USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1915 > Part 1
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THOMAS CRANE
PUBLIC LIBRARY QUINCY, MASS.
CITY APPROPRIATION
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https://archive.org/details/inauguraladdress1915quin
CITY DOCUMENT No. 27
CITY GOVERNMENT OF 1916
TOGETHER WITH THE
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
CITY OF QUINCY MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR 1915
MANET
QUINCY
QUINCY, MASS. THE PRATT COMPANY, PRINTERS
1916
Q. It
352
CITY GOVERNMENT, 1916
Mayor, GUSTAVE B. BATES
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS
Commissioner of Public Works THOMAS SWITHIN
City Treasurer WALTER E. PIPER
City Clerk EMERY L. CRANE
Assistant City Clerk
MARGUERITE S. LYONS City Solicitor
EVERETT C. BUMPUS
Collector of Taxes AUGUST N. WEEDEN Chief of Police DANIEL R. MCKAY
Chief Engineer of Fire Department, FAXON BILLINGS
Overseer of the Poor THOMAS J. LAMB
City Engineer PATRICK F. O'BRIEN.
City Physician JOHN H. ASH, M.D.
Inspector of Animals JOHN H. GARDNER, Jr.
Sealer of Weights and Measures, JAMES M. CANTFILL
Inspector of Buildings Inspector of Wires
WARREN S. PARKER CHARLES W. HANSCOM
Dock and Water Front Commissioner, GEORGE F. CLARK
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS
ASSESSORS Meet every Monday and Thursday at 9 A. M. JOHN SWITHIN, Chairman Term expires first Monday of February, 1917 JOHN A. L. ROSS Term expires first Monday of February, 1918
PARK COMMISSIONERS
GEORGE E. PFAFFMANN, Chairman MATTHEW S. NICOLL
RUSSELL T. BATES
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BOARD OF HEALTH
JOHN E. KENILEY, Chairman W. PORTER PRATT, M. D., Clerk
WILLIAM GELOTTE Sanitary Inspector, EDWARD J. LENNON Inspector of Plumbing, JEREMIAH J. KENILEY Inspector of Meats and Provisions, HOWARD ROGERS Inspector of Milk, DANIEL SCHOULER, Jr.
TRUSTEES OF THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY Meet first Wednesday of month at 7.30 P. M.
GEORGE W. ABELE, Chairman F. MORTON SMITH, Treasurer MRS. ELIZABETH H. ALDEN Secretary
CHARLES H. JOHNSON GEORGE A. SIDELINGER HARRY W. READ
MANAGERS OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY GUSTAVE B. BATES, Mayor WALTER E. PIPER, City Treasurer EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, City Auditor RICHARD R. FREEMAN, Elected by the Council
MANAGERS OF PUBLIC BURIAL PLACES Meet second Tuesday of each month at 7.30 P. M. FREDERICK F. GREEN, Chairman ALFRED H. GILSON, Secretary ARTHUR B. HULTMAN HAŽEN E. RICKEN
JOSEPH H. VOGEL ALEX W. RUSSELL JAMES NICOL, Superintendent
MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY JOHN D. MACKAY, Chairman FREDERICK F. GREEN, Secretary GEORGE H. WILSON EUGENE C. HULTMAN RUSSELL T. ANTHONY ALBERT L. BARBOUR
BOARD OF SURVEY
WALTER F. NICHOLS, Chairman, Term expires 1919 EUGENE R. STONE, Term expires 1918 FREDERICK E. TUPPER, Term expires 1917 PATRICK F. O'BRIEN, Clerk
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PLANNING BOARD
WILSON MARSH, Chairman, Term expires 1918 EUGENE C. HULTMAN, Term expires 1917 CHARLES A. HADLOCK, Term expires 1919 GEORGE W. ABELE, Term expires 1920 JOHN R. RICHARDS, Term expires 1921 PATRICK F. O'BRIEN, Secretary REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
MICHAEL B. GEARY, Chairman, Term expires April 1, 1918
ALFRED J. LACROIX, Term expires April 1, 1919
JOSEPH B. GROSSMAN, Term expires April 1, 1917
EMERY L. CRANE, City Clerk
ASSISTANT ENGINEERS OF FIRE DEPARTMENT FRANK C. PACKARD ALBERT E. STEPHENSON LOUIS K. BADGER
FENCE VIEWERS FRANK FESSENDEN CRANE
JOHN EVANS JOHN A. DUGGAN
POUND KEEPER WILLIAM J. VAUGHAN
POLICE DEPARTMENT DANIEL R. McKAY, Chief ALFRED W. GOODHUE, Captain JOHN T. LARKIN, Lieutenant ERNEST H. BISHOP, Inspector EDWARD JOHNSON JEREMIAH HINCHON, Sergeants
PATROLMEN
JOHN J. AVERY DAVID L. FARRELL
ALEXANDER T. BLACK
WALTER G. FERGUSON
CLAES A. BROBERG
DANIEL J. FORD
MICHAEL F. CANAVAN
LAWRENCE J. GALVIN
HENRY G. CORBETT
JOHN HOLLORAN
CHARLES T. CROOKER
WILLIAM J. HEBERT
EDWARD J. CURTIN
GEORGE F. HOLLINSHEAD
NILS DAHLBERG
THOMAS A. MALONE
JOSEPH A. DELOREY
PATRICK A. MILFORD
JEREMIAH DINNEEN
JAMES W. MURRAY
JEREMIAH D. DHOOGE
JAMES McNAMARA
MICHAEL F. DONOVAN
CHARLES OLSON
DANIEL H. DORAN
GEORGE F. PHILLIPS
JOHN J. DUANE JOHN P. DUFFY
HENRY F. RILEY
DANIEL M. SHEA
THOMAS J. FALLON JOSEPH F. SWEENEY
HENRY W. THORNE
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CHAUFFEURS
GEORGE A. CAHILL
JAMES H. WHELAN
RESERVE OFFICERS
JOHN E. BUELL
GEORGE E. OGLE
JOHN N. CASEY
JAMES O'CONNELL
JEREMIAH CONNELLY
JOSEPH R. O'NEIL
GEORGE W. FALLON
JEROME J. CONNELLY
EDWARD J. MARTELL
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR
SPECIAL POLICE
JOHN E. CONNELLY
WILLIAM L. DeCOSTE
DAVID L. GORDON
MALCOLM C. STEWART HENRY J. MATTHEWS EDWARD J. SANDBERG
EDMUND J. PARADISE
JOHN J. SULLVIAN
JANITOR TIMOTHY J. GOLDEN
CITY COUNCIL
JOSEPH L. WHITON, President
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
COUNCILMEN AT LARGE HERBERT G. BEEMAN, 42 Botolph Street, Atlantic GEORGE A. BOLSTER, 39 Bradford Street ROBERT B. CRAIG, 91 Independence Avenue CHARLES L. GILLIATT, 71 Elm Avenue, Wollaston WILLIAM P. THOMPSON, 42 Whitney Road
WARD COUNCILMEN
Ward One THOMAS J. MCGRATH, 11 Thayer Street JAMES H. SLADE, 17 Edgemere Road JOSEPH L. WHITON, 29 Whitney Road
Ward Two WILLIAM H. FLYNN, 57 Edison Street THOMAS GRIFFIN, 36 Edison Street CHARLES B. YULE, 53 Edison Park
Ward Three CHARLES F. BARNICOAT, 38 Bradford Street WILLIAM J. McLEOD, 18 Bennington Street ANDREW H. MORRISON, 74 Goddard Street
Ward Four JOSEPH A. BARRY, 128 Crescent Street JAMES E. W. GEARY, 30 Grove Street NEIL A. McDONALD, 54 West Street
Ward Five
RODNEY P. GALLAGHER, 149 Taylor Street, Wollaston ALLAN R. McDONALD, 104 Phillips Street, Wollaston ALFRED H. RICHARDS, 56 So. Central Avenue, Wollaston
Ward Six
CARL E. CARLSON, 125 Huckins Avenue, Squantum FREDERICK J. KESSLER, 52 Billings Road, Atlantic EDWARD E. PALMER, 54 Apthorp Street, Atlantic
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CLERK OF COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES GEORGE T. MAGEE, 1079 Hancock Street Residence Telephone, Quincy 729-M
CITY AUDITOR AND CLERK FINANCE COMMITTEE HENRY O. FAIRBANKS, 51 Hunt Street, Atlantic Office Telephone, Quincy 51
CITY MESSENGER HARRY W. TIRRELL, Manet Avenue, H. N. Residence Telephone, 432-M Quincy
MANAGER OF WOODWARD FUND AND PROPERTY (Elected by the Council.) RICHARD R. FREEMAN .
TRUSTEES OF CITY HOSPITAL (Elected by the Council.) GEORGE A. BOLSTER THOMAS J. MCGRATH
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the City Council are held the first and third Monday evenings of each month at 7.45 o'clock.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings of the standing and special committees are held at the call of the Chairman or at such times as may be designated by the Council.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF COUNCIL FOR 1916 Finance, Accounts, Claims, Contracts, and Salaries Richards, Thompson, Beeman, Griffin, McGrath, Gilliatt, Barnicoat
Streets, Ways, Sidewalks, Bridges, and Lights Craig, Slade, Flynn, Barnicoat, A. R. McDonald, Barry, Kessler
Public Buildings and Grounds Beeman, Bolster, Barry, McLeod, Yule
Sewers, Drains and Water Supply Gilliatt, McGrath, Flynn, Morrison, N. A. McDonald, Gallagher, Carlson
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Fire Department and Police Gallagher, Griffin, Bolster, Palmer, Geary
Ordinances, Licenses, Printing, Rules and Orders Slade, Craig, Yule, McLeod, Geary, A. R. McDonald, Kessler
Legislative Matters, Elections and Returns Thompson, Carlson, Morrison
Health, Poor, State and Military Aid Palmer, N. A. McDonald, Richards
CITY HALL TELEPHONES
Mayor's Office,
212
Water Department 73
City Clerk,
230
Sewer Department, 549
Com. of Public Works,
100
Supt. Mt. Wol. Cemetery, 883-M
City Treasurer,
31
Central Fire Station,
1
City Engineer,
115
Police Station,
142
Assessors,
313
Superintendent of Schools, 330
Tax Collector,
213
City Auditor, 51
Board of Health,
1550
Burial Places Department 1044-W
Overseer of the Poor,
214
Thomas Crane Library 81
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
JOHN D. MACKAY, Chairman ALBERT L. BARBOUR, Secretary
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Office No. 8 Washington Street
Regular Meetings on the last Tuesday of each month at 8 P. M. Office open: - Every week day except Saturday, from 8 to 12 A. M., 2 to 5 P. M. Saturday, 8 to 12 A. M.
Regular Hours of Superintendent: - Mondays and Fridays 8 to 9 A. M .; Tuesdays and Thursdays 4. to 5 P. M. MR. JOHN D. MACKAY, Chairman MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR, Secretary MISS LUCY M. HALLOWELL, MISS MARION NILSEN, Clerks
At Large
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING, Term expires 1916 MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB, Term expires 1917 DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL, Term expires 1918
By Wards
Ward 1, MR. JOHN D. MACKAY, Term expires 1918
Ward 2, MR. ARTHUR B. FOSTER, Term expires 1916
Ward 3, MR. ALFRED O. DIACK, Term expires 1916
Ward 4, MR. JOSEPH H. McPHERSON, Term expires 1917
Ward 5, MR. ERNEST W. TOWNE, Term expires 1918
Ward 6, DR. DANIEL A. BRUCE, Term expires 1917
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STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES FOR 1916
Books, Supplies and Sundries - Messrs. Foster, McPherson, Towne.
Text Books - Messrs. Bushnell, Bruce, Hunting.
Transportation - Messrs. Diack, Newcomb, Towne.
Evening Schools - Messrs. McPherson, Diack, Bruce. Special Subjects - Messrs. Towne, Hunting, Foster. Rules and Regulations - Messrs. Newcomb, Bushnell, Diack. Teachers - Chairman, Hunting, Bruce.
Finance and Salaries - Chairman, Hunting, Diack.
For the Different Schools
High - Messrs. Mackay, Hunting, Bushnell.
Adams - Messrs. Diack, Newcomb, McPherson.
Atherton Hough - Messrs. Hunting, Foster, Bushnell. Coddington - Messrs. Hunting, Foster, Mackay .. Cranch - Messrs. Foster, Diack, Towne. Gridley Bryant - Messrs. McPherson, Towne, Diack. John Hancock - Messrs. Newcomb, Diack, Bruce. Lincoln - Messrs. Newcomb, Diack, Towne.
Mass. Fields - Messrs. Towne, Bruce, Mackay.
Montclair - Messrs. Bruce, Bushnell, Mackay. Quincy - Messrs. Bruce, Hunting, Bushnell. Washington - Messrs. Bushnell, Foster, Newcomb.
Willard - Messrs. McPherson, Towne, Bruce. Wollaston - Messrs. Towne, Hunting, McPherson. To serve with Chairman and Superintendent as a Committee on Use of School Halls. Mr. McPherson.
Advisory Committee on Industrial Education for Men
Messrs. H. Gerrish Smith, Alexander W. Russell, Herbert S. Barker, Henry A. Marr, Charles L. Pratt.
Advisory Committee on Industrial Education for Women Mrs. Carl G. Horst, Mrs. Robert E. Foye, Mrs. George W. Abele.
CALENDAR FOR 1916
First Term
Monday, January 3d to Friday, February 25th.
Second Term
Monday, March 6th to Friday, April 28th.
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Third Term
Elementary Schools - Monday, May 8th to Friday, June 23d.
High School - Monday, May 8th to Friday, June 30th.
Grammar School Graduations - Friday, June 23d.
High School Graduation - Wednesday, June 28th.
Fourth Term
Tuesday, September 5th to Friday, December 22d.
New Year begins Tuesday, January 2d.
Holidays :- February 22, April 19, April 21, May 30, June 17, October 12, and the remainder of the week from Wednesday noon next preceding Thanksgiving.
Attendance Officer CHARLES H. JOHNSON
Office, 8 Washington Street. Office hours for issuing labor certificates : 8 to 9.30 A. M., and from 1.30 to 2 P. M., 4.30 to 5 P. M.
Saturdays, from 8 to 12 A. M., 1.30 to 5 P. M.
School Nurse MISS MARION JACKSON Office hours, 8.30 to 9 A. M.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF
HON. GUSTAVE B. BATES
MAYOR OF QUINCY
MASSACHUSETTS
1916
MAYOR'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Gentlemen of the City Council and Citizens of Quincy:
I deeply appreciate the confidence imposed by my fellow citizens in selecting me to be their Mayor for the year 1916, and as a slight return for the honor conferred, I solemnly promise to fulfill the duties of the office to the utmost of my ability. Let me re-affirm the state- ment which I have heretofore published - I will not exploit, prostitute or neglect the duties of the office of Mayor for personal gain, political advantage or private profit.
My candidacy for the office of Mayor was mainly based upon the self-evident proposition that every one of our citizens holds an equal interest in the welfare of our municipal government, and is bound in duty and in conscience, in return for the protection it affords him and his estate, to contribute every dollar for which he can legally be assessed to sustain and support such government. But regardless of this rule a system of evasion of taxes, particularly as to intangible property, that is, that which can be secreted from the assessors, has grown to such proportions as to render the taxes, as levied, in a great measure inequitable and unjust, and in violation of the law requiring that there should be a uniform assessment. This not only demoralizes the one who practices such subterfuge and tends to unfit him for good citizenship, but it cheats the taxpayer who loyally pays as he should and naturally arouses in him a feeling that his government is not affording him proper protection as against such moral turpitude.
Believing that it can and must be remedied, I announced as an earnest of what I should undertake to do if elected, that an $18 tax rate for 1916 should be established; that I would uncover, through the means of reasonable and equitable valuation, over ten million dollars in taxable property not heretofore assessed and relieve the homes from unjust and excessive taxation, and at the same time provide more money for our neglected streets and schools; that I would become a member of the Board of Assessors and aid in stopping class tax dodging, rebating and discriminating in values or favoring one class as against the other.
These promises I solemnly made and shall undertake to fulfill and I call upon every citizen of the town, whether holding office or not, to aid me in such a cause. I look upon my election, not as a personal tribute, but with the belief that my fellow citizens have reached the point of recognizing that conditions are fast becoming so intolerable a remedy must be found, and have chosen me as the instrument to assist in effecting a cure.
"Taxation without representation drove our fathers led by John Adams, into rebellion. The tax imposed by the British Government
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was small and could readily have been paid, but the principle was great and bound to be maintained. The tax rate which has been imposed by this municipality is the outgrowth of unjust discrimination and evasion, which in every sense violates the rule of uniform and fair allotment and demands a revision, calling for independent and fearless action that a remedy may be supplied. This not only in- volves the personal interest of everyone concerned, but the future welfare of the city itself. Take the present method of raising taxes. I am sure you will agree that it is absolutely unjust and ought to be changed. It can be done with your aid. Let me illustrate by an example that is a constant occurrence. A, for example, by evasion of his taxes or a substantial part thereof, partly owing to the fact that the bulk of his estate consists of intangible property, adds largely to his wealth in twenty years or more. He does this by paying only a small percentage of what he ought to have paid upon his principal. In twenty years there is a saving of forty per cent upon the amount,- and - if we add the interest which he may procure upon this accu- mulation, it reaches quite fifty per cent. Say that during this period he ought to have paid $4000 a year and instead paid $1000, thereby saving $3000 a year which he put at interest. This in twenty years would amount to about $75,000 which ought to have been paid into the treasury of the city, but instead he has kept for himself. He has a neighbor, B, having a place we will say costing $5000. B's estate is taxed for quite as much as it is worth, and so that his neighbor may increase his wealth at B's expense, the latter pays $4 or $5 a thousand yearly more than he ought to upon his property, and in the aggregate pays $20 to $25 a year more than he should. In twenty years this with interest aggregates $500 to $600. Applying this rule throughout the city, we find that the rich Pauls are robbing the poor Peters. I believe by the application of a stringent and proper rule, under which A and B shall be treated alike, instead of the tax rate being $22 a thousand, it can be reduced to the amount I have specified, that is, $18.
As is sometimes said, in effect, the people chew the cud of toler- ance, seemingly indifferent to what may happen, for a long time, until, aroused to action, they arise in their strength to find the right way and then insist it shall be followed. Let us hope the recent decision of the people, so effectually made, will penetrate into the consciences of those who have heretofore not done their part to such an extent as to produce profitable results to our city.
Let us consider for a moment the interest each of us has in the local government. While the federal and state governments enter but slightly, as a rule, into our daily affairs, and even the county administration is of but comparatively little consequence, a municipal administration organized for our self government deeply affects and continuously controls the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of its citizens. Existence would, indeed, be intolerable in a community without the aid and protection such a governinent affords. To keep this up to a high standard, every citizen owes a supreme duty, and if from selfish considerations he fails to do his part, he is, by so much, undermining the society in which he lives, moves and has his being.
That illegitimate methods work disastrous results, and eventually find a cure, is well illustrated by the experience of Quincy as a town from 1844 until it became a city. Colonel Charles Francis Adams in
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his "Three Episodes of Massachusetts History," speaking of the period from 1844 to 1874, a period of bad government, says:
"As yet the evil had made no great headway, but the sense of offical responsibility and obedience to instructions was al- ready relaxed. Officers were disposed to do what in their eyes seemed about right, regardless of rule, and the town good naturedly condoned offences. Finances fell into confusion. Every year a liberal appropriation would be made to reduce the town debt, but each year saw the debt grow larger. It ran from $8000 in 1884 to $112,000 in 1874. * *
It was a pure deficiency debt."
The money raised for such purposes was not applied to it. A reform was instituted in 1874. After that date a responsible govern- ment was established. Then, as if by magic, the finances assumed shape. A debt which for nearly half a century had defied every effort to extinguish it then fell from $112,000, and, after a brief season Mr. Adams states, disappeared entirely. Our well informed auditor modifies this statement somewhat by saying that there was a small debt when the government was transferred to the city.
The causes which led to the demoralization culminating in 1874 were different from those which occasion our burdens today, but the result was the same in effect - a debt constantly increasing and one which, unless a drastic reform be at once instituted, will greatly endanger the borrowing capacity of the city. Upon the other hand, we can and will repeat the reform of 1874, and again the debt may disappear by magic. The financial condition of the city has reached such a point as to justify every effort which can properly be made to increase the valuation.
The Council, by an order which I understand went into effect in December, 1915, appropriated $220,000 for the erection of two new schoolhouses. It also appropriated $3,500 for a new board of health building, this being on a one year loan. This has reduced the borrow- ing capacity of the city for 1916 to $264,066, a comparatively small margin to meet expensive contingencies likely to arise during the year. And this condition obtained with a constantly increasing debt, which, owing to the action of the administration of 1915 in reference to the schoolhouses, etc., has been run up to over $2,100,000.
This brings us to face with the necessity of seeking every possible remedy that will provide the city with a greater revenue. I have not the slightest doubt but that now the alarm has been sounded our people will respond, and this burdensome debt be met and reduced rather than show a further increase. To this end, you may be assured that every one in interest will be furnished with a blank upon which he can make a full return, under oath, of his taxable property, which will virtually fix the amount of taxes to be imposed. Whether the taxpayer will make a return will be at his option. If for any reason he fails to do so, it will be his own fault and he cannot complain if he is "doomed" to pay what the assessors judge he ought to pay.
I am glad also to note that a constitutional amendment passed at the last state election will be a very important factor in reaching assessable property, and if the legislature, following the bent of public opinion, enacts drastic laws so that all assessable property may be uncovered and open to the inspection of the assessing board, it will be a step in the right direction. I confidently anticipate on this account the evasion that has been practised will become a dead letter,
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and every one, willy nilly, be compelled to contribute what he actually owes as a taxpayer. This system of evasion of taxes is, of course, by no means peculiar to Quincy. The fever has become so contagious that that fact in itself would tend to cause a remedy to be sought, of which Quincy of course will have the advantage.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
The total debt of the city upon December 31, 1914, was $2,110,- 535.64. Bonds matured during 1915 to the amount of $273,235.64, leaving a balance of $1,837,300. There were bonds issued in 1915 to the extent of $112,650, making the debt $1,949,950. To this amount should be added, as an obligation created during the administration of 1915, orders passed in December, 1915, to build two schoolhouses at a cost of $22,000, and a board of health building at a cost of $3,500, thereby making the total amount of the obligation imposed upon the present administration $2,173,450. From this it appears that the indebtedness, including the obligations just referred to, was increased by the government of 1915 $62,914.36. During 1916 bonds will mature to the amount of $264,000, to which must be added $25,550 of munici- pal debt, part of a bond issue authorized under date of December 1, 1915, and approved under date of December 13, 1915, making the entire amount of bonds to be paid during this year, 1916, $289,500. This imposes a burden to be taken care of during the present year somewhat in excess of the amount which is ordinarily imposed and will affect somewhat the appropriation to be raised this year. By the payment of said $289,500 the indebtedness will be reduced from $2,173,450 to $1,883,950.
From the statement submitted by the Auditor of the valuation, debt and tax rate for the respective years from 1889 to the present time, and which will be appended to my address, it will be noted that the tax rate, which was $10.80 per thousand in the first year of the city administration, reached its maximum of $23.70 in 1913. I further find that since 1910 the debt has exceeded the foregoing calculated indebtedness of 1916. In 1910 the debt was $1,907,445, the tax rate $20 and the valuation $32,456.380. The valuation of 1915 is placed at $43,608,990, with a tax rate of $22. With the very substantial increase in such valuation which I confidently believe will occur, and, with the sanction of the Council, holding the appropriations to a conservative amount, I cannot see why the tax rate cannot be reduced to $18 per thousand, even though the burden of indebted- ness to be paid off this year is greater, as I understand, than usual.
GRADE CROSSINGS
The report made by a committee of the Council relative to grade crossings, as well as to other matters concerning bridges and high- ways affected by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, treats the difficult subject ably and fully. I should be very glad to co-operate with the Council in securing legislation to remedy the present unfortunate state of affairs. In the confident hope that it will be granted, I shall petition the legislature for remedial legislation in order to have this question properly determined. The questions involved have been so fully discussed that it does not seem necessary to review them. I cannot refrain, however, from urging upon our citizens the necessity of taking every action within their power to
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secure a favoring revision of the present condition of affairs in order that the present and future prosperity of our city shall not be dis- astrously affected.
I shall also be glad to consult with the Council as to taking any steps necessary relative to the Adams street, Wollaston and Atlantic bridges or to any other property covered by such report.
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
It is not time to take some action as to the changes and improve- ments necessary for the better accommodation of passengers and freight at the several railroad stations within the city? The city is one of the greatest contributors which the railroad has. Our people have patiently put up with the most limited accommodations and deserve some return, which I apprehend will not be forthcoming unless the railroad is compelled, by public agitation or by taking legal steps, to act. Let me also call attention to the spectacle of the crowded sidewalks and the neighboring stores constantly crowded by passengers waiting for electric cars, justifying any measures com- pelling the street railway company to furnish a waiting room for its patrons, and not continue longer the present unsatisfactory and troublesome condition.
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