USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Williamsburg > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Williamsburg 1916-1930 > Part 31
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From Jan. 1, 1927 until Jan. 1, 1928, the actual time spent on duty was 280 hours, 210 licenses inspected, 11 violations with evidence and data reported and turned over to the District Warden for prosecution, resulting in four convictions, $100 in fines and $22 worth of confiscat- ed property.
Respectfully submitted, L. H. CRANSON, Fish and Game Warden.
Report of Extension Service -
Agricultural Work:
The County Agent has done work with the dairymen in town, getting some fields of alfalfa started and helping one or two men to buy good pure bred bulls. The value of lime has been stressed and sales of the same in town have increased.
There are eight herds in Williamsburg which are now free from bovine tuberculosis and there are 173 cattle in these herds.
Demonstration Work:
There has been but little Demonstration work done the past year, due probably to lack of demand for same from the women of the town. Miss Pozzi is now working with Mrs. Sereno Clark and expects to get something started soon.
Club Work:
Where seems to be difficulty in getting local leaders for culb work. But Mr. Eastman has put some little here and has a few very enthusiastic members.
Pruning demonstrations have been held. A concrete mixing demonstration was held attended by quite a large number of farmers.
Poultry work has been done with several poultrymen and two of the poultrymen have been in the state wide poultry recorl contest.
It is to be hoped that all will feel free to call on the staff of the Extension Service. They are ever ready to give valuable aid.
R. A. WARNER,
Town Director.
.
Report of Trust Fund Commissioners
The Commissioners of Trust Funds held their first meeting June 8, 1927 and organized with C. J. Hills as Chairman and R. S. Jorgensen as Clerk.
On August 15, 1927 the Cossimmioners met with the Town Treasurer at the Hampshire County Trust Company and checked the following list of funds, which was found to be correct :
SPELMAN SCHOOL FUND
Amount
Rate 6%
LaBelle Iron Works bond,
$1,000 00
Whitaker Glessner bond,
1,000 00
6
Public Service Co. of Illinois bond,
2,000 00
5
Toledo Edison Company bond,
3,000 00
5
Pennsylvania Light & Power bond,
1,000 00
7
Indiana General Service Corp. bond,
1,000 00
5
Haydenville Savings Bank account,
27,443 41
4를
COLLINS SCHOOL FUND
Haydenville Savings Bank account, $1,677 09
41 Northampton National Bank stock, 2,000 00 varies First Nat'l Bank of Northampton stock, 2,100 00 ·varies Greenfield First National Bank stock, 2,100 00 varies
Worcester First National Bank stock, 2,400 00 varies
Hampshire Co. Trust Company stock, 2,000 00 varies
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LYMAN D. WAITE FUND
Hampshire Co. Trust Company account, $709 25 41
ELECTA WAITE FUND
Haydenville Savings Bank account, $1,813 40 4를
WHITING STREET FUND
Hampshire Co. Trust Co. account, $5,688 47 41
A. S. HILLS FUND
Second Liberty Loan bond, $5,000 00 41
PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS
Haydenville Savings Bank accounts,
Warren & Warner Fund,
$200 00 4↓
Baker Fund,
- 300 00
4%
Graves Fund,
200 00 41
WEEKS ACCOUNT
Haydenville Savings Bank, $334 60 4를
With a view to increasing the degree of safety of in- vestment it was voted to divide the present deposit of $27,443.41 in the Haydenville Savings Bank account of the Spelman School Fund as follows :
Northampton Institution for Savings, $5,000 00
Easthampton Savings Bank,
3,500 00
Hampshire County Trust Company,
1,000 00
Nonotuck Savings Bank,
1,500 00
Florence Savings Bank, 1,500 00
Haydenville Savings Bank, 14,943 41
58
All of these transfers have been completed with the exception of that to the Northampton Institution for Sav- ings, which will be consummated in July of this year.
It was voted to anticipate the calling of the Second Liberty Loan by the Federal government, and accordingly the $5,000 bond of this issue held for the A. S. Hills Fund has been sold and the proceeds deposited in the Northamp- ton Institution for Savings.
C. J. HILLS,
H. W. GRAVES,
R. S. JORGENSEN,
Commissioners.
.........
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Williamsburg
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1927
Report of School Committee
Your School Committee beg leave to submit their Annual Report as follows :-
The major repairs made during the year 1927 consist- ed of ; Painting the interior woodwork of the Haydenville Grammar School building, reshingling the Maple Street School building, revarnishing the woodwork in the Helen E. James building, rebuilding the chimney and putting a new roof on the same building.
Each year the registration at the Mountain St. School has decreased but it has been impossible to discontinue the school as the pupils could not be accomodated in either of the central schools. Due to re-arrangement of classes in the Haydenville central school it is now possible to ac- comodate the Mountain Street pupils and from Sept. 1928, the Mountain St. school will be discontinued and the pupils transported to the central school in Haydenville.
About ten years ago, Mrs. Helen E. James placed the sum of $3,000 at interest in a Trust Fund to be known as the Helen E. James School Repair Fund. The income from this Fund is at the disposal of the School Committee for major or capital repairs to the Helen E. James School Building. During the summer of 1927, it was decided to place a new roof, flashings and cornice on the Helen E. James School building. The cost of this work was $1,212, of this amount only $12.00 was taken from the regular school appropriation, the balance coming from the Repair Fund.
62
In closing our report, your committee wish to extend to all who have had any part in the administration of school affairs, our sincere thanks for whole-hearted co- operation from all.
Respectfully submitted, J. CLARK FOSTER, WALTER H. THAYER, CHARLES H. GOULD,
School Committee.
TEACHER'S SALARY
Anne T. Dunphy,
$1,700 00
Charles E. Turner,
1,304 00
Bernard M. Cooney,
900 00
Bertrand W. Chapmen,
600 00
Mrs. R. A. Warner,
1,300 00
Linda Howlett,
660 00
June F. Flanders,
340 00
Nellie A. Dolan,
1,100 00
Jennie C. Kiely,
1,100 00
Doris E. Leland,
975 04
Ruth G. Erickson,
85 00
Margaret E. Trainor,
1,083 35
Marion C. Chandler,
1,040 00
Margaret M. O'Leary,
600 00
Millie R. Dansereau,
840 00
Josephine G. Cahil,
176 66
Mary A. Burke,
815 00
Ethel Curry,
950 00
Elizabeth J. Purrington,
1,000 00
Anna Meehan,
320 00
Helen O'Brien,
264 00
Dorothy Jenkins,
67 50
$17,220 55
. ... . . . ....
63
JANITOR'S SALARY
G. Vernon Warner,
$1,040 00
Henry Dansereau,
784 80
Millie R. Dansereau,
36 00
John Widelo,
10 00
$1,870 80
JANITOR'S SUPPLIES
Burke & Burdeau,
$38 74
W. J. Sheehan & Co.,
103 47
J. A. Sullivan & Co.,
2 50
Standard Oil Co.,
15 05
Foster-Farrar Company,
19 53
C. B. Dolge Co.,
28 66
Suriner & McBreen,
5 80
J. L. Hammett Co.,
6 59
Graves Garage,
2 80
Masury-Young Co.,
4 75
Mass. State Prison,
2 34
House of Correction,
53
Carroll F. Jenkins,
4 25
Fuller Brush Co.,
10 10
Ponsell Floor Machine Co.,
174 93
$420 04
MUSIC TEACHERS SALARY
Mrs. Lester LeDuc,
$792 00
MUSIC SUPPLIES
Oliver Ditson & Co.,
$13 48
Theo. Presser Co.,
9 51
Bossey & Co. Ltd.,
16 20
E. C. Foster,
30 00
Arthur P. Schmidt,
6 01
White's Music Shop,
3 12
Mrs. Lester LeDuc,
2 58
$80 80
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SUPERINTENDENT
L. A. Merritt, $1,400 00
SUPERINTENDENCY UNION EXPENSES
L. A. Merritt,
$200 00
W. H. Thayer, 50 00
$250 00
SCHOOL NURSE. AND SUPPLIES
Fabiola Plourde,
$50 00
Mrs. T. F. Lenihan,
301 65
Catherine Long,
100 00
Frank A. Brandle,
1 00
W. J. Sheehan & Co.,
8 70
$461 35
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
Dr. Charles H. Wheeler, M. D.,
$104 00
Dr. Justin G. Hayes, M. D., 114 00
$218 00
TRANSPORTATION
Northampton Street R. R. Co.,
$888 66
H. K. Burt,
360 00
G. B. Buckman,
28 00
C. W. Codding,
310 50
Mrs. Clarence Nichols,
720 00
S. A. Clark,
375 00
Mrs. James Stone,
392 00
Mrs. Donald Sanderson,
78 00
Lyle C. Wales,
252 00
H. M. Rhodes,
201 00
$3,605 16
---- . .....-----
65
FUEL
Elwin F. Miner,
$5 00
David Lacourse,
64 00
S. F. Packard,
16 40
W. E. Kellogg,
42 00
J. H. Graham,
626 64
T. F. Lenihan,
750 85
$1,504 89
REPAIRS
H. B. Lyman,
$44 79
Suriner & McBreen,
159 21
James J. Hogan & Co.,
1,220 34
W. H. Riley & Co.,
2 45
LaFleur Bros.,
19 00
Burke & Burdeau,
24 18
Fred Duplissey,
11 60
W. J. Sheehan & Co.,
153 57
Taylor & Mellen,
69 00
Wilfred H. Graves,
113 25
A. H. Marsh,
217 50
E. C. Foster,
135 00
G. Vernon Warner,
24 51
M. E. Foster,
12 00
H. S. Packard,
31 48
Turner Bros.,
24 50
Chas. H. Gould,
10 63
Foster-Farrar Co.,
4 09
P. H. MVAvoy,
5 95
D. A. Sullivan & Son,
118 40
Geo. Dansereau,
16 00
$2,417 45
5
66
SUNDRIES
N. E. Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
$30 13
Continuation School,
526 72
T. A. Purseglove,
25 15
Allison Spence,
2 00
Town of Williamsburg,
76 00
Commissioner Public Safety,
10 00
H. S. Gere & Sons,
5 85
Bert E. Newhall,
8 50
Helen Nash Hinds,
30 00
J. C. Foster,
3 20
L. A. Merritt,
3 65
$721 20
BOOKS
Ginn & Co.,
$64 77
A. L. Burt & Co.,
10 35
Bridgman & Lyman,
29 75
Hampshire Bookshop,
18 00
D. C. Heath & Co.,
14 48
J. C. Winston Co.,
54 68
University Publishing Co.,
3 83
Lyons & Carnahan,
22 62
American Book Co.,
31 77
Scott Foresman & Co.,
48 69
Clarence Hawkes,
10 80
Hall & Mack Co.,
1 50
Edward E. Babb & Co.,
12 75
Allyn & Bacon,
19 69
World Book Co.,
6 73
B. H. Sanborn & Co.,
16 29
J. B. Lippincott Co.,
15 94
J. W. Heffernan,
1 30
Chas. E. Merrill Co.,
3 41
Iroquois Publishing Co.,
2 10
Chas. Scribner's Sons,
1 50
Macmillian Co.,
2 25
$393 20
67
SCHOOLROOM SUPPLIES
Cambridge Botanical Supply Co.,
$295 96
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co.,
122 65
Milton Bradley Co.,
15 02
J. L. Hammett Co.,
282 35
Dowling School Supply Co.,
23 61
C. A. Gregory,
1 50
Metcalf Printing Co.,
45 75
Gazette Printing Co.,
13 13
J. B. Lippincott Co.,
27 59
G. P. Trowbridge,
22 50
American Multigraph Sales Co.,
221 87
Springfield Office Supply Co.,
31 09
Iroquois Publishing Co.,
13 56
Cons. D. Goods Co.,
174 35
Wiswell. The Druggist,
1 05
Empire New England Co.,
33 79
Edw. E. Babb & Co.,
4 24
Pomeroy, Bros.,
13 01
H. S. Packard,
15 68
Oval & Koster,
19 35
J. W. Heffernan,
1 25
T. A. Purseglove,
64 45
The Sportsman's Store,
27 00
Springfield Athletic Sup. Co.,
11 83
Denoyer-Geppert Co.,
49 15
C. F. Williams & Son,
1 27
March Bros.,
3 40
$1,536 40
FREIGHT AND CARTAGE
Cecil C. Loomis, $3 89
A. H. Rhodes, 26 86
$30 75
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SMITH'S AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL
Tuition,
$1,168 76
LIGHT
Mill River Elect. Light Co., $142 36
INSURANCE
Franklin King, Jr., $230 00
TRUANT OFFICERS
G. Vernon Warner,
$10 00
Henry Dansereau,
10 00
$20 00
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
W. H. Thayer,
$50 00
C. H. Gould,
50 00
J. C. Foster,
150 00
$250 00
SUMMARY
EXPENDITURES
Teacher's Salary,
$17,220 55
Janitor's Salary,
1,870 80
Janitor's Supplies,
420 04
Music Teacher,
792 00
Music Supplies,
80 80
Superintendent,
1,400 00
Union Expenses,
250 00
School Nurse,
461 35
School Physicians,
218 00
Transportation,
3,605 16
Fuel,
1,504 89
69
Repairs,
2,417 45
Sundries,
721 20
Books,
393 20
Schoolroom Supplies,
1,536 40
Smith's School,
1,168 76
Freight and Cartage,
30 75
Lights,
142 36
Insurance,
230 00
Truant Officers,
20 00
School Committee,
250 00
$34,733 71
RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation,
$32,000 00
Spelman Fund Income,
1,738 82
Helen E. James School Repair Fund,
1,200 00
Bridgman & Lyman refund,
9 50
School Order not used
4 34
$34,952 66
Receipts,
$34,952 66
Expenditures,
34,733 71
Unexpended, $218 94
Unexpended balance 1926 Spelman Income, $41 34
Unexpended balance 1927 Spelman Income, 218 94
Total Balance, $260 28
Superintendent's Report
To the Members of the School Committee :
The annual report of the superintendent of schools is herewith submitted :
The work of the schools for 1927 has been one of steady progress. Our success has been due to the hearty and sympathetic cooperation of all who are concerned in the education and training of our children. Much credit is due to the careful deliberations and wise decisions of the School Committee. The problems that School Com- mittees have to face are many and varied and upon a wise solution of such problems depends to a great extent the success of the schools. To the superintendent is given the work of the administration of these schools. But be- yond doubt the greatest factor in the whole scheme of education is the teacher. Upon her falls the supreme task of skillful and sympathetic teaching which shall make for character building and good citizenship. All the needs of a child cannot be supplied however, by these three agencies alone. The parent must through sympathetic cooperation with all of them, aid and complete their work. "Blessed is that boy or girl who has behind him the urge of an appreciative and understanding parent."
Twelve schools were in operation during 1927. There were five at Williamsburg and seven at Haydenville.
Our teaching force suffered the loss of three teachers at the closing of schools in June. Miss Margaret O'Leary went to Northampton. Miss Linda Howlett was appoint- ed to the New Britain Junior High School. And Mr. Bernard Cooney returned to Columbia to study law. On
1
71
the first of December Miss Doris Leland acepted a position at Greenwich, Connecticut. These teachers had been ex- cellent work and their loss was keenly felt.
To fill the vacancies left by these changes, Miss Millie Dansereau was transfered from Mt. St. School to Miss O'Leary's fifth grade. Miss Anna Meehan, a North Adams Normal graduate, was appointed to teach at Mt. St. Miss June Flanders, Westfield, 1927, was elected to take the vacancy left by the withdrawal of Miss Howlett. Miss Ruth Erickson, North Adams Normal, 1927, was ap- pointed to teach grades one and two at Williamsburg. Mr. Bertram Chapman, Vermont University, 1926, was appointed to the English department in the high school.
A change occurred in our health program when we received the resignation of Miss Fabiola Plourde who had been with us three years and had done such excellent work. Miss Plourde had come to be liked by all with whom she worked, and many saw her go with sincere regret.
This vacancy was filled by the appointment of Miss Katherine G. Long, a registered nurse who has taken special training in public school nursing at Hyannis Nor- mal School. The schools under her direction have re- cently begun the Modern Health Crusade which is a definite training in health habits. It is one of the most successful methods of teaching healthy living.
Last June our high school attained a point in achieve- ment which it had never reached before. In competition with graduates of many public high schools and private college preparatory schools one of its graduates passed the Comprehensive College Entrance Examinations. This was the first graduate from this school to pass this type of entrance examination. ,
The school is steadily improving in the attitude se- cured in regard to better preparation of lessons, to at- tendance. to written work, and to a desire on the part of its students to do serious work.
72
For a number of years the juniors and seniors have had a debating society. This group gives each year a number of debates. The best debater from each is se- lected by the judges, and a final debate is held by those so selected. The best debater in this final debate is awarded the Alumni Debating Prize which is $10. This year the society has begun inter-school debating, and looks forward to profitable and pleasant experience against other schools. The inter-school debate is also a new un- dertaking on the part of our high school.
One change in the rules and regulations of the School Committee should be mentioned before closing. That is the change in the entering age of pupils. No child under 53 years of age on Oct. 1st may be admitted to the first grade. This has been adopted so that children will be old enough to profit by the work given, and to eliminate in so far as possible retardation.
Recommendations :
1. Establish a salary schedule for principals and teach- ers. This should be done so that teachers and principals may know what to expect in the way of yearly increases. Too many of our good teachers leave because there is no- thing to look forward to no matter how well their work is done.
2. Remodel the Center Building at Haydenville so as to get better lighting in each school room. This can be done by a rearrangement of the windows.
3. Employ a supervisor of drawing. This can be done on a part time plan and should not be very expensive.
4. Employ a supervisor of penmanship. Here, too, the work could be done on a part time basis and would not cost a great deal.
5. Establish a course of typwriting and stenography in the high school. The use of the typewriter is a practi- cal thing for many people who do not go into commercial
73
lines, and our pupils should be given the opportunity to learn its uses.
6. Close the Mountain Street School. This school is an expensive school. The average cost per pupil there is approximately $83.60, while the average cost per pupil for the town is $56.59. Over $300 per year may be saved by transporting the pupils in that district to the Haydenville school.
7. Increase the length of the grade school year to thirty-eight weeks. Many of the surrounding towns have thirty-eight to forty weeks for a school year. We are ex- pected and required to do as much work in 36 weeks. This is manifestly unfair to our children and should be correct- ed.
The appreciation and thanks of this department are extended to all who have in any way helped in this work of educating the boys and girls of Williamsburg in 1927.
Respectfully submitted,
L. A. MERRITT,
Superintendent of Schools.
74
SCHOOL STATISTICS for the year ending June 30, 1927
School
Boys enrolled
Girls enrolled
Av. membership
Av. Attendance
Per cent of
Attendance
Aggregate
Attendance
Williamsburg High
33
30
59.69
56.77
95
1,0417.5
Grammar
13
13
26.24
25.04
96
4,228.5
Intermediate
19
18
37.67
35.6
95
6,076
Second Primary
17
22
36.72
34.8
95
5,876.5
First Primary
23
24
43.57
40.5
93
6,796.5
Haydenville Grammar
15
16
28.79
26.4
91
4,447.5
Intermediate
30
17
46.88
45.4
97
7,658.5
Grades IV. and V.
23
21
44.00
42.8
98
7,216
Grade III.
20
10
28.54
27.59
97
4,094.5
Grade II.
11
18
28.31
27.6
97
4,649.5
Grade I.
22
11
31.33
29.2
94
4,927
Mt St.
4
8
8.63
7.9
93
1,362
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1928
Sept. 4-Schools open.
Dec. 21-Schools close.
1929
Jan. 7-Schools open.
Mar. 1-Schools close.
Mar. 11-Schools open.
May 3-Schools close.
May 13-Schools open.
June 21-Schools close.
June 28-High School closes.
The usual holidays will be observed.
Report of School Nurse
Mr. L. A. Merrit, and Members of the School Board :
Following is a report of the School nursing activities for the year 1927.
A clinic for the prevention of diphtheria was held in January, serving both towns. A total of 122 children were given toxin anti-toxin. The year 1927 has shown advancement in the health work, with the opening of Camp Hodgkins, at Haydenville Heights. This is a County Health Camp for underweight children. Four children were sent from Williamsburg and Haydenville. These children showed a marked improvement in weight and general physical condition after having three weeks at the camp.
All children in the grades were weighed and measured twice during the year and the underweights were weighed four times. Each child was given a physical examination by the School Physicians at the beginning of the school year. Eye and ear tests were given, and parents advised of existing defects.
The dental clinic under the supervision of the Red Cross was well attended. Approximately four hundred children were examined for dental defects. The work of the dental clinic consisted of 134 extractions, 186 fillings, and prophylactic treatments.
An average of five days a month was devoted to school work, which included the above activities, class room in- struction, follow up work in the homes and first aid dressings.
Respectfully submitted,
KATHERINE G. LONG, R. N.
Report of Music Supervisor
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Dear Sir :- The following is the annual report of the Supervisor of Music in the schools of Williamsburg.
Every effort has been made this year in the study of the theory of music. The children all through the grades should be able to open their music books and sing intelli- gently the songs written for them. The teachers have worked diligently and I feel sure that by the close of the school year these boys and girls will have successfully completed their grades in music.
At Christmas time, two very successful Operetta's were given "Christmas with the Old Woman who lived in a Shoe" was presented at Haydenville, and "Santa's Air Line" at Williamsburg. These showed weeks of careful work on the part of both teachers and pupils.
In the High School my work is with the Chorus, which is composed of the entire school and with the Girls' Glee Club.
Just recently the High School presented a very pretty musical comedy entitled "Miss Cherry Blossom". Both chorus and Glee Club are now preparing for a musical to be given in March, and for graduation in June.
In closing I wish to thank pupils, teachers, and school officials for their assistance and co-operation in my work.
Respectfully submitted,
ALICE G. LEDUC,
Supervisor of Music.
Report of School Physician
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :- I submit herewith my annual report as School Physician for the Village of Haydenville ;
Pupils examined, 208
Cases of diseased tonsils and adenoids, 10
Pupils with very poor teeth, 20
Cases of impetigo, 6
It is gratifying to note the better health of school children during the last few years, particularly in respect to those defects which the parents have been asked to remedy, such as diseased tonsils, teeth, etc. There were no cases of pednculosis seen at the beginning of the school year, and only five pupils had not been vaccinated. These were soon inoculated, making every child immune to small- pox. This is probably the first time in the history of the Haydenville schools that this favorable condition has existed. Some diseased tonsils have been removed and many teeth repaired. This part of the repair program is especially useful. There were no epidemics in the village during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES H. WHEELER.
78
Mr. L. A. Merritt,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :- Following is my annual report as School Physician for the Village of Williamsburg :
No. pupils examined, 202
No. found with decayed teeth, 108
No. with deseased tonsils and adenoids, 10
Respectfully submitted,
1 J. G. HAYES, M. D.
REPORT OF AN AUDIT
OF THE
TOWN ACCOUNTS
JANUARY 1, 1926 TO AUGUST 19, 1927
Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts,
Department of Corporations and Taxation, Boston, Mass.
Sir :
As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the town of Williamsburg for the period from January 1, 1926 to August 19, 1927, and submit the following report thereon :
The books and accounts of the treasurer were exam- ined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were checked with the records in the several departments col- lecting money for the town and with the other sources from which money was paid into the town treasury. The payments were checked with the orders of the selectmen, the school committee, and the water commissioners au- thorizing payment of town funds. The orders of the school committee and of the water commissioners were not signed by the selectmen. The 1926 school orders, which
80
bore the signature of a single member of the committee, could not be checked against the original vouchers, for the reason that they had apparently been destroyed. While the school orders since March, 1927, were signed by two members of the committee, it was found that one of the members had signed a blank book of orders in advance.
In connection with the approval of bills attention is called to Section 52, Chapter 41, General Laws, which reads as follows :
The auditor or officer having similar duties in cities, and the selectmen in towns, shall op- prove the payment of all bills or pay rolls of all de- partments before they are paid by the treasurer, and may disallow and refuse to approve for payment, in whole or in part, any claim as fraudulent, unlawful or excessive; and in that case the auditor or officer having similar duties, or the selectmen, shall file with the city or town treasurer a written statement of the reasons for the refusal; and the treasurer shall not pay any claim or bill so disallowed.
The treasurer's cash book was footed throughout for the period of the adult and the cash balance was verified by a reconciliation of statements received from the banks of deposit. It is recommended that the receipts on ac- count of taxes and interest thereon be entered on the treasurer's cash book separately, by levies.
The appropriations voted by the town were listed from the town clerk's records and compared with the aggregate amount expended from each appropriation, dis- closing overdrafts, which are contrary to Section 31, Chapter 44, General Laws, which reads as follows :
No department of any city or town, except Bos- ton, shall incur liability in excess of the appropriation made for the use of such department, except in cases of extreme emergency involving the health or safety of persons or property, and then only by a vote in a
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