USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1917 > Part 2
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The pumping engine so long recommended by the engineers, and a matter of discussion but not of action on our part, has now been contracted for, and we have to pay the penalty of a considerably in- creased cost over what a like apparatus could have been purchased for two or three years ago. With the prospects of the addition of higher buildings in the center an important addition required for our fire ap- paratus in the near future is an aerial ladder truck. With this we shall be confronted with the problem of more housing facilities than we now have for this department.
This department, like that of the police, is decidedly handicapped in its inability under existing conditions to obtain the needed men. The draft very largely reduces the number within the age limit pre- scribed by the Civil Service Commission, but there are a number of men between the ages of thirty-five and forty, competent in every way for fire service, who should be made available for the present emer- gency even if an appeal to the Governor or Legislature is necessary to secure a suspension of Civil Service rules, so essential in the grave situation that confronts police and fire departments throughout the Commonwealth.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Police Department
The chief executives of other cities have marveled when they learn that a city the size of Attleboro has only one patrolman on duty on the street during the day, and while this does answer very satis- factorily for the center, I am entirely in accord with the chief's recom- mendation that provision should be made for regular daily patrol ser- vice in the southern section of the city near the state line where there is so much property entitled to protection and prompt police service, and where the conditions are so conducive to police action. While I have not made a careful analysis I believe it will be generally ac- cepted as a fact that a very large percentage of our police activities occur in that section, for reasons too well known for me to rehearse here. The placing of a patrolman in that section should be supple- mented with direct telephone service to headquarters, and this ser- vice, in accordance with the chief's suggestion, ought to be extended also to the beats of other officers on night duty, although inquiry of the telephone people indicates that the expense attendant on this lat- ter arrangement, will make it impracticable, if not impossible, at the present time.
Attention is again called to the dearth of police officers; in fact, there are two vacancies on our reserve force of five at. the present time, no names on the Civil Service list, and none took the examina- tion advertised for here on the 10th of last month. The restrictions and embarrassments of present Civil Service regulations already re- ferred to as affecting the fire department apply with equal force to this department. Emergency police appointed during the past year for special service, occasioned by our entering into the war, have on numerous occasions effectively supplemented the police service that is being rendered with intelligence and fidelity by the regular force which is inadequate under existing conditions.
We have already taken up the question of abolishing the fire police, so-called, as no warrant for their existence can be found in State or municipal law, provision having been made for them under the ordinances of the fire department because of their existence here when the town became a city, the plan to be proposed to place the po- lice service at fires as elsewhere under the supervision of the Chief of the Police department, an arrangement with which the Chief of the Fire Department fully concurs.
License Question
Comment was made somewhat at length in my address to you a year ago regarding the liquor situation. Because of certain happen- ings during the year just closed, resulting from an interpretation of the Webb-Kenyon Law relative to shipments of liquor into "dry" ter- ritory handed down early in the year, some of our citizens protest at what they are pleased to call "putting the lid on" and threaten that the city will go for license. The margin between license and no li- cense at the recent election, though larger than at several previous elections, compared with the expression of recent years, was so close as to be a startling admonition to no license advocates to organize thoroughly and efficiently for next year's campaign, but the reduced margin does not warrant overlooking infractions of the law as the po- lice authorities are practically asked to do by those advocating the transportation of liquor into this city with what amounts to little or no restriction.
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While we are on this subject, in view of existing world conditions and the trend of the times, permit me to suggest that it is a fair challenge to the patriotism of some of our clubs where liquor is used by their members with a more or less liberal interpretation of the law governing such action, to discontinue the practice for the period of the war. If I could, without violating the confidence of distressed relatives, tell of specific instances within my knowledge of where cer- tain husbands and fathers have resorted to some of these clubs to their own physical and financial detriment, to say nothing of the re- sults to their families, I am confident that the manhood of their mem- bership would wipe this thing out.
School Department
A department that involves the largest expenditure of municipal funds, requiring as it does one fifth of our annual budget, deserves more attention than it is possible for us to give it within the limits of this address. Special note, however, should be made of the strenuous efforts of this department in the face of the increase in pupils, already referred to, advance in salaries of teachers which apparently must go higher if we are to retain those we have, or obtain others competently equipped, and the rise in the prices of fuel and supplies, to keep down expenditures consistent with existing financial conditions and the effi- ciency of our schools which of course cannot be allowed to deteriorate.
The Finance Committee has commented favorably upon the minute data as to estimates and expenses that are always presented by this department, and it should be said to the credit of the committee that a careful inspection of the various items on the part of both Council and Mayor have resulted in very little change in estimates, which have usually been accepted as prepared with an eye to economy and ef- fectual use.
The committee, confronted with an abnormal expenditure for in- surance during the coming year, makes a recommendation for the es- tablishment of a Sinking Fund, with which I am in hearty accord; in- deed, it conforms to a suggestion which I made some two years ago and still adhere to,-which appears to me as only sound business policy,-for a municipal corporation with nearly $25,000,000 of assets to insure itself, inquiry having developed the fact that a like policy pursued in other municipalities results in a material saving in the course of years. The trouble has been that this policy has not been consistently adhered to for a sufficient time as was the case with At- tleboro when the Robinson School fire of some years ago resulted in the placing of insurance very largely on our municipal property. The matter is of enough importance to warrant thorough consideration by a special committee of the Municipal Council, and I therefore recom- mend that early action to this effect be taken by your honorable body.
Charity Department
It will be noted upon reference to the report of the Overseers of the Poor that a very material increase in the amount appropriated for this department is asked for during the coming year, and it is only by a most careful scrutiny and administration of the poor relief that 1917 expenditures were kept down to those of the year preceding. It is true that a reasonably prosperous year resulted in no increase in the individuals requiring aid, but the cost of such aid as was rendered mounted in nearly every particular, and now the State steps in and insists that where it has jurisdiction we must increase very materially the amount of aid given.
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The administration of poor relief is one of the most important as well as delicate tasks of a municipal government, and is becoming more involved and complex as a result of provisions that are being and must be made as one of the results of the war, although very prop- erly the administration of aid to dependents of those in service is not a charity but a responsibility on the part of the City, State and Nation that is being efficiently administered through other agencies than the Charity Department.
I cannot refrain from advancing at this time a recommendation that has been in my mind for some time; namely, that our Charter should be amended so as to provide for a single head of the Charity Department, as was suggested I believe when the Charter was in process of being drafted. This recommendation is made with every appreciation of the conscientious and faithful service rendered by the present Board of Overseers of the Poor, each one of whom I am con- fident will agree with me in the opinion that a single administrative head of this department with a salary adequate for undivided atten- tion to the duties of the office will make for efficiency and economy in the handling of this work.
It appears appropriate to make mention of the fact at this junc- ture that mindful of the shortage of fuel, which is now so apparent, arrangements were made some weeks ago for the purchase of a quantity of coal for domestic use. A portion of the amount ordered has already been delivered, is stored in the water department barn, and available for delivery at cost, in lots as small as 100 pounds, upon requisition by the Charity Department or Associated Charities, to meet emergency requirements that cannot be taken care of through the regular sources of supply.
Health Department
You will undoubtedly share with me the satisfaction resulting from your acceptance' of the recommendation made a year ago relative to the provision of proper laboratory facilities for the inspection of milk and food products by the health department. The value of the equip- ment is reflected in the very comprehensive, and- interesting report submitted by the milk inspectors, and teom'mend the report of Messrs. Fine and Leiboff to your careful attention.' Mr.'Fine's ability attracted attention elsewhere so that we were unable to retain his services after the middle of September. We appear, however, to be fortunate in having been able to secure Mr. Leiboff as his successor, and this im- portant work promises to proceed efficiently under his direction.
Before Mr. Fine left I requested him to look into the matter of garbage disposal, which he did with his usual thoroughness, resulting in an extremely interesting report, in which he recommended that the city take over the collection of garbage and provide for its dispo- sition on a municipally maintained hog farm, submitting detailed fig- ures to substantiate his claim that the city could make this a profit- able experiment. I shall reserve comment thereon until an oppor- tunity presents itself to take this up with you more thoroughly later in the year.
Public acknowledgment should be made at this time of the com- petent services rendered by the City Dentist, Dr. E. M. Webb, who re- sponded to the call to service and is now a lieutenant in the National Army. His work is being ably continued by Dr. J. E. Reynolds.
I desire to call particular attention to the recommendation of the health officer that ice cutting be abolished upon the city water supply both for safety and consistency's sake, as there appears to be a
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greater liability of contamination of the supply from ice cutting than from the fishing privilege which we have denied, but which did not bring in the financial return that results from the ice cutting. Our adherence to the latter lays us open to the charge of a more commer- cial than sanitary point of view.
The work of the health department is undoubtedly more extensive and comes into contact with more of the relations of life than most of our citizens realize, and we are under deep obligations to the efficient head of this department and his well qualified assistants in the various sub-divisions of the work, as well as for the effective co-operation of the school physicians and nurse, the Anti-Tuberculosis and District Nursing Society, and Associated Charities.
Public Library
The functions of the Library have been increased by the addition during the past year of a Children's Room, which in its use and bene- fits has far exceeded the anticipations of the trustees.
Timely literature, appropriate for a country at war, relating to military science, food conservation, gardening, first aid and bandaging, has been a prominent feature of the library's service the past year and in great demand.
Another pleasing feature is the increase in the use of the Library for community purposes, all of which adds to the expense of its opera- tion-particularly the heating-but any added appropriation needed for this purpose is well worth while.
Indeed, it should be our aim to make the Library, with its equip- ment and influences, a center for community activities,-a policy in regard to the use of all public buildings, that is being recognized and approved by municipal authorities to a far greater extent than for- merly prevailed,-taking care, of course, to prevent abuse of the privi- lege and to forestall the introduction of any commercial factor. In these times, demanding so mjich roora for war work and war pur- poses, and especially because of the need of conservation of fuel, pub- lic buildings in daily operation should be available for the uses of the public on every possible' occasion.
The accommodations thus afforded in City Hall are always at the disposal of the public'and are used 'frequently."
Attleborough Hospital
My comments on this institution heretofore have been the result of observation and report, but I am now in a position to offer direct testimony. One does not usually welcome a hospital experience, but in my own case it afforded an opportunity for a period of real rest, and the assurance that we have in our midst well managed and well equipped hospital facilities.
The X-ray apparatus has by gift during the past year been brought up to date in every particular, and a well built tennis court has been laid out and donated to the hospital to provide needed recreation for the nurses and staff.
While we are busy with the needs of the sick and wounded in ser- vice we must not forget those at home, realizing that a hospital ad- mitting nearly 500 patients in the course of a year and constantly grow- ing, must have assistance from all available sources. This can be ren- dered by joining the Hospital Corporation, or becoming a member of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association, indispensable and un- tiring in its efforts, and in a larger way by the annual or permanent
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endowment of a free bed. The number of the latter is far from ade- quate, while the free patients increase, and I repeat my suggestion of a year ago that this city like others in the Commonwealth, should make some annual contribution to the expenses of maintaining this hospital in addition to the insurance and water rates now paid.
Recreation
You will note on reading the report of the Park Commissioners that more than usual emphasis is laid upon the need of an increased annual appropriation for Capron Park to permit of some desirable per- manent improvements to this beautiful recreation center.
While the Municipal Council from its recent inspection of the Park heartily approves thereof, yet I am inclined to the belief that the commissioners, and particularly the efficient and devoted superintend- ent, Mr. Bushee, are likely to be penalized for having done so much and so well with the amount that they have had to work with annually, so that in these times particularly, appropriations for anything more than the maintenance of the park in satisfactory condition will not be thought justifiable or necessary. Such a policy, however, does not in- dicate any lack of appreciation of what has been accomplished, or of how much we are indebted to the commissioners for an interest in the Park which is more personal than official.
The East Side Playground at the corner of Pine and Carpenter Sts. was discontinued last summer, principally because of the com- plaints by neighboring residents about the noise. As was predicted, protest immediately arose at the abandonment of playground activities in that section of the city, and consequently temporary arrangements were made for the use of Bungay field, so-called, just off Starkey Ave- nue, with fairly satisfactory results, considering the location and equip- ment.
Permit me to renew with all the emphasis possible the recommenda- tion that the city take steps during the coming year, through a special committee of the Council to be appointed for this purpose, to provide for a permanent site for a playground on the East Side of the city nearer the center than the Finberg playground at the corner of Park and Bishop Sts., which has, however, been made use of by children from a wide radius, even with the meager equipment provided as a tardy acknowledgment of the characteristic generosity and public spirit of the donor.
Development of Hayward Field located on North Avenue, just above the street railway car barn and now belonging to the city, has been delayed largely for financial and industrial reasons, but I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity for its preparation and equip- ment for athletic purposes before the close of the present adminis- tration.
Gardening combines healthy recreation with the possibility of profitable returns despite the discouraging results of some of our farmers, both practical and inexperienced, during the past summer. Through the efforts of the Planning Board and the Committee on Food Conservation a widespread interest was maintained in the gardening movement throughout the past year, so there is encouragement for the belief that more will be stimulated to like efforts next season. Everything points to a greater need of garden products than ever during 1918, and I am sure your honorable body will be disposed to render financial assistance in every way possible. The showing made by the public market on a net expenditure of less than $100, is war- rant for a larger effort and accomplishment along this line.
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The Dodgeville Social Centre with the substantial and sympathetic encouragement of the mill management, has continued to demonstrate its value as a factor in the economic and social life of that section of our city.
There are many departmental recommendations, much disinter- ested and faithful service rendered by departments minor in size but none the less devoted to their duty, to which I have not specifically re- ferred; in fact, could not, with justice to all concerned, in the time to which this address is limited, but the various department reports form a collection of interesting and instructive information which I com- mend to your reading; indeed, it is the duty, according to my concep- tion, of every municipal official as well as every citizen who is actu- ated by an intelligent interest in municipal affairs, to read the official reports as they appear from time to time in the press which has oblig- ingly devoted a considerable amount of space thereto, and in the bound form later on in the year. Particular attention should be called to the need of adequate and accurate assessors' records, such as would be secured by the survey recommended to you two years ago, the lack of which has never been more evident than in attempting to get exact figures as to the burned area.
Industrial Conditions
The industrial situation has been and is one that arouses grave concern and calls for careful and intelligent treatment, although our conditions here are little more than a reflex of the unsettled state of labor throughout the country. The supply of labor in our major in- dustry has been far from adequate, and there has been marked un- rest among the operatives due to a variety of causes, chief among which is the abnormally high rate of wages paid as a result of the temporary necessities of other industries combined with the constantly climbing cost of mere subsistence.
So far as the possibilities of an open breach between employer and employee are concerned, I have always had confidence that the manu- facturers would be governed by a wise and liberal understanding and interpretation of changed conditions,-that the operatives would be guided by sensible counsel and a desire to avoid the destruction of the wage earning opportunities in the jewelry industry, so that we may be permitted to work out our problem with satisfaction and fairness to all concerned, unassisted by any "ism" except pure, unadulterated Americanism which recognizes the just reward of labor and capital in any enterprise.
It is not possible at this time or on this occasion to give voice to practical suggestions of procedure but this is a matter of the deepest interest to our entire community and one that has been constantly in my mind for months past with the assured intent that constructive and not destructive policies shall prevail in this city.
Another matter of deepest importance to the jewelry industry is the question of its standing as a so-called non-essential industry dur- ing the period of the war, and it appears to me that we should ap- proach this subject not with the query "What are they going to do to us ?," but "How can we help, what can we offer to the government in the way of men, money and machinery to aid in winning the war?"
A committee representing the industry in Providence and the At- tleboros has already been in Washington to ascertain how our plans may be placed at the service of the Government, and a movement is on foot for the possible segregation of parts of our equipment that may be available for work incident to the war.
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Happily, we are assured that there is no disposition to subject any industry to hardship or unreasonable re-adjustments and there is ground for the belief that the larger part of the jewelry industry found inadequate for adaptation to war work, will, as in England, pursue its normal course with the assurance of a fairly steady demand for medium and low price articles such as are manufactured here.
The past year has not been productive of new industries, although the prospects have been as numerous as ever, some with evidences of stability and worth being deterred from coming here owing to the la- bor scarcity and unrest. It is worthy of note, however, that the modest concern established here a year ago through the efforts of the Cham- ber of Commerce, was only last week advertising for help with the assurance of steady work the year round.
I am confident of further additions to our industrial life through the persistent efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and its efficient secretary whose energy and activity since his coming among us have awakened our people, particularly our merchants, to the value of a live and progressive trade organization.
Indeed, an increasing number of our citizens are noting with sat- isfaction and approval the helpful part that the Chamber of Commerce is playing in a number of civic activities and in a manner calculated to serve the best interests of the city.
Although we stand upon the threshold of a new year with all its problems and possibilities, all its opportunities and obligations ahead of us, yet this occasion, in a sense, provides for the valedictory of this administration, as it marks the fourth and final address of this char- acter which it will be my privilege to deliver.
It affords an opportune time, gladly taken advantage of, to renew my expressions of appreciation to the members of your honorable body for the unfailing and stimulating support that has been accorded me in administering the affairs of the city, and it is with very deep satisfaction that I am assured of the continuance with me to the end of my term of the majority of those who set out with me three years ago. For four years the net change in your personnel has been only three, and two of the retirements have been voluntary.
I desire to re-iterate to our citizens, assembled here, my gratifica- tion at our being able to retain the services of these men who have had experience and proven their worth in the Municipal Council, faithfully discharging the duties of their office with prudent economy, without pay and without any evidence of self-interest. Your endorse- ment of them is well deserved and the continued evidence of your confidence in the present administration is valued highly. Messrs. Saart and Smith as chairmen of important committees have set a high standard of accomplishment in their respective duties. We welcome to our ranks one with whom we had pleasant associations in the first year of city government, and also one who bears a name long honored in town affairs.
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