Report of the city of Somerville 1934, Part 20

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1934
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 420


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1934 > Part 20


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22


3


0


3


3


2


10


0


1


1


10


1


5


3


6


3


7


3


1


3


1.3


1


3


7


1


3


3


10


3


Horace Riley-Communist Party


101


1


2


1


-



1


0


G


126


Secretary


Walter Burke-Communist Party


2


4


10


8


6


11


5


4


S


00


11


10


-


T-


Frederic W. Cook-Republican


386


319


549


298


13


929


413


511


682


66


1


%


626


423


616


1


3


750


448


5


0


174


374


447


643


607


827


872


1007


703


6


551


872


52!


657 16608


1


George 1 .. McGlynn-Soc. Labor Party


9


3


6


19


11


6


2


3


3


=


10


6


4


2


3


19


-


Leslie A. Richards-Socialist Party


3


3


10


10


14


S


16


5


13


10


S


12


S


163


7


Joseph Santosuosso-Democratic


649


693


.05


192


519


16


10


772


400


S8:


359


$10


737


400


733


363


413


410


SOS


644


408


243


653


577


324


332


360


32


10


282


369


William R. Taylor-Prohibition


377 1592x


3


2


1


3


2


2


3


3


3


-


2


2


6


2


4


2


1


1


1


5


Treasurer


Oscar U. Dionne-Republican


25


343


22.


41


34


115


73


164


388


,14


476


28


490


555


335


263


331


513


439


8


58


William R. Ferry-Prohibition .


11


7


853


45g


24


11


13


10


S


10


20


19


12


18


18


16


12


12


19


12


23


757


56


758


27


41


15


532 12650


16


1


Thomas Gilmartin-Soc. Labor Party ...


11


12


24


17


13


15


11


10


G


11


8


7


6


17


6


7


428


S


2


4


7


5


Charles F. Hurley-Democratic


770


814


476


G20


542


891


156


1002


768


657


460


747


903


537


840


463


562


500


902


737


754


715


531


10


23.1


445


415


470


484


394


70


Harry Maltzman-Socialist Party


4


10


4


5


4


10


479 19170


1


S


19


3


11


6


12


10


46


4


5


13


G


5


3


7


15


7


10


9


4


14


8


11


8


5


3


1


6


8


5


1


1


5


3


Frederick S. Reynolds-Com. Party


14


23!


-


7


1


1


5


00


1


6


2


121


to


Auditor


Henning A. Blomen-Soc. Labor Party


S


14


12


12


2


11


S


5


2


6


14


9


S


850


982


478


9


12


741


440


73.


5


706


763


514


130


914


77


443


567


8


-


Thomas H. Buckley-Democratic ..........


467


561


628


447


5


5


S


881


7


148


121


200


283


409


53


53


719


681


398


462


349


549


392


470


477


377


37


148


22!


Alonzo B. Cook-Republican


439


427 18268


321


249


474


45


99


39"


38


Walter S. Hutchilns-Socialist Party


5


7


14


9


14


3


24


28


19


555


479


716


148


776


15


19


16


16


12


27


843


603


10


21


489


756


434


16


599 13582


14


12


15


1


11


2


3


5


C


Paul Skiers-Communist Party


6


3


3


1


10


4


4


16


6


0


0


17


402


2.


4


4


2


1


6


87


Attorney General


Morris Berzon-Socialist Party


S


13


10


10


12


1


20


10


S


10


14


19


=


13


9


772


462


566


519


85


440


959


743


12


10


409


714


47


784


15


41


877


16


10


12


5


614


5


71.


3


Paul .1. Dever-Democratic


688


671


461


394


355


431


S


14


31


373


35


Charles A. Flaherty-Com. Party


6


2


5


4


10


3


5


7


3


437


416 17900


12


2


2


4


?


4


8


A


8


5


S


F


6


5


4


6


3


2


3


2


George F. Hogan-Prohibition


10


15


4


2


5


1


5


18


12


2


5


10


Fred E. Oelcher-Soc, Labor Party


5


2


4


2


2


3


5


3


1


3


6


6


180


Joseph E. Warner-Republican


315


393


25


463


5g


150


88


122


193


328


456


544


547


345


553


6


10


20


A


3


613


400


2


2


287


395


6


559


178


763


651


811


5


170


933


640


495


79


458


610 141>3


Senator In Congress


Albert Sprague Coolidge-Soc. Party ....


12


S


12


14


11


17


5


16


7


10


15


22


14


18


12


75


W. Barnard Smith-Prohibition


10


6


11


1


6


1


7


6


11


7


14


14


5


6


S


7


11


21


17


14


6


5


7


10


15


367


t


10


14


13


8


12


10


David 1. Walsh-Democratic


774


85:


505


6G


550


876


45


1002


802


700


50


775


995


560


50


615


533


778


:09


492


471


539


Robert M. Washburn-Republican


264


327


209


379


33


125


76


94


148


356


506


399


479


265


456


526


830


786


529


479


520


10


7


9


2


10


328


248


4


6


6


304


450


710


151


550 20484


1


5


385


24


546


809


535


416


662


36.


474 11761


51


5


3


2


36


Albert 1 .. Waterman-Soc. Labor Party


2


2


4


6


3


D'aul C. Wicks-Communist Party


2


2


2


1


1


3


1


5


7


4


6


4


5


3


14


0


4


152


2


0


2


1


79


Congressman-8th District


Arthur D. Healey-Democratic


787


845


489


637


55€


915


461


1023


80


652


453


775


962


566


879


496


253


421


123


10G


431


445


595


511


948


278


42


180


318


361


767


763


745


526


455


427


505


35f


539


412


WillinDi S. Howe-Republican


500


300


483


510


409


575


491


262


345


476 19815


538


462


70S


621


787


86


578


473


745


419


562 13163


-


Counciller-6th District


James J. Brennan-Democratic


717


761


445


569


532


873


135


966


75:


573


426


710


855


49.


80


312


271


464


59


140


436


519


462


133


198


367


572


312


$16


856


695


Eugene .\. F. Burtnett-Republican


395


693


661


477


393


369


427


421


360


309


50ª


533


523


380


295


409


413 17820


384


578


499


747


650


SOS


910


640


514


82


48]


616 14204


Senator-3rd Middlesex District


Harvey E. Frost-Republican


324


403


260


471


50


148


91


130


212


30.


440


597


468


533


355


53


703


770


451


569


560


865


440


975


755


631


450


653


434


689


895


492


767


435


513


389


399


379


538


493


735


James C. Scanlan-Democratle


765


647


809


902


630


487


770


459


590 14236


685


717


667


491


405


378


422


425


375


355


429


432 17906


Representative In General Court-23rd District


Ward Two


1


2


3


A


Total


Edward T. Brady


567


911


454


988


3743


All others


1


.....


1


Representative In General Court


Ward One


Ward Three


Ward Four


24th District


1


2


3


Ward Five


4


1


2


3


1


2


3


4


William J. Bell-Republican


371


433


282


489


357


454


600


1


2


613


3


681


1


648


373


Totals


543


272


321


226


390


277


380


494


464


41"


Edith B. Davidson-Republican


419


469


581


600


637


265


533


37


461


562


John J. Donahue-Democratic


494


567


391


698


858


393


624


304


240


309


337


448


473


420


6282


Eugene H. Giroux-Democratic


719


SO-


487


59€


549


398


622


360


654


591


776


454


743


361


47


649


594


398


691


9269


656


625


58


Edith L. Hurd-Republican


288


350


251


401


315


404


526


493


504


525


599


336


368


9932


Francis E. Ryan-Democratic


635


393


487


505


360


743


642


322


602


370


354


567


568


327


411


342


449


7111


All others


765


590


589


1


3


589


8858


1


.....


......


.....


10


Representatives in General Court


Ward Slx


Ward Seven


25th District


1


2


3


4


1


2


3


4


5 Totals


William G. Barrett -- Democratic


410


342


335


373


365


328


266


385


353


Joseph M. Barry-Democratic


449


368


355


383


320


336


3154


39


389


419


3416


Hiram N. Dearborn-Republican


677


609


761


860


559


Daniel P. Falvey-Soc. Party


35


17


474


739


412


536


23


5627


19


15


10


12


14


16


Philip Sherman-Republican


652


583


690


771


613


455


682


4223


546


5415


Herbert L. Wanamaker-Soc. Party


13


24


15


16


27


13


18


144


Ward One


Ward Two


Ward Three


Ward Four


Ward Five


Ward Six


Ward Seven


District Attorney


1


2


3


1


2


3


5


2


3


2


3


1


1


2


1


337


421


4


1


5


4


1


2


3


1


1


2


3


5 Totals


Warren L. Bishop-Republican


293


133


123


101


707


244


12


271


493


422


579


403


435


341


615


797


663


$30


530


James J. Bruin-Democratic


665


495


438


27


27


756


306


843


567


441


536


697


845


543


644 15777


19


15


662


543


352


609


757


422


710


379


398


$05


627


630


595


416


331


330


373


372


292


285


349


351 15768


Richard S. McCabe-Independent


22


20


27


18


459


33


27


34


25


31


19


34


21


23


20


46


38


30


2-


29


19


30


17


37


Clerk of Courts


-


John J. Prennan-Democratic


701


756


447


58


530


876


441


968


760


614


434


904


474


728


688


489


394


375


441


37


352


435


422 18243


Ralph N. Smith-Republican


302


377


253


145


36


126


720


497


822


536


443


117


441


876


71


180


316


422


540


458


502


518


593


365


283


351


534


718


643


788


893


607


483


773


14


441


580 13479


V. Philip Toriglan-Soc. Party


12


12


18


15


23


13


13


288


461


13


15


14


21


17


19


8


13


15


2


16


23


9


12


15


24


446


00


14


9


Register of Deeds


John Gordon Duffy-Democratic


70-


763


453


557


523


$54


446


950


384


450


47


151


757


617


425


686


185


868


484


794


428


466


871


705


306


512


693


667


461


38


372


439


135


367


33


416


422 17850


Thomas Leighton-Republican


256


82


130


318


436


568


485


529


328


527


618


378


360


580


192


742


65.


SOS


00-


625


490


794


461


594 13970


County Commissioner


Thomas B, Brennan-Democratic


712


76.


460


574


510


844


437


93


747


625


432


695


883


490


85:


18


21


15


24


43€


11


523


470


701


701


662


485


386


372


43


433


364


345


42.


431 17935


Earl C. Hamilton-Soc. Party


19


12


1


232


117


23


39


17


20


21


23


1.


20


25


15


25


25


27


26


15


27


16


15


21


11


24 G37


Victor Francls Jewett-Republican


271


343


48


126


107


154


295


408


527


441


486


282


501


568


355


262


336


452


697


615


765


859


586


466


742


437


552 12943


Associate County Commissioners


Robert D. Donaldson-Republican


260


331


214


402


97


68


85


14


272


383


488


419


485


281


490


342


831


541


687


410


525 12180


Edward L. Harley-Democratic


624


685


376


502


435


740


5.60


38.


S03


627


558


652


25


319


490


42!


646


575


691


383 16827


Thomas Murray-Democratic


65


731


546


414


732


380


810


383


793


438


685


369


476


403


775


621


632


597


414


357


330


383


399


317


290


386


24


579


Alfred H. Pigott-Soc. Party


15


21


23


23


22


18


613


397


663


834


458


731


397


43


20


196


1


15


27


429


804


653


654


604


437


366


338


374


399


337


318


405


397 16410


40


26


13


28


42


21


18


29


29


15


99


755


Melvin G. Rogers-Republican


255


320


215


$63


19


103


69


78


130


16


18


15


26


373


477


480


29


407


441


256


31


535


40


326


713


819


532


431


68


394


508 11801


John D. Sexton-Soc. Party


36


14


16


1


12


16


15


20


25


244


287


400


641


29


38



475


564


25


21


32


17


25


28


34


26


18


29


16


13


20


16


23


663


Sheriff


-


Donald P. Hurd-Soc. Party


30


36


19


31


26


17


Joseph M. McElroy-Republican


318


272


475


23


28


246


123


20


184


226


378


31


28


32


31


46


25


34


14


36


12


12


471


618


35


85


520


546


342


30


38


30


38


18


39


21


21


18


26


Ascanio diRago-Fuslonist


6


8


0


1


2


680


772


8


52


64


4


11


5


25


0


6


367


326


395


599


535


749


638


$27


902


642


788


515


599 14767


429


36


455


407


55


9


2


1


Ralph W. Robart-Democratic


735


2


900


705


377


625


816


151


724


16


4


10


0


1


3


178


418


46


444


815


664


653


606


462


400


334


124


422


35f


326


368


397 16719


QUESTION NO. 1


QUESTION NO. 1 Law Submitted Upon Referendum after Passage


Shall a law described as follows: This law amends General Laws, chapter 131, as previously amended, by repealing section 105A, thereof and add- ing thereto three new sections, 105B. 105C, and 114A.


Section 105B provides that whoever uses any trap or other device for cap- ture of fur bearing animals, which Is not designed to kill such animal at once or to take it unhurt und which Is likely to cause continued suffering to an animal caught therein, shall be fined Afty dollars, but traps or other devices for protection of property, set not more than fifty yards from any building, cultivated plot, or enclosures used for rearing poultry or game birds, to the use of which the presence of vermin may be detrimental, are ex- cjuded from the application of this section.


Section 105C provides for the sub- mission to the voters at a municipal election in any city or town upon petl- tion, of the question of whether the operation of section 105B shall be sus- pended or if it has been already sus- pended, of the question whether it shall again be operative in such city or town.


Section 114A provides that the Com- missioner of Conservation may suspend the operation of section 105B for a period not exceeding thirty days within any specified territory under the con- trol of his department.


The law also provides for the sub- mission, by the selectmen to the voters at a special town meeting in the cur- rent year, upon petition, of the ques- tion as to whether the provisions of section 105B shall be suspended in any town: and which was approved by both branches of the General Court by vote not recorded, be approved? YES


NO


To obtain a full expression of opinion, voters should vote on both of the fol- lowing questions:


(a) If a voter desires to permit the sale of any and all alcoholic beverages in this city (or town) he will vote "YES" on both questions.


(b) If he desires to permit the sale of wines and malt beverages only hereln, he will vote "NO" on question 1 and "YES" on question 2.


(c) If he desires to prohibit the sale of any and all alcoholle beverages herein, he will vote "NO" on both questions. 1. Shail 1lcenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of all alcoholic beverages, whisky, rum gin, malt beverages, wines and all other alcoholic beverages) ? YES NC


2. Shall licenses be granted in this city (or town) for the sale therein of wines and malt beverages (wines and beer, ale and all other malt beverages) ? YES NO


. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed horse races be per- mitted in this county? YES NO


2. Shall the parl-mutuel system of betting on licensed dog races be per- mitted in this county YES NO


LOCAL QUESTIONS


"'Shall an act passed by the general court. in the year nineteen hundred and thirty-four, entitled 'An Act providing for the Appointment of the City Au- ditor of the City of Somervlile by the Mayor, Subject to Confirmation by the Board of Adermen', be accepted ?" YES NO


364 385


245


366


120


296


154


271


254


342


367


513


61


436


382


484


504


310


445


366


486


414


496


433


479


600


419


363


497


333 404 13166 371 12018


"Shall an act passed by the general court in the year nineteen hundred and thirty-four, entitled 'An Act providing for the Appointment of the City Treas- urer of the City of Somerville by the Mayor, Subject to Confirmation by the Board of Aldermen', be accepted?" YES NO


444


482


284


416


299


479


253


285


149


278


26


338


371


507


513


448


376


492


312


329


449


444 349


470 498


463


435 516


372


464


459


437


468


614


425


381


498


341


377 12804 380 12165


"Shall an act passed by the general court in the year nineteen hundred and thirty-four, entitled 'An Act reducing the Membership of the School Commit- tee of the City of Somerville', be ac- cepted ?"


YES NO


408


452


307


404


27


427


243


498


467


430


394


556


658


396


484


337


513


32


472


449


499


479


48:


446


462


526


432


373


463


357 425 13423


403


422


248


403


149


340


161


323


25.0


335


299


467


417


429


422


442


340


180


361


488


408


466


352


463


648


405


328


446


326 351 11763


"'Shall an act passed by the general court in the year nineteen hundred and thirty-four, entitled 'An Act reducing the Membership of the Board of Alder- men of the City of Somerville', be ac- cepted ?"


YES NO


400


441 436


292 268


411


272 163


432 342


236


495


467


449


394


563


634


411


480


368


546


342


166


462


529


501


495


450


486


643


351


439


636


405


328


427


368 421 13624 359 11651 319


341


350


241


345


186


314


168


357


314


305


405


428


33A


407


303


35-


270 204


381 220


336 208


384


377


387


310


370


418


312


295


361


215


238


185


228


213


104


187


181


253


344


356


266


219 294


315


48"


656


313


304


382


176


431


676


530


635


77


549 414


654


357


554 17082 401 12969


383


432


238


115


95


262


145


281


264


386


451


398


648


491


775


396


510


493


801


610


715


677


619


451


492


499


451


415


430


453


555


609


442


579


380


627


315


682


595


519 345


235


398


383


54


459


255


506


270


767 282


582 357


423


405


525


476


600


711


467


381


567


32


470 548 17107 362 11791


360 390


226


383


89


241


133


262


762


65


583


168


26


482 283


720 404


770 416


602


822


514


630


539


655


784


736


712 374


554


607


696


605


501


548 550


612 19587


185


170


253


61


160


7


168


542


50-


453


330


527


55:


446


646


357


459


405


658


480


593


535


478


406


443 550


490 648


439


591


315


437 14499 396 11503


343


228


341


216


110


250


225


335


374


495


53


409


282


459


496


299


288


345


432


398


507


458


455


343


294


231 287 8790


527 279


671


375


495


360


446


308


494


260


563


465


429


316


485


556


379


531


287


436


358 609


445


496


473


467


386


451


472


422


334


401


316


39


330


367


372


276


392


119


167


341


320


29


458


422


424


425


423


433


338


488


353


470


390


149


307


283


321


300


385


395


295


235


339


287 339 10214 21" 252 7932


555


636


450


575


415


641


328


719 609


516


352


381


791


67


472


760


417 440


53


611


719


646


643


470


496


514


499


429


481


706


494


658


439


707


369


763 245


330


302


260


221


407


226


332


322


184


372 526


496


34


485


288


559


488


324


418


552


449


307


559


446


371 362


354


400


455


48


322


396


465


132


377


405


417


368


406


276


239 286


806


290


343


LAW DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.


Gentlemen :


The Annual Report of the Law Department for the year ending December 31, 1934 is hereby respectfully submitted for your information and consideration.


The year 1934 witnessed two important changes in the City Charter of Somerville. Since the passage of our City Charter in 1899, there have been comparatively few vital changes in the fundamental structure of our government. The change in the composition of the School Committee brought about by an amendment to the Charter by Chapter 354 of the Acts of 1904, the change in the tenure of the term of certain municipal officers, such as the City Clerk, Chapter 332, Acts of 1901, and the Municipal Auditor, Chapter 373 of the Acts of 1905, were changes in the nature of regulation to secure in- creased efficiency.


A radical alteration in the method of elections was brought about by Chapter 281 of the Acts of 1932, which establishe.l non-partisan municipal elections in the City of Somerville.


In 1934, however, our City Charter was amended in sev- eral important respects.


Chapter 294 of the Acts of 1934, provided for the appoint- ment of the City Auditor of the City of Somerville by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Board of Aldermen. This was a change from the original charter which had pro- vided for the election of the City Auditor by the Board of Aldermen.


Chapter 295 of the Acts of 1934 also effected a change in the original charter. This Act provided for the "Appointment of the City Treasurer by the Mayor, Subject to Confirmation by the Board of Aldermen." Herebefore the City Treasurer had been elected annually by the Board of Aldermen.


344


ANNUAL REPORTS


Likewise, Chapter 297 of the Acts of 1934, brought about a radical change in the membership of the School Committee. This Act reduced the membership of the School Committee from sixteen to nine.


Similarly a radical change in the membership of the Board of Aldermen was brought about by Chapter 298 of the Acts of 1934. This Act provided for the election of one ward alderman from each of the seven wards and four aldermen-at-large, mak- ing a total of eleven aldermen as contra distinguished from a membership of twenty-one as originally constituted.


All four of these Acts were submitted to the voters of the City of Somerville in accordance with the requirement to that effect contained in said Acts, at the State Election held in November of 1934, and were accepted.


Chapter 295 of the Acts of 1934 went into effect in Jan- uary, 1935. Chapters 294, 297 and 298 go into effect in accord- ance with the respective provisions to that end contained in said Acts.


As usual, I was called upon to attend some hearings before various committees of the Legislature, the Public Utilities De- partment, and certain special Commissioners on matters af- fecting the interests of the City. Wherever such Legislative, Departmental or committee action would cause additional as- sessments on the city or result in the imposition of additional tax burdens on the tax payers of our city, I appeared in behalf of the city and opposed such action or legislation.


As is usual it was necessary to hold conferences with vari- ous State departments on business affecting the city and city departments.


Likewise much time was occupied in conference with E. R. A. and P. W. A. officials in regard to Federal Projects being carried on in our city.


BOARD OF TAX APPEALS


There are now pending before the State Board of Tax Ap- peals something more. than fifty (50) cases, brought by tax payers who have appealed from the decision of the Board of Assessors refusing abatements of certain taxes levied on vari- ous property owners during the years 1932 and 1933. In ad- dition to those pending, there are now coming in to our depart- ment and to the Board of Assessors notices of new petitions


345


LAW DEPARTMENT


brought in said Board of Tax Appeals at the rate of two and three a week since June of this year.


The handling and defense of cases brought against the city before the Board of Tax Appeals is becoming an increasingly serious part of the work of the Law Department and is taking up an increasingly large part of the time of the City Solicitor. The increase in the number of these cases since 1930 is ex- tremely great. One of the cases now pending before said Board of Tax Appeals, notably the Ford case, involves requested abatements of $200,000., $300,000. and $400,000., for three years beginning in 1932.


In order successfully or even adequately to defend these cases it is obviously necessary that either the Board of Assessors or the Law Department should be given sufficient funds so that the cases may be properly prepared before trial and competent real estate and industrial experts employed to make surveys of the property concerned in each case and to prepare facts and testimony for the guidance and assistance of the Board of As- sessors and the City Solicitor in the preparation, handling and trial of such cases.


As I have pointed out in several communications to his honor the Mayor and to the Board of Aldermen, if this neces. sary expense for such assistance is not provided by the city then the city will be at a great disadvantage in attempting to meet the corresponding testimony of high priced real estate experts, industrial experts, and civil and building engineers, who, as we have seen in other cases, are employed by various petitioners and corporations to secure reductions in so-called "large assessments" on their property.


Up to the last year, most of the cases pending before the Board of Tax Appeals were not complaints on the part of small home owners of tax payers but were rather the com- plaints of large property owners, such as large corporations and large tax payers who have the financial resources to em- ploy special counsel and high priced experts of all kinds to assist them in the presentation of their cases before the Board of Tax Appeals. During the past year however, the records show that in addition to the large tax payers, many of our smaller tax payers and even the ordinary two or three family house owner have become tax conscious and are bringing peti- tions before the Board of Assessors, and, if dissatisfied with the action of the Assessors, are bringing petitions before the Board of Tax Appeals. I understand that many attorneys are now


346


ANNUAL REPORTS


handling these cases on a commission basis, which would ac- count in some respect for the increase in number of claims. Regretfully, I cannot say that I see any hope of a decline in the number of these claims for some years to come.


During the year, as is usual, it was necessary and I pre- pared various contracts and forms for publication or proposals for contracts as required by the comparatively new law requir- ing advertising on all contracts over $1,000. for the different departments, and also advised the departments on these con- tracts.


Numerous bonds required to be furnished by various city officers and the large number of bonds required by Charter, Statutes, Ordinances and Federal regulations in E. R. A. and P. W. A. projects were submitted to me for approval as to form. Various contracts, entered into by the city, were either drafted by me personally or examined and approved by me as to form only, as part of the duties of the City Solicitor, to the end that the legal interests of the city would at all times be protected.


Many conferences were held with Department Heads in relation to legal questions involving their department, and written opinions or advice furnished at their request.


Various orders and ordinances were prepared by me dur. ing the year for the Board of Aldermen, and many opinions, in writing, on various subjects were given on request of the Board of Aldermen, to which reference may be had in the rec- ords of the Board.


Although the work of the Law Department has been rather arduous and certain angles of it seem to be on the increase, I have found it a pleasure to work with the Board of Aldermen and the various Department Heads on the diversified problems concerning the city, and I wish to thank them individually and collectively for the cooperation which they extended to me. Their help has been of great assistance to me in the perform- ance of my duties.


During the year 1934, my assistant, Arthur F. McCarthy, Esq., has had charge of the settlement of claims against the city by reason of alleged defects in highways. He has exhibited careful and painstaking work, both in the settlement of claims and trials of various actions in court against the city. He has been of cooperative assistance in many ways and I have found it a pleasure to have had him associated with me in this work.


347


LAW DEPARTMENT


Before Mr. McCarthy had an opportunity to prepare that portion of the report of the Law Department, which is custom- arily prepared by the Assistant City Solicitor, he left the ser. vice of the Law Department of the city for the purpose of handling some legal business for the Federal Government, and Joseph R. Corish, Esq., was appointed Assistant City Solicitor in his place.


The report covering that portion of the work of the Law Department in charge of the Assistant City Solicitor, for the year 1934, which ordinarily would have been prepared by Mr. McCarthy, has, therefore, been prepared by Mr. Corish, in be- half of Mr. McCarthy.


Respectfully submitted,


CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON, City Solicitor.


348


ANNUAL REPORTS


REPORT OF JOSEPH R. CORISH, ESQ. FOR THE YEAR 1934


I am herewith submitting a report covering that portion of the Law Department work handled by Arthur F. McCarthy, Assistant Solicitor during the year 1934.


The following is a brief recapitulation of claims and suits against the city handled in 1934 :-


Highway Accident Notices of Claim


Pending, December 31, 1933


110


Notices filed in 1934


105


Disposed of, settled, or put in suit


75


Pending, December 31, 1934


140


Cases in Suit


Pending, December 31, 1933


73


Suits entered in 1934


21


Disposed of and settled


20


Pending, December 31, 1934


74


Respectfully submitted,




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.