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 1909 > Part 8
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Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 . $5,891.29
Committed Interest on Main Sewer Apportionments of 1909.
Total Amount committed by Assessors $1,800.41 Amount collected during year 1909 .. 792.01 $792.01
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 . $1,008.40
Particular Sewers on Commitment Book of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $2,674.30
Amount abated during year 1909 1.86
Balance $2,672.44
Amount collected during year 1909 $1,127.36 $1,127.36
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 ... $1,545.08
Committed Interest on Particular Sewers on Commitment
Book of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $367.64
Amount abated during year 1909 .28
Balance
$367.36
Amount collected during year 1909
182.91
$182.91
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 . $184.45
Sidewalk Apportionments of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $110.79
Amount collected during year 1909 ..
37.21 $37.21
Amount uncollected January 1,1910 .
$73.58
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Committed Interest on Sidewalk Apportionments of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $16.75
Amount collected during year 1909 .. 3.22 $3.22
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 .
$13.53
Street Watering of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $3,998.10
Amount abated during year 1909 2.94
Balance $3,995.16 Amount collected during year 1909 2,124.10
$2,124.10
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 . $1,871.06
Gypsy Moth Assessments of 1909.
Total amount committed by Assessors $1,684.83
Amount collected during year 1909 .. 951.83 $951.83
Amount uncollected January 1, 1910 .
$733.00
Excise Tax of 1909.
Amount committed by Assessors viz :-
Old Colony Street Railway Co. ... $4,695.02
Amount collected during year 1909 . 4,695.02 $4,695.02
Sewers.
Amount collected during year 1909 on Sewer Construction $7,504.41
Amount collected during year 1909 of. interest 73.13
Amount collected during year 1909 on Sewer Connection $4,822.47
Amount collected during year 1909 of interest $8.31
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Permanent Sidewalks.
Amount collected during year 1909 on
Permanent Sidewalks $1,027.98
Amount collected during year 1909 of interest $48.45
Costs collected during year 1909 $1,763.73
Total amount of cash collected during the City of Quincy $35.235.00
year 1909 $644,907.02
I desire to urge your attention to the necessity for more room for the collector's office.
It is necessary that our records should be readily accessi- ble in order to promptly give the information that we are asked for daily. In order to do this, these records should be kept in the office and being kept in the office, they should be properly protected.
Under existing conditions there is not proper protection for the books and records of the Collector of Taxes.
Larger quarters should be provided so as to give sufficient vault room in the collector's office for the protection of these books and records.
Respectfully submitted,
TIMOTHY J. CAREY,
Collector of Taxes.
Assessors' Report
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1910.
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
We herewith submit our annual report for the year 1909.
Warrants received and amounts raised for current ex- penses by the assessment of taxes in the City of Quincy, for the financial year commencing January 1, 1909, were as follows :
A state warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy $35,235.00
A County warrant for the proportion of the City of Quincy of a County tax of $205,000.00 $22.051.79
By the provisions of Chapter 488 of the Acts of the year 1895, entitled "An Act to provide for a Metropolitan Water supply;" Chapter 453 of the Acts of the year 1901, entitled "An Act to provide for an addi- tional Metropolitan Water Loan," we have been assessed for the year 1909 $51,230.04 Of this amount $11,291.60 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chap- ter; $30,281.35 is to pay interest, and $9,657.09 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1909
By the provisions of Chapter 406 of the
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Acts of the year 1895, entitled "An Act to provide for a system of sewerage disposal for the Neponset River Valley," and Chapter 424 of the Acts of the year 1899, entitled "An Act to provide for the construc- tion of a high level gravity sewer for the relief of the Charles and Neponset River Valleys," we have been assessed
Of this amount, $2,894.51 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter, $15,295.61 is to pay interest, and $9,139.50 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1909.
In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 407 of the Acts of the year 1893, entitled An Act to es- tablish a Metropolitan Park Com- mission,"Chapter 550 of the Acts of the year 1896, entitled "An Act relative to the Metropolitan Parks and boulevards," and Chapter 464 of the Acts of the year 1899, en- titled "An Act to authorize the Metropolitan Park Commission to take, control and manage Nantas- ket Beach and adjacent lands and waters," we have been assessed .. $14,582.17 Of this amount, $2,012.30 is to meet the requirements of the sinking fund established under said chapter, $5,529.51 is to pay interest, and $7,040.36 is on account of the cost of maintenance and operation for the year 1909.
$27,329.62
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In pursuance of the provision of Sec-
tion 16, Chapter 47 of the Revised Laws (State Highway Tax), we have been assessed $114.65
Amount raised for municipal current expenses, based on the valuation of December 31, 1908, at $12 per $1,000
$339,393.68
City sewer $40,068.92, less receipts
26,022.50
City debt
108,985.00
Interest city debt 21,429.00
Street improvement debt 3,300.00
Interest street improvement debt
1,302.00
Park debt 2,000.00
Interest park debt 1,200.00
Interest temporary loans
15,000.00
Agregate of amount $669,175.45
9,415 polls, at 2.00 each, were record- ed for assessment and included in the estimate that determined the rate of taxation for the current year
$18,830.00
By the operation of the law providing for the supplementary assessment of omitted male persons liable to assessment under the provisions of Section 19, Chapter 560, Acts of 1907, there were added 79 polls, making the number assessed 9,494, excluding 80, which are exempt under the provisions of Chapter 367, Acts 1907.
The amount of estimated receipts law- fully applicable to the payment of expenditures of the year, as pro- vided in Chapter 12, Section 37, R. L., were deducted
$51,427.53
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To which was added for overlay, as pro- vided in Chapter 12, Section 55, R. L. 7,525.15
SUMMARY OF AMOUNT COMMITTED TO THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Appropriation order . $339,393.68
Debts and interest 156,216.00
Water debt, maintenance and interest 79,785.00
Sewer debt, maintenance and interest 43,460.00
Metropolitan water assessment
51,230.04
State tax
35,235.00
County tax
22,051.79
South Metropolitan sewer assessment
27,329.62
Metropolitan park assessment
14,582.17
State highway tax
114.65
Total $769,397.95
VALUATION
The valuation of the city May 1, 1909, as determined by the assessors, and upon which the rate of taxation was levied, is as follows:
Value of land
$10,798,300.00
Value of buildings
13,325,125.00
Total
$24,123,425.00
Exemptions as provided in clauses 9 and 10, Section 5, Chapter 12, R.L., also Chapter 367, Acts 1907 124,900.00 Total valuation of real estate subject to taxation $23,998,525.00
Valuation of personal property other than bank stock separately as- sessed $5,568,175.00 .
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Value of shares of National Banks located in and taxable in the City of Quincy 244,865.00
5,813,040.00
Total valuation
$29,811,565.00
Tax rate
$20.40
Taxes levied on property polls, per- sonal and real estate The valuation was also increased by assessments under provisions of Section 85, Chapter 12, R. L. .... The total valuation of the city upon which taxes were assessed for the year 1909 when all assessments were made, was .
$606,822.68
$1,726,825.00
$31,538,390.00
A net gain over 1908 valuation of
$2,889,500.00
VALUATION BY WARDS
(Not including valuation of bank stock)
Personal
Real Estate
Total
Ward 1
$2,153,450.00
$7,176,612.50
$9,330,062.50
Ward 2
2,031,175.00
3,433,487.50
5,464.662.50
Ward 3
422,875.00
2,720.187.50
3,143,062.50
Ward 4
331,850.00
2,394.687.50
2,726,537.50
Ward 5
478.475.00
4,733,062.50
5,211,537,50
Ward 6
150,350.00
3,540,487.50
3,690,837.50
$5,568.175.00 $23,998,525,00 $29,566,700.00
SEWER ASSESSMENTS
Main sewer apportionments $10,525.77
Interest on main sewer apportionments 1,800.41
Particular sewer assessments apportioned and otherwise 2,674.30
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Interest on same 367.64
Sidewalk assessments, apportioned 110.79 ยท
Interest on same 16.75
Street Watering
Street watering assessments committed
by the commissioner of public works, in accordance with City Council order No. 105, passed April 26, 1909. $3,998.10
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths
In accordance with Chapter 381, Acts
1905, as amended by Chapter 268,
Acts 1906 and Chapter 521, Acts
1907, the commitment of the com- missioner of public works amount- ed to $1,684.83
Summary from Table of Aggregates
Resident property owners 5,217
Non-resident property owners 2,398
Poll tax, only 7,594
Number of horses assessed 1,156
Number of cows and neat cattle 749
Number of swine 12
Number of dwelling house 6,021
Number of acres of land 6,691
Valuation of property Exempt From Taxation
Literary $279,925.00
Benevolent 642,950.00
: Religious 374,275.00
. City of Quincy, real estate and fire apparatus
1,023,800.00
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The Assistant Assessors who served during the year were :
James P. Dunn Ward 1
Joseph A. Delory . Ward 2
Leo J. McMaster Ward 3
Edward T. Monahan Ward 4
John T. Cain Ward 5
Eben Stocker Ward 6
The polls returned by the assistant assessors and those registered for the year, amounted to 9,574, made up, as follows :
Precinct 1
Precinct 2
Total
Ward 1,
799
925
1,724
Ward 2
869
897
1,766
Ward 3
884
944
1,828
Ward 4
711
931
1,642
Ward 5
766
664
1,430
Ward 6
592
592
1,184
The personal property consisting of horses, carriages and cows, assessed by the assistant assessors, is as follows :
Ward 1,
$80,275.00
Ward 2,
33,725.00
Ward 3, 38,000.00
Ward 4, 53,025.00
Ward 5,
52,850.00
Ward 6,
24,975.00
$282,850.00
The number of dogs returned by the assistant assessors, is as follows :
Wards 1
2
3 154
4 83
5
6
Total
Male,
148
139
198
177
899
Female,
23
30
17
15
28
34
147
Kennel, 1
1
.
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During the year the Commissioner of Public Works has notified the assessors of 307 apportioned main sewers, and 307 particular sewer assessments. The total number of individual accounts kept in this office, is as follows :
Main sewer assessments . 2,099
Particular sewer assessments 287
Street sprinkling 2,109
Sidewalk assessments 23
Gypsy and brown-tail moths 642
While it is apparent to all, that Quincy is fast becoming identified as one of the finest suburbs of greater Boston, we deem it proper at this time to give the citizens a brief state- ment, showing the activity of Quincy real estate during the year 1909.
From January 1st, 1908 to January 1st, 1909, the Assess- ing Department has received from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds about seventeen hundered transfers of real estate. Many of these were sales of real estate made to people coming into Quincy to establish homes. In addition to these conveyances several large areas, which as pointed out in our report of last year have long been withheld from the market, have this year been plotted, and are now being offered for sale. One of the largest areas, above referred to, borders the water front of Quiney Bay, extending along the new Metropolitan Boule- vard, from E. Squantum St. to the Wollaston line
This is a splendid shore property, and should attract a good class of people to the City.
This activity has emphasized the importance of keeping the Assessors' plans up to date. To do this involves the mak- ing of sub-divisions, the replotting of large areas, and the changing of owners names, in conformance to the transfers which this department is constantly receiving from the Nor- folk Registry of Deeds. This is a nice work and requires time.
In justice to the engineering department in this regard, and also to accelerate the work of this office, we suggest that a man be furnished the engineering department, who shall de- vote his entire time to these matters.
195
It has been the purpose of assessors the past year, to dis- cover, if possible, more of the intangible personal property, owned by citizens of Quincy. To this end, the assessing de- partment, sent out a personal notice to many of the tax payers, requesting them to bring in the Sworn List of their estate, as requested by law. While the result was not all that is to be desired, some few co-operated with us in this regard; it is hoped that in the future many more will avail themselves of this opportunity, and file their lists, and thus avoid mutual embarrassment to themselves and the assessing department.
To keep pace with the development of the City, the de- partment must have an adequate office force. At the present time the routine work of the office is interrupted by the many calls for information, which come to the office daily; in the near future we shall need a clerk to attend to this part of the work, and thus permit the routine business of the department to proceed without frequent interruption.
Respectfully submitted,
WARREN W. ADAMS, JOHN A. DUGGAN, ALEXANDER FALCONER, Assessors of the City of Quincy.
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Quincy, Mass., February 23, 1910. To His Honor, the Mayor of Quincy ;
I hereby submit my report for the year ending December 31- 1909.
Scales examined
Platform over 5,000 lbs. 6
Platform under 5,000 lbs.
21
Counter balance 73
Spring balance
45
Balance scales
1
Beam over 1,000 lbs.
3
Computing scales
18
Scales condemned
5
Weights examined
341
Weights found (large) heavy
9
Weights found light
14
Weights condemned
2
Measures examined
Dry measures
112
Dry measures, large
0
Dry measures, small
2
Dry measures, condemned
2
Wet measures 137
Wet measures, large
0
Wet measures, small
2
Wet measures condemned .
2
Total 795
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198
Total for testing
$41.99
Cash paid City Treasurer
41.99
The amount expended was as follows :
1909
May 17, Allen Brothers $7.60
May 17, Fred F. Green 5.06
August 25, W. & L. E. Gurley
8.40
September 9, L. H. McMasters
50.00
December 23, F. C. Marsh
1.50
December 23, W. & L. E. Gurley
35.70
December 23, Chadwick Lead Co.
1.00
December 23, M. I. Gatcomb, use of horse
and expenses of office 15.74
Total $125.00
Yours respectfully, MAURICE I. GATCOMB,
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Report of Overseer of Poor
January 1, 1910.
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The Overseer of the Poor in compliance with the city or- dinance respectfully presents his report for the year ending December 31, 1909.
The year that has passed has been an unusually busy one. We have aided a greater number of families this year than ever were aided before in the history of Quincy in any one year. The low rate of wages and scarcity of work added to the high prices of the necessities of life and increase in the cost of rents have made it impossible for many families to ex- ist without aid. Having so few comforts and no luxuries their lives have been hard ones. No exact estimate of the cost of the Poor Department can ever be made as it depends entirely on the times, health and conditions of the people.
It should be stated that there has been during the last few years a startling change in the nationality of the applicants requiring aid in our city. The influx of poor people from southern and eastern Europe are placed at a great disadvan- tage in obtaining employment owing to their inability to speak the English language and the fact that they are strangers in a strange Tand. As a class they receive the lowest scale of wages paid in the country. The first generation has little chance to advance but their children are bright and up-to-date and in a few years acquire the English language and are able to interpret for the parents. It is safe to say that they will 'make good' for themselves and their families in the second generation.
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An earnest attempt is made at the beginning of each fiscal year to ascertain what the probable expense of the department will be for the next ensuing twelve months. These estimates are based upon past experience and best knowledge and from the actual expenses of former years and are not padded in the slightest degree. Under these circumstances to cut our esti- mate for this department means inevitably a large deficit at the year's end. The outside aid in this city continues to be given in greater part to dependent widows with children and to women and children deserted by the husband and father. With the growth of large industries in our city the Poor De- partment will increase every year and careful attention must be given by the Overseer so that undesirable people who are liable to become paupers may not become charges of the City of Quincy.
The interest of the C. C. Johnson Fund which was left in trust to the Town and City of Quincy, to be expended for the deserving poor of our town or city at Thanksgiving amounts to eighty dollars. When this fund was bequeathed to the town of Quincy about 20 families were supplied. In 1909 the Overseer sent out 98 baskets and it is getting to be a hard problem to solve that no poor person may be refused. Several kind people sent me money which aided me very much in getting the necessary good things that are usually given at Thanksgiving. About 400 people in all had at least one good dinner last year.
The Charitable Societies of our city are doing a great work among the deserving poor helping those who are willing to help themselves. We have many different societies con- nected with the various churches of our city and the ladies connected with these societies deprive themselves of many social pleasures that the poor may be aided. Many families have been bridged over who but for the kindness and gener- osity of these societies would have been made paupers.
Christmas Day is the special day of the Elks Club of our city. The baskets that they give on this day are something that no other society could duplicate. It has been my pleasure on several occasions to see these baskets filled with a turkey
201
and all the good things that go with it, sparing no expense and thinking only to make these poor families happy. I am sorry to say that I am not an Elk although if I were I should not dare mention the amount of charity which they give, but as I am not could not let this opportunity pass without some mention of the fundamental principles of the order.
The Almshouse and buildings connected with it are sadly in need of repairs and painting and the longer this work is put off the greater the expense will be to put them in proper con- dition. I would recommend that a certain amount of money be appropriated this year to put them in proper condition. kindly assisted me in my duties as Overseer of the Poor for without them and the aid they have given the expense of the
I wish to take this opportunity to thank all who have so Poor Department would have been much larger.
The City of Quincy is very fortunate in having a man like Dr. H. C. Hallowell for City Physician. The inmates in the almshouse and the outside poor have the same care and atten- tion given them that they would receive from their regular family physician and you have only to know him as I have for the past two and a half years to recognize his good qualities, his charitable feelings and his great benefit to the City of Quincy.
The health of the inmates of the almshouse has been good, considering the infirmities incident to old age. The manage- ment of the home is under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Vaughan and with neatness and cleanliness dis- played at all times, it is only necessary to say that the health and comfort of the inmates is well looked after.
A detailed statement of the cost of the ahnshouse and out- side poor will be found in the following tables.
The following is the financial statement for the year :
Appropriation $12,334.85
Expended Outside Poor 7,682.50
Expended Almshouse
4,618.18
Total Expenditures to December 31, 1909 $12,300.68 Balance $34.17
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EXPENSE OF THE OUTSIDE POOR
Telephone
$103.84
Medicine
3.25
Express
.55
Carriage and ambulance service
21.50
Moving
31.50
Horse shoeing
3.50
Storage
4.00
Nursing
12.00
Medical attendance
5.00
Office expenses
74.50
Clerical services
115.10
Board
204.68
Burial
210.50
Rent
918.24
Groceries
259.62
Oil
8.00
Clothing
205.37
Coal
638.18
State institutions
243.29
Other cities and towns
1,776.08
$4,838.70
Groceries supplied from Almshouse
2,84380
Net cost of Outside Poor
$7,682.50
EXPENSES OF THE ALMSHOUSE
Telephone
$25.45
Overseer's expenses
38.50
Shoeing and repairing
112.89
Lighting
156.20
Ice
111.73
Burial
40.00
Oil
9.65
203
Express and Freight
.70
Wages of maids
372.22
Furniture
34.81
Hardware and garden supplies
125.51
Medicine
29.42
Clothing and supplies
120.13
Plumbing and repairs
28.93
Coal
471.42
Grain
499.95
Superintendent's salary
650.03
Superintendent's expenses
23.45
Fish
82.93
Veterinary services
2.00
Papers
8.50
Groceries
4,517.56
$7,461.98
Credit by supplies to Outside Poor
2,843.80
Net cost of Almshouse $4,618.18
Number of inmates, January 1, 1909 17
Number admitted during year 23
Number readmitted during vear
3
Total number during year 43
Discharged during year
24
Died during year .
2
Total 26
Number in almshouse December 31, 1909
17
Number families aided temporarily 153
Number having settlement in Quincy . 94
Number having settlement in other towns and cities 10
Number having no settlement (state charges) 49
204
Number of cases fully supported
50 In Almshouse 43
In Institutions
5
In Private Families
2
DISCHARGED
Almshouse 26
Private Families
0
Institutions
5
DIED
Almshouse 2
Private Families
2
Institutions
0
Number of cases fully supported December 31, 1909
19
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES H. ELCOCK,
Overseer of the Poor.
Report of City Physician
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1910.
To His Honor, the Mayor of Quincy :
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following as the re- port of the City Physician for the year ending December 31, 1909 :
Visits to almshouse 37
Visits to outside poor 145
Cases of childbirth 3
Office visits and vaccinations
80
Visits to police station 24
Deaths 3
Very respectfully,
HENRY C, HALLOWELL, M. D.,
City Physician.
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Public Burial Places
Quincy, Mass., January 1, 1910
To His Honor, the Mayor of the City of Quincy :
The managers of Public Burial Places herewith submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1909 :
The annual appropriation ordered by the City Council for the maintenance of the cemeteries, has been expended under the direction of this Board, for the purchase of necessary equip- ments and tools, the general care of lots and avenues, grading and plotting sections of unimproved land in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery.
The income from the Charles E. French fund, the only money at the disposal of the Board for this purpose, has been expended on the care of the Hancock Cemetery.
The resources, expenditures and receipts of the depart- ment for the year 1909 are as follows:
Resources Expenditures Balance
Appropriation, 1909 $4,000.00
Balance appropriation, 1908
176.22
Receipts from foundations and regrading 888.20
Income from the several
funds
1,174.31
Total
$6,238.73
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208
Pay rolls, labor $4,097.21 Salaries 1,125.00
Equipment and maintenance
730.83
Office supplies and maintenance
84.62
Total
$6,037.66
Unexpended
$201.07
Receipts Paid into City Treasury
Care of lots $1,506.00
Sale of lots and graves 2.175.00
Opening graves 1,014.75
Foundations and regrading
888.20
Income from trust funds
1,174.31
Miscellaneous 96.50
Total $6,854.76
Excess of rec'ts over expenditures
$817.10
Perpetual Care Fund
Amount of fund Dec. 31, 1908 $26,063.00
Plus accrued interest 1,048.25
Plus amount added during the year 1,475.00
Total $28,586.25
Less amount paid for care of lots 1,048.25
Amount of fund Dec. 31, 1909 $27,538.00
C. C. Johnson Fund
Amount of fund Dec. 31, 1908
$150.00
Plus accrued interest 6.06
156.06
Less amount paid for care of lots
6.06
Amount of fund Dec, 31, 1909
$150.00
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Charles E. French Fund
Amount of fund Dec. 31, 1908 $3,000.00 Plus accrued interest 120.00
$3,120.00
Less amount expended on Hancock
Cemetery 120.00
Amount of fund Dec. 31, 1909 $3,000.00
STATISTICS
Total number of interments 254
Mt. Wollaston Cemetery
253
Hancock Cemetery
1
Adults
161
Under 21 years of age
93
Died in Quincy
181
Died in other places
73
Total lots cared for
802
By perpetual eare
202
By yearly contract
600
Respectfully submitted,
A. W. FAY, Chairman, W. W. MITCHELL, Clerk. JOHN Q. CUDWORTH, ALFRED O. DIACK,
JOSEPH H. VOGEL, OTTO GELOTTE.
Report of City Solicitor
Quincy, Mass., February 1, 1910.
Hon. William T. Shea, Mayor.
Dear Sir: I herewith submit the report of my depart- ment for the year ending February 1st, 1910.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
During the past year I represented the City at hearings given by Legislative Committees on the following bills :
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