USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1900 > Part 11
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1 91
Arlington Water Works, fitting
16 74
I. N. Randlet, fittings
2 00
Pierce & Cox, fittings .
20 80
Charles G. Craib, labor .
27 75
Sundry Persons, costs on water rates
86 00
23,400 50
$68,427 61
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers .
$24,018 89
Frank E. Merrill, salary as water com- missioner
2,300 00
disbursements
178 18
Florence E. Barton, first assistant clerk to commissioner
780 00
V. Florence Walker, second clerk to commissioner .
assistant
600 00
Edward M. Shedd, inspector
1,200 00
S. E. Hayden, engineer disbursements
4 38
G. W. Ladd & Co., hay
375 18
Fulton O'Brion, hay .
193 82
Nathan Tufts & Sons, grain
128 35
J. F. Emerson, salt hay
8 00
Amounts carried forward
$30,703 48
$68,427 61
·
$21,540 69 17 80
$45,027 11
916 68
143
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
$68,427 61
Amounts brought forward .
$30,703 48
I. B. Walker, horseshoeing
95 36
Edward O'Brien, horseshoeing
28 38
John B. Rufer, horseshoeing
11 45
F. E. Flaherty & Co., horseshoeing
1 50
M. E. Crouse, horseshoeing
2 75
E. Spalding, harness work
71 05
D. J. Bennett, harness work
40
Hale & Mayhew Co., repairing wagons .
110 15
F. Ivers & Son, repairing wagons
1 50
Charles E. Berry, labor
1 25
Charles R. Simpson, veterinary services
3 50
Elias Lathrop, ointment
4 00
Russell & Co., oatmeal
5 25
W. A. Snow & Co., salt
4 80
C. H. Paine, horse medicine
2.00
Miller & Shaw, blacksmithing
16 64
Houghton & Dutton, horse
135 00
Frank W. Leavitt, wagon
100 00
S. W. Fuller, lumber .
89 66
Teele & Foster Lumber Co., lumber
61 35
W. L. Snow, hardware
39 21
Howe & Flint, hardware
51 50
W. E. Plumer & Co., hardware and tools
246 98
Underhill Hardware Co., tools
83 28
Charles L. Underhill, tools
47 00
Perrin. Seamans, & Co., tools
50 29
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., tools
48 81
Ames Plow Co., tools
16 85
Wellman Sole Cutting Machine Co., re- pairing tools
1 25
Walworth Mfg. Co., repairing tools .
2 44
F. Dooris, repairing tools
257 12
Herbert Wood, repairing tools
2 60
Alden E. Viles, plumbing
1 30
Osgood & Hart, castings
1,095 50
Builders' Iron Foundry, castings
1,622 64
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., castings
266 22
R. D. Wood & Co., pipe
13,372 15
U. S. Cast Iron Pipe & Foundry Co., pipe
5,231 93
Boston Lead Mfg. Co, pipe
450 93
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co .. pipe
715 75
George D. Goodrich & Co., drain pipe
14 93
Neptune Meter Co., meter gears
8 78
Henry C. Hunt & Co., leather pieces
27 50
James H. Roberts & Co., belt lace
75
Richards & Co, lead
863 93
Braman, Dow, & Co., fittings
960 55
Union Water Meter Co., fittings
545 60
Sumner & Goodwin Co., fittings
441 54
Norwood Engineering Co., fittings Edgar Hall, fittings
62 49
I. G. Marston & Co., fittings
14 40
Pettingell-Andrews Co., fittings
3 28
Hersey Mfg. Co., fittings
3 07
William P. Clark, service stock
9 60
New England Oil Co., oil
68 38
Amounts carried forward
$58,239 08
$68,427 61
.
.
21 06
144
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward
$58,239 08
$68,427 61
I. H. Wiley & Co., oil
35 53
William F. Low, oil .
19 52
Yerxa's Boston Branch, oil
91
Globe Gas Light Co., gasoline
13 10
American Powder Mills, dynamite
24 50
George H. Sampson, plats
3 38
Gould & Cutler, varnish
3 25
F. W. Gilbert, rubber boots
20 25
Alfred Hale & Co., rubber gloves
2 50
A. M. Wood Co., band iron, etc.
12 38
M. D. Jones & Co., sprinklers .
4 62
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., repairing hydrants
72 61
John P. Wahlstrom & Son, painting
3 50
Boston Steam Pump Repair & Supply Co., repairing pump
19 18
Harrington, King, & Co., packing
:57
W. A. Morrison, packing
36
William R. Maxwell, bricks
75 35
Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co., charts .
8 50
Andrew J. Lloyd & Co., instruments
31 00
Rensselaer Manufacturing Co., valves
1,286 25
Coffin Valve Co., valves £
200 90
The Fairbanks Co., valves
76 95
Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., gaskets
25 16
Cornelius Callahan ·
Co., repairing
hose
1 00
A. P. Simpson, loam
10 00
M. A. Simpson, sand
22 50
T. Allen, concreting
12 00
J. W. Howard, plants
82 64
P. Lacey, mason work
15 00
Simpson Bros. Corporation, stone work .
649 48
Mitchell Mfg. Co., badges
4 80
Charles F. Merrill, sign boards
10 25
Thomas Groom & Co., books .
210 12
F. S. Blanchard & Co., book
3 00
William G. Johnston Co., order
&
holder
6 00
Somerville Journal Co., printing
111 15
The Citizen Co., printing .
91 00
"Fire & Water," advertising
33 00
Tradesman Publishing Co., advertising .
28 00
Manufacturers' Record Pub. Co., adver- tising
25 00
ing and subscription
29 00
Municipal Engineering Co., subscrip- tion
2 00
E C. Hartshorn, photographs
21 25
T. S. Buck, stamp
90
Irving W. Wheeler & Co., flag
7 88
Fresh Pond Ice Co., ice
102 70
Cambridge Ice Co., ice
46 90
Wellington-Wild Coal Co., fuel
1,893 75
Highland Coal Co., cement
72 68
Frank A. Teele, wood
25 40
Amounts carried forward
. $63,710 75
$68,427 61
$
Engineering News Pub. Co., advertis- ·
·
·
145
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward .
$63,710 75 $68,427 61
Charles Booth, wood
24 00
Somerville Electric Light Co., lighting .
125 02
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., rentals and tolls
248 17
Boston & Maine railroad, freight
262 30
Gilman Express Co., expressing
3 16
E. R. Perham, expressing
80
G. H. Towle, expressing
50
Boston Elevated Railway Co., tickets
149 25
J. F. Elkins, teaming
46 44
City of Somerville, water
77 50
Water Works Extension, amount trans- ferred
3,000 00
Excess and Deficiency, balance to credit of account .
708 02
$68,427 61
Water Service Assessments.
CREDIT.
Cash, received of sundry persons, water services
$4,315 06
DEBIT.
Water Services, pipes laid in 1900 $4,287 95
27 11
$4,315 06
Water. Services.
CREDIT.
Water Service Assessments, cost of services laid
$4,287 95
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers $1,786 99
Water Maintenance account, stock and
. 2,500 96
$4,287 95
Water Works, Abatements on Water Charges.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$1,000 00
DEBIT.
Cash, paid sundry persons, money refunded. $430 42 Water Works Income, balance of appro- priation returned · 569 58 ·
$1,000 00
1 70
Glines & Co., expressing
70 00
Highways Maintenance, crushed stone
$64,719 59
$67,719 59
Balance transferred
teaming . .
146
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Water Works Extension.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$20,000 00
Water Works Income, amount transferred . 2,000 00
Water Maintenance, amount transferred 3,000 00
Cash, received of Highways, Watering Streets, water post.
55 20
$25,055 20
DEBIT.
Cash, paid laborers
$9,802 66
Hersey Mfg. Co., meter and connections .
395 00
Rensselaer Mfg. Co., hydrant .
29 00
A. P. Smith Mfg. Co., plug
1 00
James H. Roberts & Co., machinery and belting
77 28
Pratt & Whitney Co., shaft
3 50
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., tools, etc.
22 44
William H. Fields, tools
12 00
I. H. Brown Moulding Co., lumber
2.61
M. A. Simpson, sand
50
Boston & Maine Railroad, labor
20 02
Metropolitan Water Board, water pipe
30 70
Water Maintenance account, stock
14,530 35
$24,927 06
Excess and Deficiency, balance to credit of
account
128 14
$25,055 20
Water Works Income.
CREDIT.
Metered Water Charges, water bills uncollected Sewers Maintenance account, amount transferred
146 16
Water Works. Abatements on Water Charges, balance of appropriation returned
569 58
Cash, received of sundry water takers
$209,007 31
State of Massachusetts, Metropolitan
Water Assessment, rebate on water receipts
45 42
209,052 73
$223,367 57
DEBIT.
Water Maintenance account, amount appro- priated
$45,000 00
Water Loan Interest, amount appropriated .
9,502 50
Reduction of Funded Debt, Water Loan Bonds, amount appropriated
32,500 00
Reduction of Funded Debt, Sewer Loan Bonds, amount appropriated
8,000 00
Amounts carried forward
$95,002 50
$223,367 57
$13,599 10
147
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
$95,002 50
$223,367 57
Water Works Extension, amount
Water Works, Abatements on Water
Charges, amount appropriated
1,000 00
Sewers Maintenance, amount appro-
priated
9,000 00
Sewers Construction, amount appropriated .
24,151 12
Interest account, Sewer Loan Bonds,
amount appropriated . .
6,240 00
Water Works Extension, amount ferred
2,000 00
State of Massachusetts, Metropolitan Water Assessment, amount appropriated 28,689 24
Reduction of Funded Debt, amount trans- ferred
37,284 71
$223,367 57
TABLE D .- BALANCES DECEMBER 31, 1900.
Cash
$103,858 87
Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings
8,302 44
Highways, Boston Avenue Bridge
2,292 32
Highways, Paving Davis Square
316 80
Metered Water Charges .
13,599 10
Highway Betterment Assessments
931 99
Public Library
8 01
Public Property
2,990,378 92
Real Estate Liens
2,740 09
Sewer Assessments
11,459 83
Sidewalk Assessments
10,941 63
State of Massachusetts, Soldiers' Burials
420 00
State of Massachusetts, Military Aid
341 50
State of Massachusetts, State Aid .
11,254 00
Taxes
374,729 29
Excess and Deficiency
$10,042 98 297 25
Fire Department, Fire Apparatus for Ladder Two Station
2 72
Funded Debt
1,478,000 00
Highways, Construction
1,123 73
Highways, Maintenance
40,402 45
Highways, Paving Cross Street
12,000 00
Highways; Paving Washington Street
212 46
Overlay and Abatement
15,964 11
Overplus on Tax sales
868 13
Powder House Boulevard
687 78
Property and Debt Balance
1,512,378 92
Public Grounds, Land for Park Purposes
1,500 00
Public Grounds, Athletic Field in Ward Seven .
3,000 00
Public Grounds, Athletic Apparatus
1,000 00
Public Grounds, Land on Prospect Hill for Park Purposes
15,000 00
Public Library Addition
133 76
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund,
Poetry
1,000 00
Amounts carried forward . . $3,531,574 79
$3,093,614 29
trans-
Amounts brought forward . . appro- priated . 20,000 00
Fire Department, Fire Station No. 1
148
ANNUAL REPORTS.
$3,531,574 79 $3,093,614 29
Amounts brought forward
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Art
4,000 00
Schoolhouse, O. S. Knapp, Improvements
28 52
Schoolhouse, Ward Seven
21,995 73
Schoolhouse, Charles G. Pope, Improve- ments
101 62
Schoolhouse, Highland, Sanitary
·
21 36
Schoolhouse in Ward Two
14,368 91
Sewers Construction
15,456 99
Sidewalks Construction .
669 03
Sundry Persons
25,586 10
Support of Poor, Almshouse
5,732 25
Temporary Loans .
350,000 00
$3,531,574 79
$3,531,574 79
APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT.
In Committee on Finance, March 25, 1901.
To the Board of Aldermen of Somerville :-
The Committee on Finance, to which was referred the report of the City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for the year 1900, together with the report of the expert employed to audit the books of said officer for the year 1900, and a communication from His Honor the Mayor, trans- mitting the expert's report to the Board of Aldermen, reports that the committee has, in conjunction with the City Auditor, made an examina- tion of the books and accounts of the Treasurer and Collector, comparing them with the books of the Auditor, and with the statements received from the several boards and officers of the city, under Section 5 of Chap- ter 4 of the Revised Ordinances of 1900. The cash balance has been veri- fied by counting the cash in hand.
The Committee recommends that the Treasurer's report be accepted and printed in the Annual Report of 1900, and that this report and the communication from His Honor the Mayor, before referred to, be also printed in connection therewith.
ARTHUR P. VINAL,
WILLIAM H. CUSHMAN,
Committee
JAMES F. REYNOLDS,
JAMES W. KENNEY,
RANSOM D. WENTWORTH, Finance.
SAMUEL T. LITTLEFIELD,
In Board of Aldermen, April 3, 1901. Accepted.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, City Clerk.
MAYOR'S OFFICE, March 20, 1901
To the Honorable the Board of Aldermen :-
Gentlemen: I transmit herewith the report of William Franklin Hall, expert auditor and accountant, upon his recent examination of the City Treasurer's books for the year 1900. It affords me great satisfaction, as I am sure it will every member of your Honorable Board, to learn that all the accounts of the department have been found correct, barring the almost insignificant overplus of one cent.
The result of the examination is practically what was anticipated. There was no presumption whatever upon my part that the Treasurer's
149
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
accounts would be found anything but correct, nor was there any general demand by the property owners of the city for an examination of this kind. It was simply for the reason that, at the time of the transfer of the administration of the department, there was no exhaustive audit of the accounts, and owing to the fact that during that part of last year in which Mr. Cole held office his health was so poor as to forbid, for much of the time, his personal attention to the affairs of the office, that it was deemed advisable, as a matter of good business judgment simply, to have an ex- pert examination of the accounts for the year 1900.
Somerville has always been so fortunate in the faithfulness and effi- ciency of its treasury officials as to obviate any possibility of such a de- mand. To our first City Treasurer, Aaron Sargent, belongs the credit of laying the foundation of the excellent system of the department. After ten years of arduous labor for the city's well-being, Mr. Sargent was obliged to retire from office on account of failing health, but thanks to rest and good care, he has in recent years recovered his vigor, and is now, retired from the cares of active business, passing his latter years in comparative ease, and enjoying a well-earned leisure.
John F. Cole came to the office with a distinguished financial career, and for nearly twenty years conducted the affairs of the department upon sound business principles, and executed the city's business with rare judgment. His long term stands as an honor and credit to himself and to the city. Mr. Cole's retirement, necessitated by the exhaustion at- tendant upon long and exacting service, was universally regretted, and an appreciative city hopes for the early and complete restoration of his health and strength, that he may enjoy the high esteem in which he is held.
During the interval between the termination of Mr. Cole's active ser- vice and the assumption of the office by the new Treasurer, the work of the department progressed without interruption, under the careful over- sight of His Honor Mayor Proctor. The excellent manner in which the work was performed was due, in a very large measure, to the capable management of the first assistant clerk, Miss Beulah M. Peirce, who had received years of careful training under Mr. Cole's administration. The department is now, and has always been, most fortunate in the efficiency and faithfulness of its numerous clerical force.
Treasurer James F. Beard, upon his election last fall, came well equipped to handle the great burden of the finances of our rapidly- growing municipality. His years of experience in banking have reflected credit upon him as a financier, and the few months of his administration have demonstrated his superior fitness for the City Treasurership. I trust it will be many years before he finds the cares unduly wearing upon him.
The Auditor's report contains words of commendation of the depart- ment, which, coming from so excellent an authority as Mr. Hall, are very gratifying. Respectfully,
EDWARD GLINES, Mayor.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
City of Somerville.
School Committee Rooms, December 31, 1900.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the. opinions or recommendations made therein; and that the Committee on Supplies be authorized to print 1,000 copies for public circulation.
G. A. SOUTHWORTH, Secretary of School Board.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1900.
JAMES F. BEARD, till August 27,
Chairman
S. NEWTON CUTLER, from September 24,
Chairman
S. NEWTON CUTLER, till September 24, . GEORGE A. MILES, from September 24,
Vice-Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Members.
WARD ONE.
Term expires January.
46 Mt. Vernon street. 1901
28 Flint street. 1902
WARD TWO.
1 Tremont place. 1901
44 Oak street. 1902
WARD THREE.
41 Putnam street. 1901
17 Prospect Hill avenue. 1902
WARD FOUR.
13-A Maple avenue. 1901
282 Broadway. 1902
WARD FIVE.
183 Central street. 1901
85 Central street. 1902
WARD SIX.
74 Craigie street. 1901
44 Cherry street, 1902
WARD SEVEN.
18 Herbert street. 1901
249 Elm street. 1902
Superintendent of Schools, GORDON A. SOUTHWORTH.
Office: City Hall Annex, Highland avenue. Residence: 40 Greenville street.
The Superintendent's office will be open from 8 to 12 and from 1.30 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hours are from 4 to 5 on school days and 8 to 9 on Saturdays.
Office telephone, 314; house telephone, 12. Eleanor L. Hannay, Superintendent's clerk, Hotel Hamlet.
*August 27 Mr. Beard resigned, and September 13 Alvah B. Dearborn was elected to fill the vacancy.
GEORGE S. POOLE, S. NEWTON CUTLER,
EDWARD J. FLYNN, JOHN H. O'NEIL,
DANA W. BENNETT,
JAMES F. BEARD,*
WILLIAM P. JONES,
GEORGE W. W. WHITING,
J. WALTER SANBORN,
QUINCY E. DICKERMAN,
MARTIN W. CARR,
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE,
HENRIETTA B. H. ATTWOOD, GEORGE A. MILES,
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1900.
High Schools .- Cutler, Dearborn, Whiting, Dickerman, Carr, Miles, Flynn.
LATIN, ENGLISH.
District (or Ward) I .- Poole, Cutler.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, DAVIS, BENNETT, JACKSON.
District (or Ward) II .- O'Neil, Flynn. KNAPP, PERRY.
District (or Ward) III .- Dearborn, Bennett. POPE, PROSPECT HILL, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District (or Ward) IV .- Jones, Whiting. EDGERLY, GLINES.
District (or Ward) V .- Sanborn, Dickerman.
FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District (or Ward) VI .- Carr, Fiske.
CARR, MORSE, DURELL, BURNS.
District (or Ward) VII .- Miles, Mrs. Attwood. HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, LINCOLN.
Additional School Accommodations .- Cutler, Poole, O'Neil, Dearborn, Jones, Sanborn, Carr, Miles.
Evening Schools .- Dickerman, Poole, Bennett.
Finance .- Bennett, Poole, Miles.
Industrial Education .- Carr, Dearborn, Mrs. Attwood.
Music .- Mrs. Attwood, Bennett, Sanborn.
Private Schools .- Flynn, Sanborn, Bennett.
Repairs of School Buildings .- Fiske, Whiting, O'Neil.
Rules and Regulations .- Miles, Jones, Fiske.
Salaries .- Whiting, Sanborn, Cutler.
Supplies .- Poole, Dickerman, O'Neil.
Text-books and Courses of Study .- Dearborn, Cutler, O'Neil, Jones, Dickerman, Fiske, Mrs. Attwood.
By vote of the Board September 24, A. B. Dearborn replaced Mr. Beard on all Standing Committees except the High School, to which Mr. Bennett was assigned.
FORSTER SCHOOL ANNEX.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the Board of School Committee :-
The twenty-ninth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools, for the year 1900, is herewith respectfully submitted, the same being the eighth of the present incumbent of the office and the fifty-ninth of the school department of the municipality.
The year 1899 will be memorable in the history of Somerville for important changes in the form and methods of the municipal government as affected by a new charter, which went into opera- tion at the beginning of the year. The provisions of this charter relating to the public schools and the administration of their affairs are as follows :-
Section 28. The management and control of the public schools shall be vested in the School Committee, which shall exercise the powers conferred and discharge the duties imposed by law upon school com- mittees. The Committee shall consist of fourteen members, two from each ward, elected as follows: At the first municipal election held under this charter two members of the School Committee shall be elected by and from the qualified voters of each ward, one to serve for the term of two years, and one to serve for the term of one year, beginning on the 'first Monday of January next ensuing, and thereafter one member from each ward shall be elected in like manner, at each annual municipal elec- tion. to serve for the term of two years. Vacancies occurring in the School Committee shall be filled by a joint ballot of the Board of Alder- men and the School Committee, the member so elected to be a resident of the ward entitled to the new member, and to hold office only for the remainder of the municipal year, the vacancy for the remainder of the term, if any, to be filled by the voters of said ward at the next municipal election.
Section 29. The School Committee shall meet on the first Monday of January in each year and organize by the election by ballot of one of its members as chairman. The oldest in age of the members present shall preside at all meetings until a chairman is elected.
Section 30. The School Committee shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members. and shall from time to time make rules for its proceedings. A majority of all the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a less number may meet and adjourn from time to time. It shall annually appoint a superintendent of schools, who shall also be its secre- tary, but who shall not be one of its members.
Section 41. The Public Buildings Department. This department shall be under the control of the Commissioner of Public Buildings, who shall have charge of the construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, and care of public buildings.
Section 44. The several administrative boards and officers named in this title having charge of departments shall, subject to the approval of the Mayor, appoint, employ, and discharge, at pleasure, all subordi- nate officers, clerks, assistants, and laborers in their respective depart- ments. and shall have the immediate direction and control of all execu- tive and administrative business therein. They shall at all times be ac- countable to the Mayor for the proper discharge of their duties.
154
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Section 46. The heads of departments and all other officers and boards whose duties involve the expenditure of public money shall an- nually, in the month of January or February, present to the Mayor am itemized estimate of the money required for their respective departments or offices during the current financial year, who shall examine and sub- mit the same, with his recommendations for appropriations, to the Board of Aldermen during the month of February or March.
The following extracts from the Revised Ordinances of 1900 also relate to the public schools :-
Chapter XIII. Section I. The School Committee shall annually, if possible, in the month of January, present to the Board of Aldermen a statement of such additional school accommodations as in its judg- ment may be required.
Section 2. The Commissioner of Public Buildings shall have authority to let the halls in the several school buildings for objects other than school purposes, but never to the disturbance of the schools; and all rentals received shall be credited to public buildings maintenance- schoolhouses. In no case shall the free use of any hall be granted by him.
Chapter IV. Section 4. The payrolls for the salaries of school teachers shall be prepared by the Secretary of the School Committee on the last day of each four weeks for which salaries are due, and such pay- rolls shall be approved by him and by said Committee, and shall be sent to the City Auditor, who shall, if the payrolls are correct, forthwith approve the same. The Mayor shall, if satisfied of the correctness of such payrolls, sign a warrant for the City Treasurer to pay the amounts thereof, and the Treasurer may thereupon pay the same.
It will be observed that the new charter makes two radical changes in the organization of the School Committee. First: The City Government is no longer in close touch with the admin- istration of school affairs by having two representatives on the School Committee in the person of the Mayor and the President of the Common Council. Second : The term of service of mem- bers of the committee has been changed from three years to two years, and one-half of the entire number are elected annually, instead of one-third. In this latter respect the charter makes our city an exception to every municipality in the state, for elsewhere the number of school committeemen is always a multiple of three .. one-third of whom are chosen annually, while two-thirds hold over and give a degree of permanency to the Board. Whether these changes are in the interest of the better administration of school affairs, only experience can show.
In accordance with the terms of the charter, the committee of fourteen members organized in January by the choice of James F. Beard, of Ward 3. as chairman. During the year several im- portant matters have come before the new Board for considera- tion, the principal of which are shown in the following review of its proceedings for the year :-
January 1. James F. Beard was elected Chairman of the Committee.
The Rules and Regulations of the School Board of 1899, as · changed by the following amendments, were adopted as the Rules of the School Committee of 1900.
155
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Section 1. In accordance with the provisions of Section 29, Title Five, of the Revised City Charter, the School Committee shall meet on the first Monday of January of each year, and organize by the election by ballot of one of its members as Chairman. The oldest in age of the members present shall preside until a Chairman is elected, and shall read the credentials of new members.
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