USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1932-1933 > Part 1
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PLYMOUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY
TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
1820.
S
A
T
REPORT OF THE TOWN OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1932
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Own Officers
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
For the Year Ending December 31,
1932
THE
1020.
AS
TOW
SIL'
HIR 974.48 ANN 1922
Linotyped, Printed and Bound by The Memorial Press Plymouth, Mass.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/annualreportoft1932unse 0
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145
Town Officers, 1932
Selectmen-James A. White, William H. Armstrong, Herbert K. Bartlett, Andrew J. Carr and Norman W. Gray.
Town Clerk-George B. Howland.
Town Treasurer-George B. Howland.
Collector of Taxes-Herbert W. Bartlett.
Town Accountant-Elmer R. Harlow.
Assessors-Charles H. Sherman, chosen 1930 for three years ; Thomas L. Cassidy, chosen 1931 for three years ; Fred A. Sampson, chosen 1932 for three years.
Overseers of the Public Welfare-Charles Moning, chosen 1932 for one year; George L. Gooding, chosen 1931 for three years; William T. Eldridge, chosen 1932 for three years.
Water Commissioners-Frank D. Bartlett and John L. Morton, chosen 1930 for three years; John H. Damon, chosen 1931 for three years; William R. Morton and Richard T. Eldridge, chosen 1932 for three years.
School Committee-Fannie T. Rowell and E. Harold Donovan, chosen 1930 for three years; Edward W. Brad- ford and Edward A. Buttner, chosen 1931 for three years; Harry W. Burns and Albert L. Mellor, chosen 1932 for three years.
Cemetery Commissioners-Arthur E. Blackmer, chos- en 1930 for three years; Richard T. Eldridge, chosen 1931 for three years; Edward R. Belcher, chosen 1932 for three years.
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Burial Hill Committee-Cemetery Commissioners.
Agawam and Halfway Pond Herring Fishery Commit- tee-Elmer P. Boutin, Charles F. Haire, Jr., and Paul H. Manion.
Park Commissioners-Ernest C. Dunham, chosen 1930 for three years; Myron L. Smith, chosen 1931 for three years; James T. Frazier, chosen 1932 for three years.
Board of Health-Walter D. Shurtleff, chosen 1930 for three years; Andrew J. Carr, chosen 1931 for three years; Herbert S. Maxwell, chosen 1932 for three years.
Surveyors and Measurers of Lumber-Warren S. Bumpus and Alvin A. Hall.
Surveyor of Wood and Bark-Daniel J. Sullivan.
Town Director to County Aid to Agriculture-Porter T. Harlow.
Planning Board-Arthur E. Blackmer, Ellis W. Brewster, Harry B. Davis, George L. Gooding and Francis C. Holmes.
Field Drivers and Fence Viewers-Norman L. Hale, Lewis F. Smith and Chester A. Torrance.
Committee on Inland Fisheries-Warren S. Gale, Geoffrey D. Perrior and Michael D. Welsh.
Committee on Town Forest-Abbott A. Raymond and Charles T. Stevens.
Board of Registration-J. Ernest Beauregard, ap- pointed 1930 for three years; Asa H. Burgess, appointed 1931 for three years; William F. Goodwin, appointed 1932 for three years.
Committee on Sewers-Selectmen.
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Sexton-Edward G. Ellis.
Pound Keeper-Russell L. Dickson.
Sealer of Weights and Measures-Daniel J. Sul- livan.
Milk Inspector-Daniel J. Sullivan.
Beach Committee-Selectmen.
Superintendent of Streets-Elmer C. Chandler.
Superintendent of Water Works-Arthur E. Blackmer. Collector of Water Rates-George B. Howland.
Harbor Master-Orrin C. Bartlett.
Superintendent of Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeter- ies and Burial Hill-Alexander H. P. Besse.
Superintendent of Chiltonville Cemetery-Charles B. Howland.
Superintendent of Manomet Cemetery-Gordon S. Mc- Cosh.
Superintendent of Cedarville Cemetery-Alberto M. Haskell.
Superintendent of Infirmary-Russell L. Dickson.
Fire Commissioner-Henry Walton.
Town Engineer-Arthur E. Blackmer.
Chief of Police-Russell P. Dearborn.
Tree Warden-Abbott A. Raymond.
Forest Warden-Ira C. Ward.
Local Moth Superintendent-Abbott A. Raymond.
Building Inspector-Thomas A. Bodell.
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ANNUAL TOWN MEETING MARCH 26, 1932
FRANK C. SMITH, Moderator
Article Three :
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: That the reports of the several boards of officers and Committees of the Town be accepted and placed on file.
Mr. Edward R. Belcher then made a report of progress for the Special Committee on Representative Town Gov- ernment, which was accepted and filed.
Article Four :
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: That the Town authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen or a majority thereof, to borrow during the financial year beginning January 1, 1933, in anticipa- tion of the revenue of said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town, giving the notes of the Town therefor, payable within one year from the dates thereof. All debts incurred un- der the authority of this vote shall be paid from the rev- enue of said financial year.
Article Six :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $9,250.00, including the receipts of the dog tax for the year 1931, amounting to $1,669.72, in aid of the Plymouth Public Library.
Article Seven :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of $750.00 in aid of the Man- omet Public Library.
Article Eight:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the
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Town appropriate the sum of two hundred fifty (250) dollars for the use of the Plymouth County Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, and choose a Town Director as provided in Section 41 and 45 of Revised Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
Mr. George B. Howland nominated Mr. Porter T. Har- low for Town Director and he was elected.
Article Nine :
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved: That the Town ap- propriate the sum of three hundred and thirty (330) dollars for the purpose of maintaining, during the en- suing year, the mosquito control works as estimated and certified to by the State Reclamation Board in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 112, of Acts of 1931. Four hundred fifty-seven voting in the affirmative, and two hundred sixty-five voting in the negative, the motion was carried.
Article Ten :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of one hundred fifty (150) dollars for Rifle Range Expenses.
Article Eleven :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of seven hundred fifty (750) dollars for the observance of Memorial Day and Armistice Day.
Article Twelve:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of four hundred (400) dol- lars to pay the expenses of the observance of July Fourth, said money to be expended by the Board of Selectmen.
Article Thirteen :
Mr. Collingwood moved: That the Town indefinitely postpone action under Article 13.
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Mr. William T. Eldridge moved a substitute motion and it was voted: That the Town furnish suitable quarters for the Alexander Scammell Post No. 1822 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, under Chapter 40, section 9, of the General Laws of Massa- chusetts, and appropriate the sum of three hundred and sixty (360) dollars to cover the cost of said quarters.
Article Fourteen :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of four hundred thirty-two (432) dollars for the reconstruction of the Fire Alarm System from Jabez Corner to Cliff Street.
Article Fifteen :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the salaries for the current year of the various Town of- ficers be fixed as follows: Effective April 1, 1932 : Town Clerk, $100.00; Tax Collector, $1,740.00; Town Treasurer, $1,450.80; Assessors, $1,480.00; Chairman of Selectmen, $1,110.00; other Selectmen, $150.00; and that said amounts be charged to the various departments.
Article Sixteen :
To see what action the Town will take with refer- ence to the report of the Committee of the Town with reference to Representative Government.
(By petition.)
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article Seventeen :
To see what action the Town will take with reference to adopting for the Town a form of Represenative Govern- ment. (By petition.)
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article Eighteen :
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved : That the Town
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adopt the Zoning Ordinance as reported to the Town by the Planning Board, with the amendments so reported to the Town.
Mr. Charles H. Raymond moved: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed, and the motion was carried.
Article Nineteen :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars to be used for the construction of a culvert across Beaver Dam Road and the straightening out of the road at that point as formerly laid out by the Town Engineer.
Article Twenty :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of seven hundred (700) dol- lars to defray the expense of the maintenance of the Town Wharf, including pay of caretaker.
Article Twenty-one :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted : That the Town hereby authorize the Selectmen and their succes- sors in office, to lease, from time to time, for any period not exceeding twenty years (20), at such rental and upon such other terms and conditions as the Selectmen may de- termine, space on Town Wharf, so-called, and the land adjoining said Town Wharf, in so far as the Town has authority to lease said adjoining land, and so much of the premises acquired by the Town from the Plymouth Mills as in the opinion of the Selectmen may not be required for Town purposes.
Article Twenty-two:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2500) dollars, said sum to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen in connection with the Depart- ment of Public Works for the repair of the breakwater
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lying opposite the Hotel Pilgrim property, so-called, and extending southeasterly therefrom on Warren's Cove.
Article Twenty-three :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town accept and allow as a town way Priscilla Road, in the Priscilla Beach development, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article Twenty-four :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town accept and allow as a town way Robbins Hill Road, in the Priscilla Beach development, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article Twenty-five :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town accept and allow as a town way a portion of Prince Street, one hundred and eighty (180) feet in length, run- ning easterly from the present end of the accepted street, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Article Twenty-six :
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved: That the Town do not accept and allow as a town way Nick's Rock Road from Standish Avenue westerly to the line of the Plym- outh and Middleboro railroad, as laid out by the Board of Selectmen and reported to the Town.
Mr. William T. Eldridge moved to amend by striking out the word "not" and the motion to amend was carried.
The motion of Mr. Collingwood, as amended by Mr. Eldridge, was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Twenty-seven:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted : That the Town accept as a gift from Mrs. Abby M. Kyle, the title to a small piece of land, containing 407 square feet lying South of Town Brook, at the foot of Market Street.
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Article Twenty-eight:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of four hundred (400) dollars for the construction of a drain to carry storm water away from the easterly side of Oak Street, near Davis Street.
Article Twenty-nine:
Morton Collingwood moved : That the Town indef- finitely postpone action under this article.
Mr. E. Harold Donovan moved to substitute: That the Town erect and equip an addition to the Junior High School building consisting of a central heating plant and that section of class rooms and special rooms adjacent to the Junior High School and substantially as shown on a plan submitted by the Frank Irving Cooper Corpora- tion for a Junior and Senior High School, and appropriate therefor the sum of seventy-five thousand (75,000) dol- lars. To meet the appropriation there be raised under the tax levy of the present year the sum of six thousand five hundred (6,500) dollars, and that the Town Treas- urer, with the approval of the Board of Selectmen, be authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding sixty-eight thousand five hundred (68,500) dollars, and to issue therefor bonds or notes of the Town to be payable in ac- cordance with Sec. 19 of Chap. 44 of the G. L., so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more than twenty years after the date of the issuance of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treasurer and Select- men may determine, the erection of said new building to be under the direction of the School Committee, and said committee is hereby authorized to contract for the erection and equipment of said addition in the name of the Town. But the motion to substitute was lost.
The motion of Mr. Collingwood was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Thirty :
To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Water
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Commissioners to extend the water system of the Town along the State Highway, so-called, over the Pine Hills to serve that part of the Town known as Manomet and the adjoining area, and make an appropriation therefor, in- cluding authority to acquire land or easements therein for said purpose by purchase or eminent domain, and in- cluding authority to issue bonds or notes of the Town to pay for the whole or a portion thereof. (By petition.)
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town indefinitely postpone action under this article.
Article Thirty-one :
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved: That the Town take over the private cemetery situated on the northerly side of the highway between Forges Farm and the old Rus- sell Mills; also the private cemetery on the westely side of the Shore Road to Manomet, just southerly from the Taylor Farm, so-called, as recommended by the Cemetery Commissioners, and the motion was carried.
Article Thirty-two:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town do hereby authorize the transfer of a sum not ex- ceeding five thousand (5,000) dollars from the Reserve from Overlayings of Taxes to the Reserve Account, in the hands of the Advisory and Finance Committee.
Article Thirty-three:
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted : That the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dol- lars to employ a District Nurse.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted : That the sum of $493,205.62 be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of the non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted : To adjourn.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, April 25, 1932
ALFRED P. RICHARDS, Moderator
Article Two :
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved: That the Town in- struct the Selectmen to control, regulate or prohibit the taking of eels, soft shell clams, quahaugs, razor fish, so- called, and scallops, within the town, grant permits and make such other regulations in regard to said fisheries as they deem expedient in accordance with the pro- visions of the General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 84, as amended.
Mr. William S. Dupuis moved to amend by striking out the word "eels," and the motion to amend was carried.
The motion of Mr. Collingwood, as amended, was then put before the meeting, and 40 voting in the affirmative, and 91 voting in the negative, the motion was lost.
Article Three:
To see if the Town will appropriate a sum not exceed- ing three hundred (300) dollars to be expended under the direction of the Board of Selectmen for enforcement of regulations made by authority of the vote under Arti- cle 2, or supervision of said fisheries for the current year.
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That action under this article be indefinitely postponed.
Article Four :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of three hundred (300) dol- lars for pensions for town laborers.
Article Five :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted : That the
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Town appropriate the sum of seven hundred (700) dol- lars for construction of a storm water drain from Alden · Street.
Article Six :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of five hundred (500) dollars for improvement of the Nick's Rock Road.
Article Seven :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of one thousand (1,000) dol- lars for the Health Department, to be paid to the Jordan Hospital for maintenance of the contagious ward.
Article Eight :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Town appropriate the sum of twenty-five hundred (2,500) dollars for the purpose of providing proper fa- cilities for public entertainment at the time of the State Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, to be held in Plymouth during the current year, and of paying expenses incidental to such enter- tainment, as provided in Chapter 128 of the Acts of 1932. Money, so appropriated, to be expended under the direc- tion of the Board of Selectmen.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: That the sum of $5,000.00 be raised and assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, and upon the estates of the non-residents, to defray the expenses of the Town for the ensuing year.
On motion of George B. Howland, Voted: To adjourn.
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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, September 12, 1932
FRANK C. SMITH, Moderator
Article Two :
On motion of Morton Collingwood, Voted: That the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized to accept from the Trustees of the Stickney Fund a conveyance of land upon or adjacent to Burial Hill.
Article Three :
To see if the Town will appropriate from money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, a sum not exceed- ing eight hundred (800) dollars for repairs to the Town Wharf.
Mr. Morton Collingwood moved: That no action be taken under Article 3.
Mr. James A. White moved as a substitute motion : That the Town appropriate from money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of eight hundred (800) dollars for repairs to the Town Wharf. But the motion was lost.
The motion of Mr. Collingwood was then put before the meeting and carried.
Article Four :
Mr. J. Frankland Miller moved : That the Town extend its water system by laying pipes of not less than six (6) inches, under the direction of the Board of Water Commissioners, along Warren Avenue, also known as the Shore Road, to serve that part of the town known as Manomet, and to construct stand pipes, and that the Water Commissioners be authorized to acquire for the Town, by purchase or eminent domain, land or easements necessary for that purpose, and that there be appro- priated therefor, the sum of ninety thousand (90,000)
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dollars. To meet the appropriation the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be authorized to bor- row a sum not exceeding ninety thousand (90,000) dollars and to issue therefor, bonds or notes of the Town payable in accordance with Sec. 8 of Ch. 44 of the General Laws so that the whole loan shall be paid in not more then fifteen (15) years after the date of the issuance of the first bond or note, or at such earlier date as the Treas- urer or Selectmen may determine. Three hundred eighty-five voting in the affirmative, and one hundred seventy-nine voting in the negative, more than two-thirds voting in the affirmative, the motion was carried.
On motion of William T. Eldridge, Voted: To adjourn.
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REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REPRESENTATIVE TOWN GOVERNMENT
March 26, 1932
At the annual Town Meeting on March 28, 1931, it was voted that a committee of twenty members be appointed by the Moderator to consider the matter of a form of Representative Government for the Town, and to report its recommendations to the Town at a future meeting.
The committee which was appointed under the above vote, is giving the question its careful consideration, but it is not yet ready to make any recommendation to the Town.
Honorable Newland H. Holmes, of Weymouth, Chair- man of the Special Commission on the Investigation of the Representative Town Meeting System, created by the Legislature of 1930, very courteously consented to meet with your committee and gave its members an oppor- tunity to discuss this form of Town Government with him.
Representatives of this committee have visited the annual business meetings in some towns which are now operating under a representative form of government, and observed how these meetings are conducted.
Your committee feels that the Town of Plymouth has been handling its affairs under the "old fashioned" Town Meeting plan ever since it was first established, and that very serious and careful consideration should be given to any proposed change.
It is not yet ready to make any definite recommenda- tion, and, unless otherwise instructed, will continue to investigate the question.
GEORGE B. HOWLAND, Clerk.
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REPORT OF ADVISORY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
ON THE ARTICLES IN THE TOWN WARRANT MARCH, 1932
The Advisory and Finance Committee herewith sub- mits its report and recommendations to the Town on the articles in the Warrant for the annual meeting to be held March 26, 1932.
The Committee believes that rigid economy should be practiced by the Town this year and that belief accounts for many of the recommendations made with reference to the articles in the Warrant.
In 1931, the total appropriation was $811,000.00. In 1932, the budgets of the various departments and the articles in the Warrant would call for an appropriation of approximately $809,000.00.
About 75% of the Town's income is derived from taxes upon real estate. It is estimated that the income from other sources, which the Town will receive this year will be in the neighborhood of $40,000.00 less than last year. In addition, it is well recognized that real estate values have greatly decreased in the last two years. Consequent- ly, Plymouth as well as other communities, is faced with the problem of either reducing its expenses or increasing the burden of the taxpayer. Your committee recommends the first of these alternatives namely, to reduce the op- erating expenses of the Town.
It is obvious that it is dangerous to reduce the budgets of the departments to a point where their efficiency may be affected. We have endeavored to recommend appro- priations which will permit all departments to operate without handicap. However, such reductions as have
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been recommended will not by themselves offset the anticipated reduction of revenue. If no further reductions are made it will be necessary to increase the tax rate. In view of present conditions of unemployment and de- creased incomes, we do not favor increasing the burden on individuals and corporations. We do feel that de- creased costs of commodities establishes a premium on fixed salaries and wages and that a reduction of the sala- ries and wages paid by the Town of Plymouth would be more in line with present living costs scale and would also prevent increasing the burden on the taxpayers who have already "taken their cut". For this reason the committee recommends to the Town that there be a re- duction of 10% in the pay of town employees who are receiving an annual compensation in excess of $1,000 pro- viding that such reduction shall not reduce any indi- vidual's compensation below $1,000 and excepting the salary of the Tax Collector. This reduction to be effec- tive for the calendar year on and after April 1st, 1932.
There follows a list of the recommendations of the departments and the recommendations of the committee after deducting the decrease as above recommended.
Article 5. To make the necessary appropriation to defray the expenses of the Town, and for other purposes, and to raise such sums of money as the Town shall deem expedient.
Recommended
Tax Collector's Department,
By Departments $3,700.00
By Committee $3,700.00 1,000.00
Law Department,
1,500.00
Planning Board,
100.00
100.00
Election and Registration,
1,600.00
1,600.00
Maintenance of Town House,
2,500.00
2,500.00
Inspection of Buildings,
600.00
600.00
Forest Warden's Department,
3,500.00
3,250.00
Inland Fisheries,
700.00
200.00
Plymouth County Hospital Main- tenance,
10,914.89
10,914.89
Gurnet Bridge Tax,
1,009.60
1,009.60
Street Lighting,
21,000.00
20,000.00
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Harbor Master,
150.00
150.00
New Float for Town Wharf,
1,063.00
1,063.00
Pensions for Town Laborers,
2,160.00
2,160.00
Public Welfare Department, in- cluding Mothers' Aid,
85,600.00
75,000.00
Public Welfare, 1931 Overdraft,
9,828.02
9,828.02
Public Welfare, 1931 Bills,
825.78
825.78
Public Welfare Dept., Bureau of Old Age Assistance,
25,000.00
25,000.00
Public Welfare Dept., Bureau of
Old Age Assistance, 1931 Over- draft,
1,193.00
1,193.00
Soldiers' Benefits,
18,000.00
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