USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1939 > Part 14
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9 Hillside Pk.
216
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ELECTION COMMISSIONERS, 1939
January 22, 1940
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :
The Board of Election Commissioners respectfully submits the following report for the year 1939.
REGISTRATION
Before the Preliminary Election held on October 17, 1939 registration was held in the office at City Hall, beginning June 15th, and continuing until September 26, from 8:30 A.M. to 4 :30 P.M., excepting Saturdays, when the hours were from 8:30 A.M. to 12 Noon. Also, Tuesday, September 12; Wednesday, September 13; Monday, September 25; Tuesday, September 26, from 7:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M .; and Wednesday September 27, from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M.
At the close of this registration, three thousand, eight hun. dred and sixty-eight names were added to the voting list, mak- ing a total of forty-seven thousand, three hundred and thirty- eight (47,338) names on the voting list.
Outside Registration Dates were as follows :
Outside Sessions were from 7:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
John E. Dickerman Schoolhouse, Cross Street, Thursday, September 14. Bennett Schoolhouse, Poplar Street, Thursday, September 14. Western Junior High School, Holland Street, Friday, September 15. Burns Schoolhouse, Cherry Street, Friday, September 15. Carr Schoolhouse, Atherton Street, Tuesday, September 19. Perry Schoolhouse, Washington Street, Tuesday, September 19.
217
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
Bingham Schoolhouse, Lowell Street, Wednesday, September 20. Glines Schoolhouse, Jaques Street, Wednesday, Septembr 20. Knapp Schoolhouse, Adrian Street, Thursday, September 21. Southworth Schoolhouse, Myrtle Street, Thursday, September 21. Brown Schoolhouse, Willow Avenue, Friday, September 22. Cutler Schoolhouse, Powder House Boulevard, Friday, September 22.
After the Preliminary Election, registration was held at City Hall on October 18, 1939, from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. Five hundred and seven persons were registered and after all deaths and abatements were taken off the list, the total number of persons on the voting list at the close of registrations, October 18, 1939, was forty-seven thousand, six hundred and twenty-two (47,622).
NOMINATION PAPERS - REFERENDUM PETITIONS PUBLIC POLICY
The Board of Election Commissioners received five hundred and fifty-four papers for the Preliminary Election, on which eighteen thousand, two hundred and seventy-one names were certified.
They received one hundred and seventeen referendum pap- ers, on which two thousand, five hundred and fourteen names were certified. -
On questions of public policy, one hundred and six papers were received, on which one thousand, nine hundred and sixty- five names were certified. This made a total of seven hundred and seventy-seven papers (777), on which twenty-two thousand, seven hundred and fifty names (22,750) were certified.
JURORS
In accordance with chapter 234 of the General Laws, as amended by chapter 211 of the Acts of 1924, the Election Com- missioners prepared a list of the inhabitants of Somerville, lia- ble to serve as jurors. The Board has established a system of having each person, provisionally selected for jury-service, to fill out a questionnaire and appear before a member of the Board at the office and make oath to the statements contained therein. This gives the Board an opportunity to meet each in- dividual and note, if any, his physical defects or disability to render the county the service that would be required of him as a juror. These personal examinations, also enable the Board to know the educational qualifications of each prospective juror.
218
ANNUAL REPORTS
The jury list prepared by the Board for the year 1939, con- tains the names of eleven hundred and fifty (1150) voters.
RECOUNT
A recount of ballots cast, at the Preliminary Election held October 17, 1939, for Mayor, Alderman-at-Large, Ward Three and for Ward Aldermen, Wards, One Two, Three and Six, were held on October 24th, 25th and 27th in the Aldermanic Chamber at City Hall. Also, a recount for ballots cast at the City Elec- tion, held on November 7, 1939, for Aldermen-at-Large in Wards One, Two, Four, Five Six and Seven ; Ward Aldermen in Ward Seven and School Committee for Wards Four and Seven, was held on November 14th, 16th and 17th in the Aldermanic Chamber in City Hall.
EXPENSES
The expenses for the Election Department for the year end- ing December 31, 1939, were as follows:
Board of Election Commissioners $17,008.47
Pay of Election Officers 5,909.50
Total Expense $22,917.97
The Board of Election Commissioners has had the coopera- tion of His Honor, the Mayor and the Honorable Members of the Board of Aldermen and the City Officials, for which it is deeply grateful.
Respectfully submited,
WILLIAM F. BURNS, Chairman WARREN S. JOHNSTON DENNIS L. DONOVAN WARREN C. DAGGETT, Secretary
Board of Election Commissioners of Somerville
219
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
January 22, 1940
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
The Listing Board of the City of Somerville, respectfully submits the following report for 1939.
Listing of males, twenty years of age and over for poll taxes and listing of all females, twenty years of age and over.
WILLIAM F. BURNS, Chairman WARREN S. JOHNSTON DENNIS L. DONOVAN WARREN C. DAGGETT THOMAS DAMERY
Listing Board of the City of Somerville
220
ANNUAL REPORTS
LISTING 1939
Ward Pct.
Males
Females
Total
Males
Females
Total
1
1
1295
1324
2619
1
2
1270
1385
2655
1
3
814
784
1598
1
4
1141
1222
2363
4520
4715
9235
2
1
1115
982
2097
2
2
1213
1273
2486
2
3
584
661
1245
2
4
1247
1322
2569
2
5
1374
1460
2834
5533
5698
11231
3
1
882
956
1838
3
2
756
909
1665
3
3
1051
1346
2397
3
4
1195
1577
2772
3884
4788
8672
4
1
1017
1165
2182
4
2
1355
1403
2758
4
3
816
1057
1873
4
4
871
1126
1997
4
5
977
1049
2026
5036
5800
10836
5
1
1152
1256
2408
5
2
1232
1320
2552
5
3
1232
1380
2612
5
4
1160
1304
2464
4776
5260
10036
6
1
942
1174
2116
6
2
923
1094
2017
6
3
1017
1279
2296
6
4
925
1245
2170
3807
4792
8599
7
1
883
1041
1924
7
2
896
1036
1932
7
3
812
911
1723
7
4
820
923
1743
7
5
874
992
1866
4285
4903
9188
Totals
31841
35956
67797
31841
35956
67797
22L
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
STATISTICS REGISTERED VOTERS
1
222
ANNUAL REPORTS
REGISTERED VOTERS 1939
Reg. Voters November 8, 1938
Revised List June 15, 1939
Added Jun. 15 to Oct. 18, 1939
Reg. Voters Votes Cast
November 7, 1939
November 1939, City
Wd. Pct. Men Women
Men Women
Men Women
Men Women Election
1
1
897
673
804
629
101
127
905
756
1284
1
2
1001
840
877
767
108
88
985
855
1422
1
3
580
475
562
447
56
48
618
495
857
1
4
850
737
801
702
73
72
874
774
1271
2
1
681
378
627
353
88
53
715
406
926
2
2
817
669
750
618
108
96
858
714
1307
2
3
418
372
387
335
54
43
441
378
670
2
4
880
764
827
709
97
88
924
797
1371
2
5
886
752
807
673
117
106
924
779
1273
3
1
693
645
671
622
49
56
720
678
1101
3
2
607
711
556
633
73
71
629
704
982
3
3
857
917
788
868
47
82
835
950
1343
3
4
867
1025
829
968
62
74
891
1042
1455
4
1
775
762
722
690
44
65
766
755
1113
4
2
1002
839
923
751
90
86
1013
837
1361
4
3
619
727
550
666
41
43
591
709
874
4
4
711
810
650
755
45
57
695
812
1112
4
5
700
618
655
556
67
72
722
628
994
5
1
924
823
849
765
84
84
933
849
1413
5
2
913
816
860
752
98
82
958
834
1402
5
3
944
899
855
819
79
76
934
895
1412
5
4
893
860
847
800
61
74
908
874
1399
6
1
745
802
689
761
44
46
733
807
1075
6
2
725
756
664
697
48
55
712
752
989
6
3
790
901
721
827
51
54
772
881
1112
6
4
816
961
761
914
44
59
805
973
1310
7
1
738
764
676
691
45
51
721
742
1066
7
2
672
665
615
607
36
51
651
658
1031
7
3
692
745
646
703
41
36
687
739
1092
7
4
619
647
581
596
45
55
626
651
1030
7
5
677
665
624
622
51
55
675
677
1047
Totals
23989 23027
22174 21296
2047
2105
24221 23401
36094
223
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
PRELIMINARY ELECTION OCTOBER 17, 1939
PRELIMINARY ELECTION RECORO OCTOBER 17, 1939
-Ward One
Ward Two
-Ward Three-
Ward Four
Ward Five-
-Ward Sit
Ward Seven -
-
-
1
2
3
4
1
1
0
Total Number of Ballots Cast 1156 1262 772 1040 837 1150 539 1249 1060
952
83$ 1124 1320
969 1141
763
4
996
$24 1185 1192 1156
1162
$46
746 SS1 1076
831
SSO
843
831 30451
For Mayor
294
211
36!
124
400
233
239
195
203
256
272
429
224
200
20-4
299
235
212
175
14
151
171
161
186
15
171
"06
7564
Eugene 11 Giroux
45.8
475
John M. 1.ynch
622
619
363
540
534
673
39G
250
713
56
431
675
876
457
586
312
531
469
200
$13
727
747
155
352
354
564
440
433
419
485
424 16984
10
39
2.
20
49
70
123
14
10
16$
69
122
151
101
90
123
166
199
267
266
167
145
205
111
109
365
John F. Foaler
102
6
Leslle E. Knox
90
59
55
106
76
72
85
96
73
48
36
50
74
63
103
67
86
61
2173
For Aldermen-At-Large
132
193
30
18
60
49
43
52
58
100
12
79
47
GC
77
11
$1
53
57
37
40
66
72
3005
John R. Powers
650
337
67
351
55
19
7.8
277
118
34
34
87
256
173
20
49
61
23
25
2445
Dominic N. Vitiello
77
50
35
73
26
17
19
16
16
25
1:
21
14
10
18
33
37
51
AS
70
106
63
69
36
31
993
1maler W. Rowen
30
23
13
F
21
121
27
35
23
95
23
31
59
56
146
12
95
140
129
192
69
69
146
175
112
65
63
2623
Joseph C. Basso
70
104
120
11
139
198
186
119
183
120
210
11€
17
187
150
115
130
135
10
409
321
317
361
219
100
142
101
9F
101
$1
512
Joseph P. Murray
37
3.1
41
163'
Walter Collhuis
69
97
12
73
01
1€
43
30
39
23
143
86
62
96
-15
15
19
18
30
30
28
26
19
23
65
92
35
17
27
20
33
18
35
45
41
73
50
31
21
29
31
30
33
11:14
T Elward Corbeti
32
25
32
21
24
1171
Lawrence Pasquale
35
61
31
2
30
20
10
20
39
34
85
30
93
41
50
32
15
90
14
119
58
23-
80
70
52
30
5
33
5
2526
Engene C. Shechnn
127
63
105
70
176
131
62
59
59
76
71
93
129
89
45
56
30
33
31
47
62
49
23
36
40
23
5
20
39
41
261/1
Edward J. Coughlin
108
71
125
230
133
381
334
306
24º
33!
974
296
235
230
7425
Irving L. Starkpole
208
232
217
250
185
13.
199
209
163
174
310
35
215
205
203
256
250
266
33
36
166
11
61
33
36
40
15
56
49
35
40
50
46
3
33
53
33
33
149:
Edward A White
35
47
25
31
80
35
lørbert F Clark
3
63
237
120
84
143
38
244
103
115
69
3:
37
43
32
43
5
33
3.
37
39
47
25
2081
195
205
216
215
198
110
145
221
115
145
199
257
242
333
297
451
491
305
26
32S
233
235
0391
Allen Roy Kingston
181
118
168
104
10
42
84
90
125
114
177
79
109
43
62
59
46
49
47
41
62
2244
Lester W Davidson
118
155
173
2
2
20
35
104
28
37
23
26
61
32
58
35
2"
39
43
35
39
37
35
21
68
34
39
28
31
31
1157
James A. O'Connell
45
73
2:
33
25
55
22
15
1182
Richard C. O'Brien
75
13
116
51
253
1.17
82
46
44
25
37
45
25
75
55
21
32
19
19
25
=
108
110
121
125
333
130
529
182
104
102
11
11
55
14:
53
57
51
25
58
39
35
62
3217
Engene M. Flonagm
Dijel J O'Connell
39
30
65
33
50
2G
56
53
20
29
11
82
31
49
33
15
30
20
13
2 1
6
41
36
1163
1526
Eugene McCarthy
58
41
43
23
20
39
40
32
27
41
66
56
63
01
39
144
230
59
S5
21
14
20
18
37
139
21
40
21
10
21
16
10
33
17
23
1250
25
2G
22
22
=
Juseph A. Silva
35
34
105
63
102
62
16
30
6
27
18
S
12
15
0
11
15
10
10
13
11
10
11
3
16
S
380
Edward J. Grace
20
10
23
211
Edward F Moynihan
15
103
161
164
15G
93
180
170
176
173
196
245
121
156
125
193
119
256
176
417
25
126
171
336
207
100
166
170
John E. Whitney
6+
64
57
49
4-
49
120
100
102
104
65
62
31
67
38
75
67
5 1
67
2022
93
98
20
21
915
Anthony 8. Perry
33
18
20
16
11
119
23
75
75
14
21
23
25
19
27
34
15
13
20
33
14
13
11
15
16
11
15
16
16
9
16
1-
619
C.
Joseph Edwards
19
17
18
23
25
24
1.3
27
Joseph P Burns
30
19
27
21
44
GT
31
28
23
35
11
20
7
10
11
14
29
45
23
13
38
15
11
13
23
13
36
22
55
48
30
19
4
69
25
1
25
65
216
25
26
15
15
24
"
26
199
Jolm C. Sweeney
38
25
116
235
100
93
11
11
109
10-
119
3326
Jnạnph A. Goguen
99
70
131
92
41
41
66
73
12
108
18:
362
135
25
79
54
63
5
13
35
51
44
39
119
101
17
93
75
10
181:
Robert C. Harris
21
13
34
79
39
31
35
100
169
10€
20
S
31
19
15
6
15
G
7
13
10
902
S
14
19
381
-1
=
Henry F Rafferty
12
11
16
10
12
G
John J. Ropin, Jr.
G
F
5
10
6
1
10
F
11
10
25
42
120
10
1407
John A Falvey
145
207
124
31
24
31
23
26
30
63
70
42
49
27
24
13
17
15
23
25
22
13
20
415
Ralph F. Champey
16
01
2
24
84
13
19
17
21
12
14
19
7
13
5
1
2
1
1
11
494
Willlam T Donnelly
20
13
21
11
21
3-1
37
39
19
19
9
10
11
8
11
32
17
12
11
135
33
33
25
31
33
30
36
180
329
78
60
182
35
41
10
19
29
37
37
3º
37
1918
James F MrCorron
65
15
11
18
1€
35
13
14
10
15
$80
Thomas F. Graftan
155
174
69
87
10
7
10
12
6
17
3.1
27
13
127
96
76
199
00
95
73
162
286
271
157
79
SC
77
76
81
321
James M. Redmond
59
33
102
46
120
136
90
13
20
19
10
3
22
S
12
17
20
16
24
12
10
162
t-
994
Leslle A. Briggs
18
17
18
UG
10
14
29
33
9
35
31
28
25
27
26
30
26
26
20
16
16
07
11
913
Dinlel McCarthy, Jr.
37
26
27
39
62
48
31
36
12
40
1370
John F Sullivan
25
53
23
11
53
13
5€
41
35
30
41
55
59
69
22
51
42
18
31
45
69
54
61
33
34
46
94
63
153
111
130
53
67
70
94
90
104
65
67
10
49
41
2300
William T. Wright
64
111
110
22
7
13
16
27
30
73
21
31
22
25
73
33
43
160
49
15
41
33
13
20
102
John J Ferolo
3:
1905
-3
Norman P MacLean
141
255
54
11
20
14
21
12
19
33
30
49
36
21
31
31
45
61
71
101
10
157
118
11'
83
131
93
120
112
125
143
134
103
126
232
126
16
187
145
133
117
17
256
299
324
304
296
504
Eilwurd A. Rose
139
132
90
101
87
168
190
For Ward Alderman-Ward One
296
Mary E. Wholey
79
$5
33
95
1909
Waller J. Moran
661
530
371
44
331
Edward J. Fizpatrick
TG
69
105
427
John A. Morrissey
14
161
45
73
319
Lante A Rynn
51
48
272
John F. MeGrath
43
106
66
153
John P. SIlk
123
114
78
138
For Ward Alderman-Ward Two
30€
Willlam Molloy
10
180
42
44
30
861
Thomas J. Day'e
70
216
210
211
154
701
lawrence J Donovan
63
13
60
163
275
307
Charles Cul'Inane
34
66
32
95
27
Mannel Ardrews
17
110
12
6
41
911
James F. Hall
63
138
79
431
200
1158
Ge rge 1 Moran
158
928
118
193
162
138
Joseph P. Santora
49
11
10
61
For Ward Alderman-Ward Three
744
Rubert 11. Sntherland
100
157
185
302
366
Francis A. Kelllher
214
25
1760
334
586
526
Willlam .1. Motley
304
384
Jane's A. Dwyer, Jr.
73
7.5
170
G99
183
13
162
217
John R Carr
For Ward Alderman-Ward Four
179
161
151
177
2.19
1219
Harold & Palmer
50
155
19
59
310
Wiijiom 11 Seabrook
25!
185
20
15
louis T. LItIle
73
112
16
396
17
865
Elmar Evenson
214
11
231
198
11
Edmund V. Maloney
19
22
25
9
8
George L. Leavlit
07
610
75
58
105
98
James M. 1lghel
25
41
10
131
11
John J. Murphy
434
147
75
83
Edwin O Learned
For Ward Alderman -- Ward Five
31
68
105
161
371
70
63
251
Edgar E. Brown
94
160
William G. Mackenzie
12
53
66
29
Francis J Coyne
615
242
270
220
1347
John 1 .. Corrall
53
22
1.
100
John Sutterdinl
282
98
87
133
600
William E Long
153
371
398
445
1307
John W. Murmy
21
121
61
222
Theodore Campo
For Ward Alderman-Ward Six
91
101
208
147
547
531
Leo E. Phillips
13
118
195
131
103
148
15S
540
Henry J. McKanzte
264
Charles G. Plckett
46
60
35
123
114
1hurry J. Contello
14
25
Alfred A. Arzillo
83
122
223
527
99
145
5
350
Raymond E. Parker
31
Walter Len Avery
112
35
1.re Carver Klison
19
111
222
For Ward Alderman-Ward Seven
30
20
42
Ralph B Jones
101
96
290
133
173
215
334
170
1027
William W MacKay
Harry MacNuti
23
45
117
44
204
123
132
$57
Danlel Duggan
196
177
229
John W. MrEvoy
S
16
Roger K. Sykes
18
26
19
43
123
2º
19
22
Frederick 1 .. Bosworth
110
42
206
231
246
Robert J Moseley
217
135
1035
Ralph L. Garrett
For School Committee-Ward One
No Nominers
786
For School Committee-Ward Two
Arthur T. Crstaro
215
112
65
151
234
1541
244
427
298
2051
Edward J. Harrington ..
159
429
Charles P' O'Riordan .. .
2.55
505
339
413
31
For School Committee-Ward Threo
31
176
1268
Michael A. Manulng
James H Buckley
273
326
368
296
251
163
321
John T. MacKey
225
1320
245
230
256
652
Arthur P Fitzgerald
For School Committee-Ward Four
191
336
95
115
15
179
Guy A Petralla
396
352
285
913
Edith L. Hum
319
443
Angus 31 MacNell
141
266
161
13
270
705
231
135
104
159
20
Earl Landry
For School Committee-Ward Flvo
469
221
220
254
1199
242
762
John F Kennedy
52
355
113
Joseph J Maantng
73
35
36
192
20 54
Peter Barche
491
423
549
GOS
William J Koen
For School Committee-Ward Six
11:
10
370
Merton La Towle
131
121
19
131
627
1 40
112
269
709
William E. Dravir
llarold W. Ramsey
299
$50
367
1394
......
Edwin A. Shaw
For School Committee-Ward Seven
No Nominers
227
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS
CITY ELECTION NOVEMBER 7, 1939
CITY ELECTION - NOVEMBER 7, 1939
-Ward One
Total Number of Votes Cust .. 1284 1422 t
For Mayor
Eugene H. Giroux John M. Lynch
729
$14
532
821
667
899
516
945
766
664
970 1117
697
512 $40
307 545
333
339
407 306 380
327
330 728
293 679
400 688
383 891
371 303 699
340 731
735
640 24434
For Aldermen-At-Large
Eugene M. Flanagan
587 508
504
263
438
306
437
291
300
402
587
308
509
620
384
546
644
582
601
127
310
438
472
379 436
395 580
370 431
577 610
562 448 606
431 683
489 003
402 611
411 514
575
702
532 $11
507 604
694 439
508 13666
Irving la Stackpole 537
608
443
583
269
442
318 518
464 455
326 493
357 499
478 683
484
521
For Ward Alderman-Ward One
Walter J. Moran
872
900
614
749
188
45 9
214
544
304
781
697 629
712 299
665
943
914 472
636
461
442
372 589
901
552
4.19 900
2515 2917
For Ward Alderman-Ward Six
Leo E. Phillips
372
424
561 663 582
483
667
566
360
577 2549
Harry MacNutt
624
437
485
032
431 2509
For School Committee-Ward Ono
Phillp O. McCarthy
544
1941
Walter E. Whittaker 631
754
438
712
421
649
425
582 738
567 649
566
570
679
587 826
618
540
465
594
429 531
...
......
For School Committoe-Ward Five
790
198
2301
William J. Koen
832
608
513 393
460 582
631
......
...
...
2002
For School Committee -Ward Seven
Charles A. Campbell
2426
William F. Chisholm
Public Policy-Question
"Shall section elght-A of chapter forty-four of the General Laws. Telutive to submitting to the voters of certain cltles, the question of approving or dleapproving orders, authorizing the issue of bonds. notes or certificates of Indebtedness for certain purposes, be ac- cepied !"
Yes
561
605 377
596
325
498
308
562 189
560 167
484 144
461
652
533
660 199
144
582 158
127 111
645 164
446 149
643 156
674 207
615 158
133
154
156
123
143
128
157
146 4810
No
198
176
125
169
113
204
384 192 184
912 343 325
673 371
372 305 447
337 370 442
416 425 555
429 524
544 443 402
170 848 313 617 514 319
221 350 339 324 362 254
526 464 360
378
843
740
762
368
465
533
400 301
381 269
351
284
312 10714
Edward A. Rose
691
546
285
469
279
427
215
485
476 368
426 525 296
295
402
155 468 713
312
256 611
338 448
328
374
416 675
379 403 546 523
368 129 613
315 379 563 765
201 261 635 489
273 308
226 348
245 342 S32 646
695
516
679
440
393
413
407
381
365
502 14642 435 14599 345 15390
Edward F. Moynihan
446
640
317
324
56G
469
579
193
311
175
561 366
James M. Redmond
324
379
268
358
406
331
404
363
438
444 428
457
621
177 322
283 352
266 11946 302 12301
Joseph A. Goguen
Allan Roy Kingston
304
490
296
462
318
435
240
390
154 420
320
305
353
311
404
769
644
988 1082 1014 1053
t 994 1413 1402 1412 1399 1075
3 4
.... ..
......
....
......
......
457
686
518
467
138 2576
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.. ....
......
..... .
......
......
478 142
534
629
516
495 543
472 494 16382
James H. Buckley
2402
Arthur P. Fitzgerald
2260
For School Committee -- Ward Four
Edith L. Hurd
2046
Angus M. MacNell
454
755
370
474
576
640 782
173 862
For School Committee-Ward SIx
Harold W. Rumsey
2200
Edwin A. Shaw
519
312
52A
519 547
....
-Ward Three 3
Ward Four
1 2
% 874 1112 -
1 982 1343 1455 1113 1361
41 1273 1101
t 996 1307 070 1371
857 1271
4
Ward Two 5
Ward Six- Ward Søven . 3 - 2 989 1112 1310 1065 1031 1092 1030 1047 36094 1
544
586
540 340
488
453
805
726
353
558
2823
For Ward Alderman-Ward Three
William J. Melley
3224
Robert H. Sutherland
1402
For Ward Alderman-Ward Four
Edmund V. Maloney
2207
Harold A. Palmer
2984
For Ward Alderman-Ward Fivo
John L. Carroll
John W. Murray
Charles G. Plckett
638
472
488
For Ward Alderman-Ward Seven
Ralph L. Garrett
571
341
485
For School Committee -Ward Two
Edward J. Harrington
426
584
234
2393
Charles P. O'Riordan
....
....
2882
For School Committee -- Ward Three
... ...
.. ..
471
367
596
287
344
520
352
510
481
813
For Ward Alderman-Ward Two
Jimmes F. 11n11
2640
George J. Moran
362
430
447
508
Joseph P. Murray
300
387
773 563
600
613 333
741 433
435
262 371
223 345
679
276
392 11153
487 16480
John P. Silk
3135 1439
2010 2180
2535
2584
John F. Kennedy
3052
....
619 ......
.....
.....
......
....
....
331
358
538
263 450 501
~Ward Five- 2
......
396
533
584
186
192
133
374 $92
399
657
396 913
613 723
230
ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
December 31, 1939.
To the Honorables, the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville
Gentlemen :
Herewith I respectfully submit the annual report of the Law Department for the year 1939.
The work of this Department may be classified into four general categories : Prosecution and defense of actions in the Law Courts of the Commonwealth, Defense of Tax Abatement Appeals before the Appellate Tax Board, foreclosures of tax titles in the Land Court, and furnishing of opinions to His Honor the Mayor, your Honorable Board, and the various City Departments. In the prosecution and defense of actions in the Law Courts, by far the greatest activity is the settlement and defense of actions brought against the City for damages sus- tained as the result of alleged defective conditions of the streets and sidewalks. A comparative table of the number of claims of this type filed with the City, with the annual cost to the City, follows :
Year
Number of Claims Filed
Total Expenditures
1934
105
$7,922.82
1935
90
28,284.28
1936
113
28,007.42
1937
102
13,465.94
1938
164
11,404.41
1939
177
13,997.99
As shown by this table, the number of claims filed in 1938 and 1939 showed a decided increase over previous years. Fort- unately, the expense of settlement was considerably lower than the immediately preceding years, for which the credit should go to Lieutenant Thomas M. Sharry of the Police Department, who has been assigned as Inspector of Claims, and Charles L. Doherty, Assistant City Solicitor, who has had charge of this
231
LAW DEPARTMENT
work for the past two years. The increase in the number of claims filed can undoubtedly be attributed in great measure to the vast amount of work done by the Works Projects Adminis- tration, involving the digging of streets and sidewalks. It is unavoidable that with the amount of this work that has been done the number of claims arising from the dangerous condi- tions of the ways should increase.
Although a considerable number of tax abatement appeals were filed during the past year with the Appellate Tax Board, there was only one action which it was necessary for this De- partment to defend. The bulk of these actions are disposed of by the Board of Assessors, who, with the expenditure of consid- erable time and effort, have been able to adjust practically all of these appeals by amicable settlements with the tax payers. Tax title proceedings in the Land Court have been increasing in recent years, and constitute a considerable part of the work of this Department. With the co-operation of the City Treas- urer and Collector of Taxes, foreclosure proceedings are in- stituted in all tax title cases as soon as permissible under the statute, and considerable revenue was brought into the City Treasurer in 1939 by this procedure.
The work of rendering opinions to His Honor, the Mayor, Your Honorable Board, and the various Departments is a necessary part of the activities of this Department. Although every department at some time during the year has had some problem on which advice was sought, the Welfare Department has been the one requiring the most advice. With the co-opera- tion of the Agent of the Board of Public Welfare, several persons were prosecuted in 1939 for obtaining relief fraudulent- ly. In each case in which prosecution was undertaken, the Wel- fare Department produced convincing evidence so that a con- viction was obtained in each instance. In every case the Court has taken occasion to make it plain that such practices will not be tolerated, and that severe penalties will be inflicted upon conviction. Prosecutions of this type undoubtedly have the beneficial effect of preventing others from undertaking to obtain relief fraudulently. In conjunction with the Welfare De- partment, over sixty (60) suits were instituted in 1939 against other cities and towns from which Somerville was entitled to reimbursement for aid rendered here to persons having settle- ments elsewhere. Many of these claims were paid to Somerville without the necessity of actually entering suit, and a number of others were adjusted without the necessity of trial. With the co-operation of this Department, the Welfare Department will
232
ANNUAL REPORTS
continue the policy of bringing suits at least yearly against other cities and towns for unpaid accounts with the result that a considerably increased revenue will be received from this source annually.
I am pleased to take this occasion on behalf of myself and my associates to express our appreciation of the pleasant rela- tions which have prevailed between this department, his honor, the Mayor, your honorable Board, and the various de- partments of the City.
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT J. MULDOON, City Solicitor.
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