USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Randolph > Randolph town reports 1901-1906 > Part 33
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Voted, unanimously, to accept the report of the committee.
Article 4. To hear the reports of the town officers, and act thereon.
Voted, that action under this Article be postponed until all the other Articles of the warrant have been disposed of.
* Elected.
t Oath of office taken.
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Article 5. To raise such sums of money as may be deemed necessary for the support of schools, and appropriate the same.
Voted, that the sum of $12,280 be raised and appropriated as follows :
For teaching
. $7,780 00
care of rooms
600 00
fuel
600 00
books and supplies
900 00
miscellaneous, incidental and general repairs,
800 00
Superintendent of Schools
600 00
Stetson High School
2,200 00
$13,480 00
Less the following estimates :
Revenue from dog tax, State School
Fund and Coddington fund $700 00
State, for Superintendent of Schools, 300 00
State, for salary of teachers 200 00
1,200 00
Total
. $12,280 00
And in addition thereto, that the Treasurer be instructed to pay to the trustees for the support of said Stetson High School the amount of bank tax received by him and arising from the investment known as the Stetson School Fund.
It is also voted that the Treasurer, with approval of the Selectmen, be authorized and directed to borrow upon notes of the Town of Randolph such sums of money, not exceeding three thousand dollars, as may be required to pay the expenses incurred for the support of schools, including Stetson High School, from January 1, 1905, to March 1, 1905, and that said notes thus issued shall be a part of and be paid from
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the money raised and appropriated for the support of schools for the year 1905.
Article 6. To raise money to defray the general town expenses for the current year, and appropriate the same.
Voted, that the sum of $15,005 be raised and appropriated as follows :
Miscellaneous expenses $1,600 00
Poor in almshouse 1,800 00
Poor out of almshouse 2,500 00
Soldiers' relief
500 00
Soldiers' relief in Randolph and Holbrook 500 00
Military aid .
200 00
Town officers
2,400 00
Board of Health
200 00
Interest on town debt
2,400 00
Lockup expenses
200 00
Expenses of Tree Warden
100 00
Births, marriages, deaths and court fees
125 00
Reduction of Town Debt.
Town note (highway plant), vote 1898
500 00
Town note, vote 1899
850 00
Town note, vote 1900
630 00
Town note (fire alarm), vote 1900 ·
500 00
Total
. $15,005 00
Also that the interest on the taxes and deposits during the year 1904 be appropriated towards the payment of interest on the town debt. Also that the overlay tax of the current year be appropriated towards meeting any abatement of taxes which may be allowed.
Article 7. To raise money for the repairs of highways, and determine the manner of expending the same.
Voted, that the sum of $3,000 be raised and appropriated
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for the repairs of highways, including sidewalks, paving and removal of snow, and, in addition thereto, the street railway tax and excise tax for the current year, the same to be expended under the direction of the Selectmen.
Also that the sum of $1000 be raised and appropriated to defray the expense already incurred for the removal of the snow of the present year.
Article 8. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for lighting the streets by electricity.
Voted, that the sum of $3300, less the amount of rebate now in the treasury, $153.00, be raised and appropriated for said purpose, and no more.
Article 9. To see if the town will vote to pay the insur- ance on the Town Treasurer's bond for the year 1904-1905, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that the town pay for the insurance on the Town Treasurer's bond for the year 1904-1905, and that the sun of $120 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 11. To see what compensation the town will allow for the collection of taxes.
Voted, that three-fourths of one per cent be allowed for the collection of taxes.
Article 12. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to medical attendance on the poor, and raise and appro- priate money therefor.
Voted, that the sum of $300 be raised and appropriated for said purpose, said sum to be apportioned equally among the several physicians, and to be in full for attendance upon all persons under the care of the Overseers of the Poor, whose settlement and residence is in the Town of Randolph, for one year from January 1, 1904. That is to say, each physician resident in the town on the first of March, 1904, shall receive the sum of $50 for his services provided he makes fifty visits during the year ; after that he shall receive
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no compensation for his services, but shall attend such of this town's poor within its limits as may call upon him for his services ; those physicians who make less than fifty visits shall receive pay at the rate of one dollar for each of said visits.
Article 13. To see if the town will instruct the Select- men to appoint special officers to enforce the laws, and raise and appropriate money for the payment of such officers.
Voted, that the town instruct the Selectmen to appoint special officers, or direct officers elected by the town, to enforce all the laws of the Commonwealth, and that the sum of $700 be raised and appropriated for said purpose.
Article 14. To see if the town will raise and appropriate money to pay for the insurance on the Turner Free Library building.
Voted, that the sum of $393 be raised and appropriated for the payment of said insurance.
Article 15. To see if the town will vote to place a fire alarm box on High street at its junction with Canton street, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that a fire alarm box be placed at or near the junction of High and Canton streets, and that the sum of $150 be raised and appropriated therefor.
Article 16. To see what sum of money the town will raise and contribute to the Sinking Fund as required by law to meet the payments of the Randolph Water Loan.
Voted, that the sum of $2700 be raised and contributed to the Sinking Fund to meet the payment of the Randolph Water Loan when due.
Article 17. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for water for hydrants, street service, pub- lic buildings, drinking fountains and cemeteries.
Voted, that the sum of $2,000 be raised and appropriated
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for hydrants, street service, public buildings, drinking foun- tains and cemeteries.
Article 18. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the Fire Department, and raise and appropriate money therefor.
Voted, that the sum of $2261 be raised and appropriated as follows :
Miscellaneous expenses .
$1,100 00
Pay of 48 men, $12 each
576 00
Pay of 48 men, hour service
275 00
Fires in woodland .
100 00
Fire alarm
175 00
Engineer of steamer
20 00
Fireman of steamer
15 00
Total
$2,261 00
Article 19. To see if the town will make an appropriation for the decoration of soldiers' graves under the direction of Captain Horace Niles Post 110, G. A. R.
Voted, that the sum of $100 be raised and appropriated for said purpose.
Article 21. To see if the town will raise money to convey pupils to and from the public schools in such cases as the School Board may deem expedient.
Voted, that the sum of $80 be raised and appropriated to convey pupils to and from the public schools in such cases as the School Board may deem expedient.
Article 22. To see if the town will vote to place addi- tional lights on Allen street, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, that action under this article be indefinitely post- poned.
Article 23. To see it the town will authorize the Collector
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of Taxes to charge interest at the rate of six per cent per annum on all taxes remaining unpaid on and after October 10, 1904.
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes be so authorized.
Article 24. To see if the town will authorize the Col- lector of Taxes to use the same means which a town treas- urer may use when acting as collector.
Voted, that the Collector of Taxes be so authorized.
Article 28. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Water Commissioners to extend the water main from its present terminus on Cross street to the residence of James Gibson on Grove street, and make provision for the payment of the same, as petitioned for by Peter M. Gibson and others.
Voted, that no action be taken on this article.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to build an addi- tion to the North Grammar School, as recommended by the School Committee, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
1
Voted, that the sum of $900 be raised and appropriated to build an addition to the North Grammar schoolhouse, as recommended by the School Committee.
Article 30. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the pay of laborers employed by the town.
Voted, that each person employed by the town shall receive $2.00 per day ; that the town shall pay $3.50 per day for a man and one horse, and $5.00 per day for a man and two horses ; and that the laborers residing in town and residents owning teams shall be employed in preference to any others.
Article 31. To see what action the town will take in rela- tion to the care of clocks in the spires of the Congregational and First Baptist Churches, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, that the sum of $40 be raised and appropriated for
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the care of clocks in the spires of the Congregational and First Baptist Churches.
Article 32. To see if the town vote to build an addition to the Stetson Hall building for the accommodation of the Stetson High School, as recommended by the trustees, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Under this article the committee reported that the subject- matter thereof is of such magnitude and importance as to require more time for investigation and deliberation.
Voted, that they have until April 18, 1904, at the hour of 7.30 o'clock P. M., to report on this article, and that for such purpose, when the remaining business reported by your committee shall have been considered and completed, this annual meeting of the town be again adjourned to the time suggested.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to instruct the Water Commissioners to extend the water main from Oak- land Cemetery along Oak street to the residence of Weston L. Mann on said Oak street, and make provision for the payment of the same, as petitioned for by Weston L. Mann and others.
Under this article a motion to instruct the Water Com- missioners to extend the water main on Oak street was de- feated, thereby dismissing the article. .
Article 34. To see if the town will vote to make repairs on the almshouse, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, that the sum of $200 be raised and appropriated for repairs on the almshouse.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to put in sprinkler hydrants, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Voted, that no action be taken under this article at this time.
Article 36. To see if the town will vote to accept the pro-
172
visions of Chapter 25, Section 22, of the Revised Laws, being an act empowering towns to provide for the watering of streets.
Voted, that no action be taken under this article at this time.
Article 37. To hear and act on the report of any com- mittee, and choose any committee the town may think proper.
No committee reported.
Voted, that a committee of five be appointed by the Mod- erator to revise the town by-laws.
Committee :
John V. Beal.
Winthrop B. Atherton. James Molloy.
Daniel J. Brennan. Thomas B. Jones.
Voted, to adjourn to April 18, 1904, at 7.30 P. M.
The total appropriations to be raised by taxation the pres- ent year are as follows :
For support of schools, under Article 5 . . $12,280 00
general town expenses, under Article 6 . 15,005 00
highways, under Article 7 ·
4,000 00 street lighting by electricity, under Article 8, 3,147 00 insurance on Town Treasurer's bond, under Article 9 120 00 medical attendance on the poor, under Article 12, 300 00 enforcement of laws, under Article 13 700 00 insurance on Turner Free Library building, under Article 14 . 393 00
fire alarm box at High and Canton streets, under Article 15 . 150 00
contribution to Sinking Fund, under Article 16 2,700 00
water for hydrants, public buildings, etc., under Article 17 . 2,000 00
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For Fire Department, under Article 18 . $2,261 00
Grand Army Post No. 110, under Article 19,
100 00
conveyance of pupils, under Article 21
80 00
addition to North Grammar schoolhouse, under Article 29 .
900 00
care of clocks, under Article 31
40 00
repairs on the almshouse, under Article 34,
200 00
$44,376 00
State tax
1,825 00
County tax
1,654 46
State highway tax .
69 15
Total
. $47,924 61
A true record.
Attest : JOSEPH T. LEAHY, Town Clerk.
ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING.
RANDOLPH, April 18, 1904.
The annual town meeting adjourned from March 21, 1904, to this date was called to order by the Moderator at 7.30 o'clock P. M.
A recess was declared until 8 o'clock to allow all persons opportunity to read the printed report of the committee in relation to the matter of a new High School building or remodeling the present building.
At 8 o'clock the meeting was again called to order, and the Moderator, under Article 32 of the warrant, called for action upon the report of the committee, which was as fol- lows :
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To the Voters of Randolph:
Your committee to whom was granted further time to report on Article 32 of the annual town meeting warrant, have considered the same, and submit the following report :
Article 32 is as follows : "To see if the town will vote to build an addition to the Stetson Hall building for the accom- modation of the Stetson High School, as recommended by the trustees, and raise and appropriate money for the same."
At the hearings of your committee there was submitted and exhibited a plan of the proposed addition, which con- sisted of a new one-story building to be placed on the site of what was formerly the Samuel Bass dwelling-house, and to be connected with the Town House by means of a section which would be utilized for ante-rooms. The expense of the structure was estimated to be from six to eight thousand dollars.
If this site is to be appropriated for schoolhouse purposes it must be borne in mind that several years ago it was pur- chased at a cost of $2500. This would make the cost of such accommodations for school purposes approximately $10,000.
Assuming the proposition to be an acceptable one, and the same completed in accordance with the designs of the architect, let us picture or photograph to the mind the build- ing as it would appear, and what shall we have? Simply a Town House with an annex. As such, would it not fall far short of what the age and exigencies of the situation demand ? Would the visitor who comes to share our hospitalities ever imagine such a building to be a schoolhouse? Would such an annex check the frequent inquiry, "Where is your High School ?"
Under such conditions, your committee are met with the questions, " Would the construction of such an addition to the Town House, with the limited advantages to be derived
.
175
therefrom, justify such an expense?" Or, as advocated by many, " would it not be wiser to abandon the whole proposi- tion and seek a new site, where the money which the town might decide to appropriate would yield a result commen- surate with that enjoyed by most, if not all, of our neighbor- ing towns ?"
The latter suggestion is not within the province of your committee to discuss, because the subject-matter of the arti- cle does not embrace it. It is sufficient here to say that, if such a proposition is to be entertained, it should be presented under an article sufficiently broad to enable the question to be discussed in all its relations, and this would require the call of a new meeting.
In another aspect of the situation it may be claimed that the Bass house site was purchased to enlarge the Town House lot, that better accommodations might be enjoyed by those of the public having occasion to use the same. It certainly would be more consistent with the uses and pur- poses for which the Town House was erected if the area upon which it stands was cleared of the buildings surround- ing it, and a carriage way and lawn substituted in such manner as to present a more attractive and perhaps more ornamental appearance than it now does.
In the proposition we are considering there is another feature which has claimed the attention of your committee more than any other, and that is this: Has the town the right to raise money by taxation to be appropriated towards building a schoolhouse for a school which does not fall within the spirit and plan of our public school system as provided by law. The case of Jenkins et ali. vs. Inhabit- ants of Andover et ali., found in the 103 of the Mass. Reports, page 94, is very similar to the one before us, and the reasonings followed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judical Court in that case are extremely analogous to those
176
which would be pursued in our own case, because the facts of the two cases are so similar. In that case, even the assistance of the legislature was sought, but it availed nothing, as the court regarded the act unconstitutional.
Another factor which requires recognition in this case may be found in the language of the donation of the late Maj. Amasa Stetson (see records of the Town Clerk for the year 1842).
Among the numerous provisions which the donation con- tains, all descriptive of how the school shall be managed, your committee would quote but two, as these seem most relevant to the situation, viz. :
"Second-The interest income of said funds shall be under the absolute control of a Board of Trustees herein- after provided for, subject at all times to the examination of the Inhabitants of the said Town by their Committee appointed for that purpose and shall by them be appropri- ated (after deducting the expenses of Insurance and perfect repairs of Stetson Hall) towards the support of said High School, to be forever kept in the rooms of said Stetson Hall or in case of the alienation or destruction of said Stetson Hall from any cause whatever, then in some other building on or near said spot."
"Tenth-In default of the fulfillment of the spirit and intention of this communication or in case of the wilful alienation or appropriation of this fund or the income thereof to any purpose foreign to the wishes of the Donor, as herein expressed, the said fund shall revert to a Board of Trustees to be appointed by act or resolve of the Legisla- ture of the Commonwealth, whose duty it shall be to recover and keep in trust the said fund and to appropriate the income thereof as near as circumstances may admit in effect- ing the objects of the donor, as herein expressed and under such restrictions as the Honorable Legislature in their wis- dom may deem expedient."
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More than forty years ago Setson High School was con- sidered to have outlived its usefulness (see report of School Committee, year 1859-1860) and to remedy the detriment which the school, as then regarded, was imposing upon the community, the town commenced to contribute to its ex- penses, and thereby changed its characteristics in a marked degree, which have been sustained to the present day. This contribution began with the sum of $300. It has now reached the sum of $2200. While this contribution has all the while been open to the same objection as pointed out in the above named case of Jenkins vs. Andover, yet by com- mon consent it has been allowed to continue in order that the town might have the benefit of the income of the fund. To speak briefly, it is sufficient to say that for the last forty-four years the town's appropriation has been following the Stetson School Fund. The question may be asked without impropriety, is it not about time to reverse the order and have the Stetson School Fund follow the appro- priation of the town ? As before stated, it is not within the province of the duties of this committee to consider the accomplishment of measures which are not embodied in the article under consideration.
We live in an age in which we are expected to keep pace with the times.
We therefore support water works and street lighting and a fire alarm, and much more that increases the rate of taxation, not wholly because of the advantages to be received therefrom, but partly because our neighboring towns afford such facilities. But in providing school-houses we may be regarded as having fallen in the rear. For a period of nearly fifty years we have built but two school-houses, namely, the Prescott in 1867 and the West Corner in 1892.
That the town by comparison may measure its doings in the direction of providing school-houses, your committee
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have thought that it might prove profitable to present what some other towns have done in the last twenty-five years. A partial list is as follows :
Abington
$67,800 00
Avon
1896
7,500 00
Braintree
1892-'00
78,000 00
Canton
26,000 00
Cohasset
51,200 00
Foxboro
1887-'03
53,600 00
Franklin
1880-93
39,300 00
Holbrook
1882-'02
28,800 00
Needham .
18,700 00
Norwood
1884-'03
72,000 00
Rockland .
25,100,00
Sharon
.
1898-'00
20,500 00
Stoughton
1892-'03
41,500 00
Walpole
1885-'04
37,000 00
Weymouth
1881-'02
128,900 00
That our High School should be provided with rooms affording better light and other qualities conducive to the comfort and healthfulness of its pupils to the mind of your committee admits of no doubt, but for reasons already stated they do not favor the plan of remedy suggested under Arti- cle 32, and therefore recommend that the matter in the form as it now stands be indefinitely postponed.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN V. BEAL, JAMES E. BLANCHE, JOHN H. FIELD, RUFUS A. THAYER,
THOMAS J. KIERNAN,
EDWARD H. MCMAHON,
FRANK C. GRANGER,
Committee.
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Article 32. Voted, in accordance with the foregoing recom- mendation that the subject-matter of this article be indefi- nitely postponed.
Article 4. Voted, that the annual reports of the town officers for the year 1903 be accepted.
Voted, unanimously, that the Selectmen be instructed to pay the sum of twenty-five dollars to John T. Flood, Mod- erator, for his services.
Mr. Flood, having expressed his thanks, directed the Treasurer to pay that amount to Post 110, G. A. R., for its monument fund.
The following resolution was unanimously adopted :
" Resolved, that we, the voters of Randolph, in town meet- ing assembled, extend our thanks to John V. Beal, Thomas J. Kiernan, John H. Field, James E. Blanche, Rufus A. Thayer, Frank C. Granger, M. D., and Edward H. McMahon, the Committee on Appropriations, for the care and delibera- tion exhibited in their recommendations for the disposal of the articles referred to them at the annual town meeting, March 7, 1904."
Voted, at 8.15 o'clock P. M., to dissolve the meeting.
A true record.
Attest : JOSEPH T. LEAHY, Town Clerk.
TOWN MEETING WARRANT.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Randolph in said County, GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Randolph, qualified to vote in town affairs, to
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assemble in Stetson Hall, in said town, on Monday, the fifteenth day of August, instant, at 7.30 o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meet- ing.
Article 2. To see if the town will accept the locating and laying out of a new street from North Main street to Cross street, as laid out by the Selectmen, and raise and appropri- ate money to build the same.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof at five or more public places in said town seven days at least before the day and hour of holding said meeting, and by publishing the same in the " Randolph Register and Holbrook News", a newspaper published in said Randolph.
Hereof fail not, and make return of this warrant with your doings thereon to the Town Clerk on or before the day and hour appointed for said meeting.
Given under our hands at Randolph this first day of August A. D. one thousand nine hundred and four.
WINTHROP B. ATHERTON, CHARLES H. THAYER, JOHN E. McDONALD, Select men of Randolph.
OFFICER'S RETURN.
NORFOLK, SS. RANDOLPH, August 10th, 1904.
Pursuant to the within warrant, I have notified the inhab- itants of the Town of Randolph herein described to meet at the time and place and for the purpose within mentioned, by posting up attested copies of this warrant at nine public places in said town ten days before the time set for holding
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said meeting. And I have likewise caused the substance of said warrant to be published in the "Randolph Register and Holbrook News ", a newspaper printed in said town.
FRANK W. HARRIS, Constable.
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
RANDOLPH, August 15, 1904.
Pursuant to the preceding warrant, the voters of Randolph assembled in Stetson Hall, on Monday evening, August 15, 1904, at 7.30 o'clock.
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