Report of the city of Somerville 1939, Part 14

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1939
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 434


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1939 > Part 14


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).


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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



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



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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