
76
76
402
ALDERMAN, WARD THREE
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
Total
George F. Avery.
332
215
357
246
194
370
1714
Harry E. Hewitt ...
147
98
177
150
189
132
893
Blanks.
51
47
49
57
57
63
324
ALDERMAN, WARD FOUR
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Wm. H. T. Dodge ..
185
119
218
172
127
209
1030
Percy B. Jackson.
158
74
110
93
59
133
627
William Nice.
117
107
152
143
188
151
858
Blanks
70
60
103
45
66
72
416
. .
. .
. .
1
249
ELECTION RETURNS
ALDERMAN, WARD FIVE
Wards.
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Edward G. Moody. . 384
262
406
326
324
407
2109
H. D. Follansbee . . .
. .
·
. .
. .
1
1
T. Herlihy
1
1
H. Follans'bee
. .
.
. .
. .
1
Arthur Withington. . . .
. .
. .
ALDERMAN, WARD SIX
Result of recount made by the Board of Registrars of Bal- lots cast for alderman of Ward 6 at the election held Decem- ber 10, 1907.
The recount was asked for by petitions signed by ten legal voters from Wards one, two, three, four, five and six in the interests of George P. Rand.
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Herbert Currier
138
108
186
133
113
173
851
Obed W. Greaton
159
91
144
113
113
180
800
George P. Rand. .
159
90
151
126
151
171
848
Blanks
74
71
102
81
63
41
432
Vote of ward. .. 530
360
583
453
440
565
2931
BENJAMIN G. DAVIS, CHARLES W. JOHNSON, ALBERT W. HOPKINSON,
November 17, 1907.
Board of Registrars.
OVERSEER OF THE POOR
Wards
1
2
3
4 264
5
Edmund M. Dow
347
237
376
246
359
6 Total 1829
F. P. Woodbury
1
. .
. .
1
A. Besse
. .
. .
.
. .
.
·
.
. .
1
L. W. Sargent.
.
. .
. .
. .
1
Harry Knight
. .
. .
. .
·
1
1
F. L. Medcalf.
. .
. .
.
. .
1
1
Blanks
183
123
204
187
193
204
1094
. .
C. W. Dodge
1
. .
.
. .
1
F. Henderson
1
1
1
1
1 .
2
Blanks
146
98
176
127
114
156
817
. .
..
1
. .
1
250
ANNUAL REPORTS
COMMON COUNCIL
Ward One
William D. Bousley 170
Henry H. Harris 336
Frederick W. Knapp
299
Hiram H. Landford 316
Blanks, 469.
Ward Two
Robert E. Burke 260
Chester G. Menut. 159
Frank H. Plumer
204
Louis A. Thibault.
116
Blanks, 341.
Ward Three
Result of recount made by the Board of Registrars of Bal- lots cast for Common Council in Ward three at the election held December 10, 1907.
The recount was asked for by ten legal voters of Ward three in interest of Frank H. Mottram.
Chester M. Bates 246
Ralph S. Elliott 294
Frank H. Mottram 205
Henry Mullins 208
Napoleon Stone 173
Blanks, 623.
BENJAMIN G. DAVIS, CHARLES W. JOHNSON, ALBERT W. HOPKINSON,
November 17, 1907. Board of Registrars.
Ward Four
William J. Cusack 191
Herbert C. Hewitt. 196
George W. Langdon
237
Leonard S. Davis.
133
Blanks 602. ,
251
ELECTION RETURNS
Ward Five
Edward Bass. 252
George C. Howard 194
Henry O. Martin 122
Donald Morrison.
176
Jeremiah H. Ryan
196
John H. Carter. 1
Blanks, 379.
Ward Six
David A. Bushee 88
Charles E. Coffin . 240
George E. Cooper
314
Albert D. Frost.
207
John J. Riley .
78
Norman Russell
254
Everett L. Starr
173
Blanks 341.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Ward One
Edward G. Perkins 174
Horton C. Stevens 293
Blanks, 63.
Ward Two
Charles W. Bailey 234
Blanks 126. ›
Ward Three
John F. Young 391
Blanks, 192.
Ward Four
Samuel J. Hughes.
249
Blanks, 204.
Ward Five
James M. Gage 229 H. J. Haley 1 Jere Dineen 1
Blanks, 209.
252
ANNUAL REPORTS
Ward Six
Edw. H. Little.
172
George A. Walton
108
George L. Whitmore
219
Blanks, 68.
LICENSE
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Yes
195
200
292
226
215
193
1321
No
302
158
273
217
217
348
1515
Blanks
33
2
18
10
8
24
95
TOTAL VOTE
Wards
1
2
3
4
5
6 Total
Totals
530
360
583
453
440
565
2931
In Board of Aldermen December 18, 1907.
Ratified and approved as amended.
Attest : H. W. LITTLE,
City Clerk.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
-OF -
HON. IRVIN BESSE
DELIVERED JANUARY 8. 1908
For the fifty-eighth time in the life of the city of New- buryport, these simple inaugural exercises mark the coming into power of the new city government. Profiting by the success and failures of those who have preceded us, we stand at the threshold of the year 1908, determined to make ourselves worthy of the trust imposed in us.
To assist in conducting the affairs of our city and to administer the duties of office carefully and conscientiously is an interesting and valuable experience. Our apprecia- tion of honor conferred on us by the voters can best be shown by faithfully performing the duties which we have this day voluntarily assumed.
Custom has made this an occasion on which the mayor may lay before you, statements of the city's condition, and on which he may express his views on such conditions and present plans for future advancement.
253
254
ANNUAL REPORTS
FINANCIAL
The following is a statement of the city debt, taken from the books of the city treasurer :
Total bonded debt of the city .$827,000.00
Amount of trust fund notes. 79,750.00
Notes issued in anticipation of taxes 48,475.00
Total $955,225.00
Funds in hands of sinking fund commission to meet
the bonded debt. 229,875.09
Balance $725,349.91
Deduct cash on hand, taxes and betterments due, and .
other assets $129,211.18
Leaves a net debt of. $596,138.73
For further details I refer you to the city treasurer's and auditor's report, and urge a careful study of the same.
PAY AS YOU GO
The amount of overdraft disclosed by the treasurer's books at the close of the last financial year, December 21, 1907. was $12.915.90. This amount, with bills withheld, and in dispute, if justly due, will amount to more than $16,000.00 to be provided for by the appropriation of this year. We have also $2800.00 of matured funded debt and interest, a legacy of a faulty policy, incurred by bonding a debt which should have been paid.
It is provided by the law that $12.00 per thousand tax levy and income from legitimate sources shall yearly pay the yearly current expenses of municipal government. It is our duty to keep the expenses within the authorized amount.
255
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
The income has been reduced $20,000.00 by closing the sa- loon. Either the expenses of our city must be reduced by new and more economical methods of city administration, or else the tax limit must be raised.
I am strongly opposed to the increase of our bonded debt for any other causes than permanent improvements. By the harmonious co-operation of the legislative and execu- tive officers of this year's city government much can be done to improve these conditions.
TAXATION
The two savings banks and the Co-operative bank of Newburyport have in deposits and surplus $10,000,000 in round numbers. This amount shows not only the thrift of the community but also the confidence the people place in our institutions. This amount is visible and is taxed legally and justly.
The real estate and personal property taxed by the board of assessors amount to $11,270,311.00, of which amount $317,361.00 are resident bank shares. It is my firm belief that a large amount of personal property and taxable income escapes the vigilance of the assessors, and though we are diligently trying to stop small leaks, the tax dodger takes annually from the city's exchequer the biggest kind of graft. A body of men well informed in these matters, or- ganized to co-operate with the assessors, would bring about such just law enforcement by their zeal that Newburyport would be proud of the innovation and her sister cities would doubtless imitate.
256
ANNUAL, REPORTS
SALARIES
To determine fairly and justly the salary of any officer, it is necessary to have his duties well defined. To that end, I recommend a careful enactment and revision of ordinances which shall state clearly the work required. Such a revision will save demands made for extras, which are now so preva- lent.
In connection with this subject, I suggest the choice of a superintendent of highways who shall also act as tree warden, superintendent of street sprinkling, superintend- ent of sewers, and who shall apportion the betterments for street sprinkling, etc. All the collections for taxes, water rates and betterments can be made at city hall by a col- lector and one assistant. I believe that the city treasurer should be a separate person from the collector, and should be the custodian of all the city funds.
Though this suggestion, if carried out, would create another office, the salaries could be adjusted so that no in- creased expenditures would be incurred thereby. I urge here your consideration of the consolidation of some of the other minor offices, for the interest of better service and less expense.
I agree with the recommendations of my predecessors that the city clerk should have an assistaant who is a stenographer and typewriter, and the two clerks should of- ficiate at the meetings of the city council and its com- mittees. In addition to his other duties, the assistant clerk should do such work for the other departments as typewriter. Now done at a great deal of outside expense.
257
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
POLICE
Rules defining the duties of officers and of men in this department should be immediately promulgated and strictly adhered to by the force. If the civil service means anything, it means that the police should be kept out of politics; but in this respect it has been shown to be a lamentable failure in our city, with regard to a large number of the force.
A policeman's beat should not be a playground, nor should his time, when he is assigned to patrol duty, be occupied in making social calls or in extended conversations on the streets on topics other than police matters. During this year, political activity or neglect of duty on the part of the police will be considered good cause for discipline or removal.
As a measure of retrenchment, I recommend a smaller appropriation for the department, and shall assign fewer men to patrol duty. Today, by means of the telephone, a great many complains are sent to headquarters, thus elimi- nating, in part, the necessity of patrol duty.
Though there is a question in regard to the interpreta- tion of the written law relative to the reduction of the force, it is certainly the law of reason that the most efficient men should be retained and only such members employed as our needs require and our income warrants.
STREETS, SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES AND CULVERTS
A liberal amount has been expended in these depart- ments for years, and I recommend that thorough repairs be made in them for the comfort and safety of travel, and that no new work be undertaken until such repairs are thorough- ly made.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
If any new work is to be done, I call your attention to the brick sidewalks on State street, between Pleasant street and the Market, which are used for travel more than any other highways in an equally poor condition.
I believe the superintendent whom you elect should be given absolute charge of the repairs, since his experience enables him to judge better than anyone else could where repairs are most needed.
STREET SPRINKLING
It is my opinion that the city will be benefited by sprinkling its streets, employing the city teams in districts adjacent to the engine houses.
Such an arrangement would add to the efficiency of the fire department, and I urge your early investigation of the matter so that we may be prepared for action before the dust flies.
CITY TEAMS
I recommend a careful and separate account of the maintenance of this department, with proper credits for work done on the streets, ashes, sprinklers, etc., and I recommend further that the balance of profit or loss be charged to the fire department, in whose interest the horses were purchased.
SEWERAGE
For more than fifteen years we have enjoyed a prac- tically complete system of sewerage, and though we are not a finished city, we are in advance in this respect of many of our sister cities. This system is enjoyed by nearly three
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MAYOR'S ADDRESS
thousand entries without any betterment tax, or annual fee for its use. It is maintained at a very slight expense and the small annual tax levy for payment of the cost of con- struction is scarcely felt.
WATER SUPPLY
I recommend the immediate authorization of an issue of $75.000.00 in serial bonds to provide the water commis- sioners with funds sufficient to go to the Artichoke river for an additional water supply, and to provide for the neces- sary storage and proper filtration of the same.
I am led to recommend this in view of the assurance of all the eminent engineers that have investigated this mat- ter that the supply is ample for our needs, and by the fact that the source of supply and method of filtering are ap- proved by the state board of health.
Moreover, I recommend that the legislature be peti- tioned for a codification and amendment of the water acts of the city, so that the ambiguous portion shall be made clear and the duties of the water commissioners and of the city clearly defined.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Regarding the efficiency of men and equipment our fire department is second to that of none of our sister cities of like size. With a recently purchased Knott steamer and two rebuilt Amoskeag engines the apparatus is made especially complete for our needs.
These facts and the knowledge that most of our manu- facturing plants are protected by automatic sprinklers should
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ANNUAL REPORTS
be sufficeint to reassure us if we have fears of a conflagra- tion.
Since no hose was bought last year, the necessity of purchasing 1500 feet of hose is imperative, and I recommend than an order be passed instructing the committee on fi- nance to provide an appropriation for the payment of the same.
PUBLIC PROPERTY
I am of the opinion that a large portion of the appro- priation available for this department is needed on the out- side repairs and painting of the public buildings. A very noticeable case is that of the Curtis school, which is sadly in need of painting and shingling or slating.
LIGHTING
One of the large expenditures of our appropriation is that for lighting our streets and public buildings, and we should demand the best possible service. In the interest of improvement I am convinced that the practice in vogue in some cities of having all arc electric lights on a lower plane by placing the arc light on sidewalk posts with an arm ex- tending into the street is much better in our thickly wooded streets.
Great improvements can be made in the present system by trimming the lower branches of many of our trees, which when in foliage greatly obstruct the light.
A handsome premium might be offered the janitor or custodian of a public building showing the largest per cent. of saving in gas consumption for a given length of time.
26I
MAYOR'S ADDRESS
SCHOOL, POOR AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC LIBRARY, PUBLIC PARKS
The conduct of the schools, the poor and health depart- ments, the public library and the public parks is placed in the hands of boards outside of the city council, and though you will have to consider their needs in making your appro- priations, you have but little voice regarding the expendi- tures. While the city has ever been liberal in these depart- ments, you will carefully consider their needs in making appropriations.
OTHER EXPENDITURES
Newburyport was one of the first cities to respond cheerfully with more than her quota of volunteers at the time of the rebellion. She has ever been ready and willing to provide for the need of those men who responded so nobly to that call. The soldiers' relief, payable entirely from the treasury of the city, is justly intended to prevent soldiers or their widows from becoming paupers. This provision is in addition to any government pension, state or military aid, and amounted last year to $7,082.82. It should be the pride of every soldier and the duty of every citizen to see that this appropriation meets no abuse. To this end, I recom- mend that the individual cases of the beneficiaries be re- viewed.
Last year $324.15 were expended under the department of inspection of plumbing. Although a careful examination of the plumbing of buildings is for the general welfare, it is largely in the interest of the owner of such buildings, and I believe that the individual should pay the inspection fee, and thus rid the city of the expenditure mentioned above.
1
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ANNUAL REPORTS
ACCOUNTABILITY
In addition to the ordinances in force, I urge the uni- versal use by all authorized persons of a duplicate order system in all purchases or instructions that incur indebted- ness upon the city. Such orders should state the authority for the same and the appropriation to which the expense is to be charged.
The original order should accompany the bill for ap- proval, and the duplicate order should be deposited with the city clerk for auditing, in exchange for his dated receipt.
A committee of the city council is the agent of the city council, but it is limited in its powers to what the larger body authorizes it to do. Unless a committee is given power to spend money, its duty is to investigate and report to the city council, asking for that power. The mayor or the treasurer of a city has no right to approve bills con- tracted by a committee of the council unless that committee has been duly authorized to make such expenditures by its principal.
Much credit is due to the present city auditor for his faithful attention to the duties of his office, which have been especially arduous the past year becausee of the new system of accounting. I wish to express publicly my deep apprecia- tion of his services and also my gratitude to the other officers in the several departments for their courtesies.
CONCLUSION
Gentlemen :-
Since this is a time that calls for serious reflection and firm resolve, I look back with pride on the twenty-five years that I have been a citizen of Newburyport. I have seen the
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