USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1862-1879 > Part 10
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Balance remaining, 825 00
$1,825 00
Contracts have been made for the grading and building said streets, which were not completed last fall on account of the weather.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN H. CLARK, } Selectmen GEO. F. STONE, S of Melrose.
MELROSE, March 21, 1873.
20
REGISTRY OF DOGS.
162 males at $2,
$324 00
9 females, $5, 45 00
REGISTRY OF BIRTHS FOR YEAR 1872.
Whole number of births,
84
Males,
52
Females,
32
84
Fathers, American birth,
65
66 foreign
19
84
Mothers, American 66
66
66 foreign 66
18
84
MARRIAGES.
Whole number,
31
Native born,
20
Foreign "
5
Of foreign and native,
6
31
DEATHS.
81
Males, married,
17
Females, "
1
11
Widowers,
3
Widows,
9
Males, single,
23
Females, "
18
81
Under 1 year,
17
66 10 over 1,
7
66 20 " 10,
9
66 30 66 20,
8
66
40 66 30,
8
.
50 66 40,
8
66 60
50,
6
66 70
60,
7
66
80
70,
6
60
90 66 80,
4
Unknown,
1
81
Whole number,
21
NEW TOWN HALL.
To paid, by order of committee, to Mary Dix, for house and land, $5,490 00
To paid, by order of committee, to George New-
hall, for house and land, 7,500 00
To paid, by order of committee, to contractors, etc., 7,800 00
To paid, by order of committee, sundry bills, 795 13
66 sundry expenses fitting Newhall house
for rent, 12 80
To paid printing bonds, 40 00
66 for recording deed, 65
Total paid, $21,638 58
Cr
By received for sale of Dix house and fence, $870 00
By received for sale of 26 town hall bonds, of $1,000 each, with cou- pons attached, bearing 7 per cent interest, 20 years, payable semi- annually, April 1 and Oct. 1, 26,000 00
By received accrued interest at time of sale,
174 02
By received for three months' rent of
Newhall chambers to March 1, 60 00
27,104 02
Balance in treasury, $5,465 44
INSURANCE.
The school-houses and other property of the town (ex- cepting the new High school building) were insured in the
22
Independent Insurance Co., Boston, which was made insol- vent by the Chicago fire, and the property remained unin- sured until June 7, 1872, when, by the direction of the selectmen, $15,600 was insured in the Manufacturers Insur- ance Co., Boston, as appears in the account below. This company was rendered insolvent by the fire in Boston, No- vember last; and by further direction, the property, with some additions, was reinsured in the Merrimack Mutual, Andover, Jan. 9, 1873, for five years. There was seven policies on the new High school-house, five of which made assessments, and one was totally insolvent, causing a re- insurance.
1872, June 7. Paid premium on $15,600 (Man- ufacturers), $390 00 1873, Jan. 9. Paid premium on $19,300 (Mer- rimack Mutual), 481 50
1873, Jan. 9. Paid premium on $3,000, rein- sured on High school-house, 36 00
To March 20. Paid assessments by five compa- nies, 142 25
Total paid, $1,049 75
For which an appropriation should be made.
23
TREASURER'S REPORT.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Melrose : -
Your treasurer submits the following report of the receipts into and the payments out of the treasury, during the past year, and also of the present financial standing of the town.
Interest and Discount.
Paid one year's interest on standing loan of $80,800, as follows : -
On $55,800 bearing 6% interest,
$3,348 00
25,000 7% 1,750 00
$5,098 00
36,100 temporary loan (now paid), $466 85 10,000 (not paid), 6 mos., to Oct. 26, 1872, 350 00
5,490 (1,050.20 paid) to Jan. 1, 1873, 192 91
1,009 76
Total paid,
$6,107 76
By balance to March, 1872, $401 97
Town appropriation, 5,500 00
5,901 97
In debt, .$205 79
There should be an appropriation of at least $6,500, and more will be required, unless the taxes are collected and paid in more promptly than heretofore.
NOTE. See Water Fund account for interest on bonds.
24
DEFICIENCIES IN APPROPRIATIONS.
At the last annual meeting the town appropriated to meet the excess of expenditures over former appropriations, $6,500.00.
The accounts were found to stand as follows : -
Against the School Fund, paid and unpaid, $1,512 93
Against the School Contingents, paid and unpaid, 2,570 47
Against the Poor Fund, paid,
344 96
Against Street Lights and Lighting, paid, 609 88
Against Drainage (County Commis- sioners ), 2,927 49
$7,965 73
Leaving a deficiency of
$1,465 73
For 1872 and 1873, there are further expendi-
tures over appropriations, as follows : -
On School Contingents, paid and unpaid, $2,030 61
On Poor Fund, paid and unpaid, 1,054 48
On Highways, etc., paid and unpaid,
1,363 75
On Street Lights and Lighting, paid,
195 25
On Interest and Discount, paid,
205 79
On Fire Department, paid and unpaid, 39 01
On Insurance, paid,
1,049 75
On Cedar Park, paid,
69 00
On drainage (county commissioners),
518 06
On rent of battery,
150 00
Total to be provided for, $8,141 43
A neglect to do so, increases the town debt and embar- rasses the treasurer.
25
The question may arise why the treasurer continues to pay after the appropriation has been expended. He notified the selectmen, and the committee interested, when the sev- eral amounts had been used, and declined to pay orders in excess thereof. But a decision was made in our courts that a town treasurer was liable to pay all approved bills against the town, unless it was specially voted by the town that the expenditures on each appropriation should not EXCEED the amount voted. The taxes are assessed to meet the amount voted to be raised, and if the usual practice of overrunning the amount is to be continued, it is hoped that the town will fix the limit, as the statutes make provision for meeting all contingencies that may arise requiring additional expendi- tures.
MELROSE WATER FUND. Dr.
1872, Mar. 1.
/ To cash paid on account to date, $10,072 03
1872, July 1. To paid interest coupons on 100,000 bonds, 3,000 00
1873, Jan. 1. To paid interest coupons on 100,000 bonds, 3,000 00
1873, Feb. 24.
To paid cash to Ellis & Co., bill on works, 700 00
1873, Feb. 24.
To paid bill for printing bonds, new series, 26 00
1872, Mar. 1. To paid Geo. H. Norman, bill on works, 16,424 14
Total paid,
$33,222 17
Amount carried forward,
$33,222 17
26
Amount brought forward,
1872.
Cr. $33,222 17
Mar. 1. By cash paid in and town's appropriations to date, $11,225 50
Mar. 1. By town's appropriation interest 1872-3, 2,500 00
1873.
Mar. 1. By received for sale of $20,- 000, new series bonds, payable in 20 years from Oct. 1, 1872, with cou- pons attached, payable April 1 and Oct. 1, each year, sold for 90%, 18,000 00
Mar. 1. By received for five months accrued interest, 500 00
" 21. By received cash on account at various times to date, 4,631 67
36,857 17
To credit of fund, $3,635 00
REPORT OF THE ENGINEERS OF FIRE DE- PARTMENT.
The Fire Department consists of a board of five engineers, three hose companies, one hook and ladder carriage, and one hand engine ; sixteen hundred feet leading hose, good; four hundred feet unserviceable.
Locations.
Russell Hose No. 1, 15 members ; house Main street, for- merly Endeavor engine house ; in poor condition.
27
Wyoming, No. 2, ten men ; house Masonic building ; fitted up for the use of company, and leased the town for a period of five years.
Highland Hose, No. 3, ten men ; house on Franklin street ; temporary location.
Liberty Bigelow Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1, twenty men ; house Main street, in same building with Hose No. 1.
Endeavor hand engine, located in house with Hose No. 2.
The hose and ladder carriages are all new, and in good order and repair. The Endeavor hand engine is in good working order.
There were nine alarms of fire during the year. Curry Woods, two; from out of town, four; from buildings in town, three. Amount of losses, $2,000; nearly covered by insurance.
The board of engineers would recommend that an appro- priation, for the repair of the present Hook and Ladder, and Hose No. 1 house, be made, to put the house in a condition for the use of both companies, or to furnish suitable apart- ments in the new town hall for the same. Also, on account of the misunderstanding relating to refunding members of the fire department their poll tax, that the vote whereby the same was authorized to be made be rescinded.
JOHN R. NORTON, J. R. SIMONDS, T. B. STANTIAL, Engineers. T. A. LONG, JAS. G. EMERSON,
STATEMENT OF TOWN DEBT, MARCH 1, 1873.
Nature of obligation.
Date.
When Due.
Rate of Interest.
Interest paid to.
Amount.
Treasurer's note
June 12. 1858
On demand.
6 per cent.
June 12, 1872
500 00
66
66
66
·
Dec. 8, 1862
66
6
Dec.
8, 1872
5,000 00
66
.
June 1, 1864
66
6
Dec.
1,1872
4,000 00
66
July
2, 1864
6
66
Jan.
2,1873
2,000 00
66
Dec.
1, 1864
6
Dec.
1, 1872
1,200 00
Feb. 13, 1865
6
Feb. 13, 1873
100 00
Sept. 7, 1865
Sept. 7, 1885
6
March 7, 1873
20,000 00
July 11, 1868
July 11, 1873
6
Jan. 11, 1873
1,000 00
Oet. 15, 1868
Oct. 15, 1873
6
Oct.
15, 1873
5,000 00
66
Oct. 15, 1868
Oct. 15, 1878
6
Oct. 15, 1873
5,000 00
Oct. 15, 1868
Oct. 15, 1883
6
Oct.
15, 1873
5,000 00
66
Oct
15, 1868
Oct. 15, 1888
6
Oct. 15, 1873
5,000 00
66
June 1,1870
Dec. 1,1880
7
Dec.
1,1872
12,500 00
66
June 1,1870
Dec.
1, 1880
7
Dec.
1,1872
12,500 00
66
Temporary Loans .
April 26, 1872
On demand. 66
NO
66
Jan.
1, 1873
4,439 80
Water fund bond, 1st issuc, due July 1, 1890, 6 per cent to July 1, 1873
100,000 00
Town hall
Oct. 1, 1892, 6 per cent due Oct. 1, 1892, 7 per cent
26,000 00
Total
241,239 80
One order on highway, drawn, not paid
23 40
Due to town hall appropriation
5,465 44
Melrose Water Fund (which town cannot use)
3,635 00
Total debt
.
·
·
·
..
·
$250,363 64
·
66
.
April 29, 1861
6
Oct. 29, 1873
1,000 00
July 26, 1861
6
Jan. 26, 1873
1,000 00
.
Oct.
26,1872
10,000 00
66
May 13, 1872
Total,
95,239 SO
.
.
·
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
·
.
·
2d
20,000 00
66
66
66
28
29
ASSETS AVAILABLE.
Cash in the treasury, $8,482 07
Uncollected taxes estimated, 9,000 00
Due from State on State aid,
980 00
Due from State on corporation tax, 115 00
Due from State for rent of battery,
150 00
It will be perceived that a note of $5,000 will be due Oct. 15, 1873, and as it is in the State treasury, it will have to be paid, therefore some provision should be made for the pay- ment thereof.
30
DAVID FAIRBANKS, TREASURER, IN ACCOUNT WITH THE TOWN OF MELROSE.
FROM MARCH 25, 1872, TO MARCH 20, 1873.
Dr.
To cash in treasury, March 25, 1872, $1,215 41
66 received of State treasurer, on corpo-
ration tax, 1871, 248 41
To cash received of State treasurer, on corpo- ration tax, 1871, 1,091 89
To cash received of State treasurer. Income Massachusetts School Fund,
226 06
To cash received for rent of Waitt house, 1872,
50 00
66
2 auctioneers' licenses, 4 00
66 66 sale of 251 cemetery lots, 886 00
66 account of State aid, 772 00
66 66 of public library
(dog tax), 308 02
To cash received for treasurer's notes. Tem-
porary loan, 51,590 00
To cash received for town hall bonds. Sold $26,000, and accrued interest, 26,174 02
To cash received for Dix house and fence, sold, 870 00
66 3 months' rent, Newhall
house, 60 00
To cash received on account Melrose Water Fund, as per account, 23,131 67
To cash received of collector on old taxes, 1,922 00
66 54,829 00 66 66 taxes, 1872,
$163,378 48
31
Cr.
By paid bills and orders on school fund of 1871-1872, $476 00 By paid orders on school fund of 1872-1873, 13,354 45 By paid bills and orders for school contingents, 1871-1872, 669 15
By paid orders for school contingents, 1872-73, 4,599 24
66 66 support of poor, 66 3,533 33
66 66 highways, drainage, etc., 1872-1873, 8,022 94
By paid orders for Malden bridge, 1872-1873, 1,440 00
66
street lights and lighting,
1872-1873, 1,495 25
By paid orders for general contingents, 1872-73, 3,085 45
66 66 Wyoming cemetery, 66
114 66 60 66 fire department, 66
6,499 01
66 66 decoration day, 66
487 04
66 drinking fountains, 600 00
66
66 town's use of Spot Pond
water, 1872-1873, 1,000 00
By paid orders for public common, 1872-1873, 505 23
Cedar Park (D. Bryant), 1872, 569 00
66 66 drainage (county commis-
sioners), 518 06
By paid orders for rent of building for battery, 150 00
66 land damages, Myrtle street (W. I. Ellis), 220 00
By paid orders for and on account new streets, 1,000 00
66 66 public library, 958 02
66 66 State aid, 820 00
By paid State treasurer. Drawback on bank tax, 1871, 3 49
Amount carried forward,
$50,120 32
32
Amount brought forward, $50,120 32
By paid State treasurer. State tax, 3,660 00
66 county treasurer. County tax, 2,122 32
66 treasurer's notes. Temporary loan,
1871-1872, 9,500 00
By paid treasurer's notes. Temporary loan,
1872-1873, 37,150 20
By paid for insurance and assessments. Town's property, 1,049 75
By paid on account of new town hall, 21,638 58
66 interest and discount (as per account), 6,107 76
66 on account, Melrose Water Fund, 23,150 14
March 24. By treasurer 3 % for receiving and paying $317,877.55, 397 34
" 24. By cash in the treasury, 8,482 07
$163,378 48
All of which is respectfully submitted,
DAVID FAIRBANKS,
MELROSE, March 22, 1873. Treasurer.
We have examined in detail the accounts and vouchers of the town treasurer, and find them correct.
E. H. GOSS, Auditors. J. N. NORTON,
MELROSE, March 21, 1873.
33
The Water Commissioners respectfully submit,-
That in consequence of the sudden illness of Mr. Fair- banks, who has kept the books of the Board for the past year, they are unable to submit a detailed report at the present time, but will submit the same at the adjourned meeting.
WINGATE P. SARGENT. W. IRVING ELLIS. JOSEPH D. WILDE.
3
REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS OF MELROSE
FOR THE
FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1874.
C e
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY T. W. RIPLEY, 138 CONGRESS STREET.
1874.
CONTENTS.
Town Officers,
3
Report of the Selectmen,
5
Cemetery Committee,
13
Town Clerk, .
15
Fire Engineers,
17
Assessors,
19
Collector,
20
23
21
Financial Statement,-Schools,
25
School Contingent,
28
Fire Department, .
30
Street Lights,
33
Cemetery,
33
Poor, 34
Poor Contingent, .
36
Police,-Town Officers,
39
Appropriations for General Contingents,
40
New Town Hall,
41
Melrose Water Fund,
42
Highway,
43
Drainage,-New Streets, -Light Battery,
44
Malden Bridge, -Public Library, 45
State Aid,-Decoration and Care of Soldiers' Graves, 45
Town's Notes,-Interest, 46
Recapitulation,-Assets Available,
47
Treasurers' Accounts, 48-50
Town Debt, . 52
Report of the Water Commissioners,
53
ADDENDA.
Reports of the School Committee and Trustees of the Public Library.
Highway Surveyor,
Appropriations,
Deficiencies in Appropriations,
22
3
TOWN OFFICERS, 1873.
-
S. F. KEYES.
Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor. W. J. FARNSWORTH. C. T. STEVENS.
Town Clerk. JOHN LARRABEE.
--- Treasurer, pro tem. GEORGE NEWHALL.
Collector. ANSEL B. PIERCE.
- Assessors. ELBRIDGE GREEN, GEO. W. FARNSWORTH, AARON GREEN.
Highway Surreyor. H. C. RICHARDSON.
Water Commissioners.
W. IRVING ELLIS, -
Term expires 1876.
J. D. WILDE,
1875.
W. P. SARGENT,
66
1874.
School Committee.
J. O. NORRIS,
Term expires 1876.
D. W. GOOCH,
66
1875.
J. HEBER SMITH,
1874.
PHOEBE NORRIS,
1876.
MRS. N. P. SELEE,
66
1874.
MRS. S. E. SEWALL,
66
1874.
-
Engineers of the Fire Department. J. R. NORTON. J. R. SIMONDS. T. B. STANTIAL. T. A. LONG. J. G. EMERSON.
4
Trustees of the Public Library.
FREDERIC KIDDER, E. H. GOSS. CHAS. C. BARRY. HANNAH LYNDE. ADDIE A. NICHOLS.
Committee on Cemeteries.
GEO. NEWHALL, M. L. RAY. NATH'L HOWARD.
Representatives in the General Court-Twenty-Third Middlesex District. ELBRIDGE H. GOSS, of Melrose. RICHARD BRITTON, of Wakefield.
Auditors. JOHN R. NORTON. E. H. GOSS.
Meusurers of Wood and Bark, and Weighers of Hay and Coal. S. E. BENSON. WM. E. FULLER.
Surveyor of Lumber. D. H. WALKER.
N. HOWARD.
Fence Viewers.
M. L. RAY.
Pound Keeper. D. H. WALKER.
ORNE UPHAM.
OTIS HOWARD.
Field Drivers. N. C. WILEY. CHAS. BARRETT, S. HYDE.
H. B. NEWHALL. J. HOLBROOK.
Constables.
A. B. PIERCE. MOSES BRIGGS.
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
FELLOW CITIZENS : -
We feel it to be a part of our duty to present, with this report, some remarks upon several subjects connected with the affairs of our town, and upon which a simple showing of the figures connected with a detailed statement of the receipts and expenditures during the past financial year, would not convey full information.
DAVID FAIRBANKS.
On February 9th, your town treasurer, Dea. David Fair- banks, died after an illness of two months. Dea. Fairbanks had been treasurer of the town for several years and filled the office with ability, being possessed of rare financial quali- fications. His loss will be deeply felt by very many of our citizens, but we feel to hope that what is our loss is his heavenly gain. The officers of the town attended his fune- ral in a body.
TREASURER PRO TEM.
On January 28th, Deacon Fairbanks, in addition to his other sickness, was stricken with paralysis of the optic nerves, and on the succeeding day became totally blind, and remained so to the time of his death.
The law provides that on the death, removal, or inability of the treasurer to perform the duties of his office, by reason of sickness or other cause, that the selectmen may fill said office by appointing a treasurer pro tem to fill the unexpired term.
6
REPORT OF TREASURER.
The selectmen, under these circumstances, deemed it to be their duty to fill said office, they therefore proceeded to an election, and elected as treasurer pro tem Deacon George Newhall, who accepted the position, gave bonds, and en- tered upon the duties of the office.
WILLIAM A. HOWARD - CLAIM.
In December last the selectmen were called upon by one William A. Howard, to pay damages for an injury alleged to have been received through a defect in the highway on Walnut Street, caused by a defective plank covering. Your Board examined the place of the alleged accident and facts connected therewith, and, after a full and careful consider- ation of the facts that came before our Board, rejected said claim, fully believing that the town was not liable therefor. On January 21st, '74, Mr. Howard sued the town in the sum of $5,000, which suit is now pending, having been entered in the March term of our Superior Court.
SIGNS.
During the past year we have caused to be put up many signs bearing the names of the streets of our town. We found, upon entering office, that only a very few streets had signs ; we also found that we had eighty-two public streets, and that not one, we venture to say, in every ten of our citizens, knew the names of the streets in his own immediate vicinity. One case, for instance: a prominent grocery dealer, being inquired of as to the location of a certain street not ten rods from his store, sent the inquirer two miles away to find it. We have put up twenty signs on private ways, bearing these words, - " Private way, Dangerous passing." Also have placed several large signs in the Cemetery.
CEMETERY.
We would call your attention to the report of our late treasurer, Deacon Fairbanks, hereto annexed, (p. 13), in
7
REPORT OF TREASURER.
relation to our Cemetery, and suggest that some definite and immediate action be taken by the town to remedy the evils now existing.
BY-LAWS.
We would also recommend that a committee be appointed to revise and re-arrange the town by-laws, and report to the next town meeting. It is apparent to every person who has had occasion to examine our town by-laws, that they are insufficient and inadequate to the wants of the town in many respects.
TAX COLLECTORS' BOOKS.
We would call your attention to the fact that the tax collectors, for years past, have made it a custom, after fin- ishing up the duties of their office, to retain in their posses- sion their official records ; and as these records are liable to be of great value to our town, in future years, we would recommend that they be gathered together and placed with the other records of our town.
LIGHTS.
The town appropriated $1,100 for lighting street lamps, being nearly $400 less than amount spent the preceding year. We found, upon entering office, that we must use due econ- omy, otherwise remain in darkness before the year elapsed ; therefore we advertised for proposals for lighting lamps and furnishing materials, but in response received only two pro- posals, both of which would have carried us several hundred dollars above our appropriation. Just at this time, we learned of the New England Gas Co., and after a full inves- tigation adopted their light, which they furnished us at the rate of $1,100 per annum, they furnishing labor and mate- rial, and at their own expense changing over our lamps ready for the use of the new gas. At first these lights in parts of our town, where they had been accustomed to gas, occasioned some fault finding (especially by Malden Gas
8
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
Company stockholders,) owing to the inexperience of the persons lighting them; but in the suburban parts of our town, where they had only a dim light, (familiarly called by the suburbans the "bug light,") where they lived in darkness under the old way of lighting, to them the change was a source of much rejoicing.
The light has not in all respects been satisfactory to us the past year ; some improvements have recently been added by the inventor, which makes the light better in quantity and quality ; and we feel that the light, as it now stands, with a good competent man to do the lighting, is as well for lights as the town can do, and can be used at a less expense than gas.
Appropriation, $1,100.00
Amount already paid over appropriation,
84.04
$1,184.04
Bills for January and February, 1874, unpaid,
183.34
Total amount paid and to be paid,
$1,367.38
Paid old bills for 1872, 164.31
$1,203.07
Repairing lamps, (amount heretofore drawn from Contingent Fund,)
69.00
$1,134.07
Total amount really overdrawn, properly be-
longing to the Lighting Department Fund,
34.07
$1,100.00
MALDEN BRIDGE.
Your Selectmen, in conjunction with the Selectmen of Malden and Everett, have been working before the Legisla- ture to get a legislative act relieving our town from the maintenance of Malden Bridge and placing the entire main-
9
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
tenance of said Bridge upon the city of Boston. The entire Bridge is within the limits of Boston. After a full hearing before the legislative committee to whom the matter was referred, the committee reported, six in favor of placing said maintenance on Boston to one against, and the bill as re- ported by the committee has passed the House. So far your Selectmen have followed the matter closely at the State House, and are still pressing for the final end, which, they hope, may result in your entire relief from any further sup- port of said Bridge.
Am't paid by Melrose on acc't of Malden Bridge, 1872, $1,440 00 66 1873, 400 00
PERAMBULATION.
Your Selectmen, in pursuance of law and duty imposed upon them, met the Selectmen of Wakefield in November, 1873, and perambulated the town lines between Wakefield and Melrose, and found the monuments correct, as to loca- tion, but incorrect as to letters, the old original marks " S. R." being upon them. We have had them all re-marked and the proper letters put thereon.
HIGHWAY.
Most of our citizens are aware that a controversy arose between the Selectmen and Highway Surveyor in regard to the proper mode of paying for work done on the highways. The Selectmen claimed that the workmen doing work on our highways should be paid direct from the town (after having their bills properly approved by the Highway Sur- veyor and reapproved by the Selectmen) ; that in case the Surveyor should draw the money from the town and fail to pay the workmen, that the town would be liable to each of them for the amount of their several bills. The Surveyor took exceptions to this ruling, and claimed that he had a right to draw the money direct from the town and pay the workmen at his own option : that he, and he alone, was re-
10
REPORT OF SELECTMEN.
sponsible to the workmen, and in case he failed to pay them, that their remedy would be against him and not against the town. The Selectmen would not submit to this theory, and thus the cause of the controversy. The matter was carried before the November town meeting, and, after a long dis- cussion, was referred for final adjustment to a committee of three, whose report you will please find hereto annexed : -
The committee appointed by the town of Melrose at the town meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 4th, with instructions to examine the laws relating to the duties and authority of the highway sur- veyor, and to decide upon the proper course of action of the town treasurer, selectmen and other town officers, in disbursing the money appropriated to repair the highways of the town, respectfully submit the following report:
The committee have examined the laws relating to the duties and authority of the highway surveyor, as required, and without reporting upon the law, which the order appointing the com- mittee does not call for, they, after mature deliberation, advise and recommend that the officers of the town act as follows. That the highway surveyor make out each month, or oftener, if necessary, a pay-roll of the men employed upon the town high- ways, including his own services, stating each day of work, the total number of days worked in the month, the wages per day, and the amount due each man; that the highway surveyor certify upon the pay-roll that the same is a correct list of the men em- ployed by him on the highways of the town during the past month, that they have actually worked the full time charged thercon, at the rate of wages charged, and that the pay-roll is in all respects true, just and correct.
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