USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1902 > Part 3
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ART. 32. The committee recommended, That a committee of three citizens be appointed by the Moderator, who together with the Sewer Commissioners, shall be instructed to investigate further the subject of Sewers, and the immediate need of the Town for a system of Sewers. To secure a complete estimate of the cost of maintenance, as well as the construction of such sewers as they deem necessary to construct. Also to examine and report upon the methods adopted by other towns for the levying and collection of Sewer Assessments, making a recom- mendation regarding the same, and to secure definite information from towns where sewage is pumped, this Committee to report in print at a future town meeting, and that a sum not exceeding $1,000 be appropriated for this purpose. Committee, Henry B. Sprague, Benj. O. Honors, Edward A. Maxfield.
Voted, That the report of the Committee on Art. 32 be accepted and adopted.
42
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
ART. 33. The Committee recommended, That this article be laid upon the table, pending the report of the committee at some future meeting.
ART. 34. That Art. 34 be indefinitely postponed.
ART. 35. That Art. 35 be indefinitely postponed.
Voted, That the reports of the Committee on Arts. 33, 34 and 35 be accepted and adopted. .
ARTS. 36 and 37. Voted, as recommended by the Committee that in view of the increasing expenditures of the Town, these articles, relating to remodeling the Town Hall, be laid over until the next annual Town meeting, and that the sum of $100 be appropriated to pay for architect's plans on proposed remodeling.
Article 38. To see what action the Town will take in regard to purchasing the lot of land in the rear of the Town Hall, provided the same can be obtained at a reasonable price and appropriate money therefor as petitioned for.
In regard to Article 38, we are of the opinion that the price given by the owner of the lot, $2,200, would not justify the Committee in recommending its purchase at the present time, and in view of the very remote possibility of its being required for the use of the Town, we recommend the indefinite postpone- ment of this article.
Voted, To indefinitely postpone Art. 38.
On motion of Martin E. Nies, it was resolved, That whereas, A certain citizen, A. O. Cahoon, has been subjected to material loss by certain acts of the Town, in which his interests were in a legal sense neglected ; be it resolved, That it is the sense of the Town that justice be done to its humblest citizen, and that a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to investigate the matter and report at the same meeting to be called on the sewerage matter. The Moderator appointed the following as a
43
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1901]
committee under the above resolution : Martin E. Nies, Gilbert Delano, H. C. Bulfinch, M. V. B. Stone, and Edmund Russell.
Voted, at 10.15 P. M., to dissolve the meeting.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
State Election November 5, 1901.
TOWN WARRANT.
ESSEX SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Swampscott in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in elections, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Swampscott, on Tuesday, the fifth day of November next, it being the Tuesday next after the first Monday of said November, at six o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to bring in their votes to the Selectmen, on one ballot, for :
Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Councillor for the Fifth Essex District, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney-General, Sen- ator First Essex District.
Two Representatives in General Court for Eleventh Essex District, County Commissioner, two Associate Commissioners, District Attorney, Clerk of Courts, Sheriff.
The polls to be kept open until 4.30 o'clock P. M.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting attested copies thereof at the Town Hall, Depot, Post Office, and three
44
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
other public and conspicuous places in the Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands, this eighteenth day of October in the year nineteen hundred and one.
GFORGE A. R. HORTON, JOSEPH M. BASSETT, C. B. DELANO, Selectmen of Swampscott.
A true copy. Attest :
RICHARD G. GILLEY,
Constable.
Return on the Warrant.
Pursuant to the within Warrant to me directed, I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Swampscott to meet at the time and place and for the purpose herein mentioned, by posting up attested copies of said Warrant at the Town Hall, Depots, Post Office, and ten other public and conspicuous places in said Swampscott, on Thursday, October 24th, 1901, the posting of said notices being seven days before the time of said meeting.
RICHARD G. GILLEY, Constable of Swampscott.
State Election, November 5, 1901.
In accordance with the foregoing Warrant, the voters of the Town met in the Town Hall on Tuesday the fifth day of Novem- ber, 1901, and were called to order at six o'clock A. M. by Geo.
45
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1901]
A. R. Horton, Chairman of the Selectmen and presiding Elec- tion Officer.
The Warrant having been read by the Clerk, also, the return thereon, Willis C. Paul as special Election Officer, and Willard M. Hatch, Rep. and Abram G. Stone, Dem., as Ballot Clerks, were duly qualified by the Clerk. All the requirements of the law relating to elections having been complied with the polls were declared open and balloting commenced at 6.05 A. M.
The following were qualified by the Clerk as Tellers: Her- bert W. Webster, Edgar M. Tuttle, Benj. F. Rich, Joseph D. Spinney, Reps., Bernard McDermott, H. Byron Martin, Frank D. Thurston and William H. Collins, Dems.
By vote of the meeting the polls were kept open till 4.33 P. M.
At 5.55 P. M. the vote was declared as follows, 402 ballots having been cast :
Governor.
Michael T. Berry, of Haverhill
4
W. Murray Crane, of Dalton
313
John B. Lewis, Jr., of Reading
.
13
Josiah Quincy, of Boston
. 52
George H. Wrenn, of Springfield .
8
Blanks .
·
12
Lieutenant-Governor.
John L. Bates, of Boston
· 315
John W. Coughlin, of Fall River
48
Alfred E. Jones, of Everett .
3
William H. Partridge, of Newton
II
Charles W. White, of Boston
· I2
Blanks .
.
13
Secretary.
Frederick W. Clark, of Boston 16
Alonzo H. Dennett, of Middleborough
II
Jeremiah O'Fihelly, of Abington ·
5
William M. Olin, of Boston .
308
Willmore B. Stone, of Springfield . Blanks .
.
.
43
.
19
46
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Treasurer and Receiver General.
· George E. Batchelder, of Lynnfield 19
Wendell P. Bosworth, of Brockton
8
Edward S. Bradford, of Springfield
304
Joseph L. Chalifoux, of Lowell
39
Frederick A. Nagler, of Springfield Blanks . .
4
28
Auditor.
James F. Dean, of Salem 36
Frank Keefe, of Lynn .
7
John H. Smith, of Dalton
17
Frank Thompson, of Plymouth
II
Henry E. Turner, of Malden
300
Blanks .
31
Attorney-General.
Allen Coffin, of Nantucket I3
John T Hargraves, of Worcester
4
Herbert Parker, of Lancaster
3II
Arthur A. Putnam, of Uxbridge
39
Clarence E. Spellman, of Westfield
IO
Blanks .
25
Councillor-Fifth District.
Edward A. H. Grover, of Danvers 16
S. Henry Noyes, of Newburyport . IO
Robert S. Rantoul, of Salem
45
David I. Robinson, of Gloucester 303
Blanks . 28
Senator-First Essex District.
Edward F. Dwyer, of Lynn . I7
Irving H. Goldthwait, of Lynn I2
William Bennett Murphy, of Lynn
38
Thomas F. Porter, of Lynn
304
A. R. Bunting
I
Blanks . 30
47
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1901]
Representatives in General Court-Eleventh Essex District.
William F. Craig, of Lynn
243
James A. Elliott, of Lynn 18
Albert R. Ellis, of Swampscott
.
46
Theodore Fillatrault, of Lynn
9
George H. Jackson, of Lynn
252
Andrew J. Olsen, of Swampscott
80
Fred S. Stone, of Lynn
IO
Frederick D. Stone, of Lynn
30
Blanks .
II6
County Commissioner-Essex.
Wallace Bates, of Lynn 272
William J. Jackman, of Lynn
II
Asa T. Newhall, of Lynn
.
64
J. Choate Underhill, of Hamilton
19
Blanks
36
Associate Commissioners-Essex.
James W. Bailey, of Merrimac
II
Isaac A. Berry, of Danvers .
23
Andrew H. Crispin, of Gloucester .
33
· Charles S. Grieves, of Amesbury 14
281
William M. Stuart, of Lawrence
274
Frank J. Whelan, of Lawrence
36
Blanks
·
I32
District Attorney-Eastern District.
Charles H. Bradley, of Haverhill
18
W. Scott Peters, of Haverhill
313
Michael L. Sullivan, of Salem
37
Blanks .
34
Clerk of Courts-Essex County.
Edward B. George, of Haverhill
316
Albert L. Gillen, of Haverhill
21
Blanks · .
65
.
·
Sherman Nelson, of Georgetown
.
48
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Sheriff-Essex County.
Samuel A. Johnson, of Salem
. 307
Frank Lee, of Lynn
·
26
Frank N. Rand, of Haverhill
.
18
Blanks .
51
ATTEST : MILTON D. PORTER,
Town Clerk.
49
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1901]
Town Clerk's Statistics.
Births Recorded.
Males, 64; females, 41 ; total, 105.
In January, 5; February, 7; March, 2; April, 10; May, 8; June, 12; July, 10; August, 12; September, 12; October, 6; November, 10; December II.
Nativity of Fathers-Massachusetts, 43 ; Maine, 15; Canada and Italy, 12 each; Ireland, 6; England, 3; Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, 2 each; Connecticut, New York, Florida, Michigan, Norway, New Foundland, China and France, I each.
Nativity of Mothers-Massachusetts, 54; Canada, 20; Italy, II; Ireland, 6; Maine, 3 ; Pennsylvania and England, 2 each ; Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Illinois, Sweden, Port- ugal and France, I each.
Fathers born in Swampscott, 10; mothers born in Swamp- scott, 8.
Marriages Recorded, 47.
In January, 2; February, 5 ; March, 2; April, 7; May, I ; June, I ; July, 2; August, 3; September, 7; October, 10; November, 5 ; December, 2.
50
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Nativity of Grooms-Massachusetts, 25 ; Maine and Canada, 4 each; Vermont, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri, Georgia, Colorado, New Hampshire, New York, England, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and Italy, I each.
Nativity of Brides - Massachusetts, 25 ; Canada, 9 ; Ireland, 4; Italy, 3; Rhode Island, 2; Vermont, New York, Pennsyl- vania and Scotland, I each.
Occupation of Grooms -Clerks, 7 ; salesmen, 4 ; shoemakers, carpenters, conductors, 3 each ; retired, merchants, teamsters, 2 each ; teacher, station agent, dentist, student, cashier, clergyman, insurance agent, real estate, mechanical engineer, civil engineer, R. R. mail clerk, railroading, scale marker, gas fitter, grocer, blacksmith, fisherman, gardner, stone mason, farmer and laborer, I each.
Deaths Recorded.
Males, 40 ; Females, 49; total, 89.
In January 5, February 5, March 6, April 10, May 10, June 7, July 3, August 10, September 9, October 6, November 7, December II.
Under 5 years, 19 ; 5 to 10, 2 ; 10 to 20, 3 ; 20 to 30, 7 ; 30 to 40, 8 ; 40 to 50, 7 ; 50 to 60, 7 ; 60 to 70, 12 ; 70 to 80, 14 ; 80 to 90, 10. ,
Causes-Heart disease and pneumonia, 12 each ; paralysis, 10; Bright's disease, 6; cancer, consumption, meningitis and still born, 5 each; marasmus, septicaemia, carcinoma of liver, old age, drowning accident, railroad accident and suicide, 2 each ; congestion of lungs, dysentery, diphtheria, typhoidfever,
51
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1901]
blood poison, bronchitis, tuberculosis, gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, diabetes, intestinal indigestion, cholera infantum, exhaustion, peritonitis, infantile debilty and burning accident, I each.
Seventy Years of Age and Over -- Thomas Widger, dysen- tery, 84 yrs. 10 mo. 21d. ; Betsey Douglass, congestion of lungs, 84 yrs. 7 mo. 9 d. ; William C. Redfern, heart disease, 84 yrs. 3 mo. I d .; Susan H. Williams, old age, 82 yrs. 10 mo. 18 d .; Sarah Ann Harris, paralysis, 82 yrs. 8 mo. 21 d .; Maria New- comb, paralysis, 82 yas. 2 mo. 7 d .; Atkins Dyer Baker, pneu- monia, 81 yrs. 4 mo. 22 d. ; Hannah Whistler, heart disease, 80 yrs. 10 mo. 8 d. ; John B. Prince, paralysis, 80 yrs. 5 mo. 15 d. Mehitable Small, paralysis, 80 yrs. 2 mo. 18 d. ; Jane H. Jack- son, paralysis, 79 yrs. 7 mo. 4 d. ; William Needham, Bright's disease, 78 yrs. II mo. 25 d. ; Joshua P. Small, old age, 77 yrs. 10 mo. 19 d .; Joseph Stanley, cancer, 77 yrs. 10 mo. 13 d. ; Elizabeth Thomas, paralysis, 77 yrs. 8 mo. 26 d. ; John E. Chase, pneumonia, 77 yrs. 5 mo. 23 d .; Joshua Y. Newcomb, gastro enteritis, 77 yrs. ; Eben N. Wardwill, asphyxiation, 75, yrs. 10 mo. 6 d. ; Hannah M. Hawes, pneumonia, 75 yrs, 3 mo. 20 d. ; Sophia E. Pierce, bronchitis, 75 yrs. 3 mo. 10 d. ; Catherine H. Rich, pneumonia, 74 yrs. 5 mo. 12 d .; Mary M. Joy, diabetes, 73 yrs. 3 mo. 26 d .; Mary Stacy Galeucta, heart disease, 73 yrs. I mo. 7 d. ; Mary Ann Hurley, paralysis, 70 yrs.
Dogs Licensed.
Males 159; females 42 ; total 201.
One breeder's license, for which $50 was paid.
52
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Licenses Issued to Junk Dealers.
Seven at $10.00 each.
To Peddlers of Foreign Fruit, Etc.
Four at $2.00 each.
Attest : MILTON D. PORTER, Town Clerk.
53
RECORDS OF TOWN CLERK.
1902]
List of Jurors
Prepared and posted by the Selectmen, for the consideration of the Town at the annual meeting, March 17, 1902.
Adams, John I.
Ashton, Herman F.
Bassett, Frank H.
Blanchard, George H.
Lyons, James T.
Blanchard, Horace W.
Merritt, John R.
Bradford, Frank H.
Cann, John W.
Moore, J. Frank Nies, Martin E. Nisbett, David W.
Cahoon, L. Herbert.
Collins, William H.
Nisbett, J. E. O.
Conner, George M.
Pettingell, Samuel J.
Crowell, Joseph F.
Phillips, James E.
Cullen, John A.
Pierson, Sidney N. Quinn, Martin L.
Delano, Gilbert
Rowe, Allen S.
Doane, Harry M.
Stone, M. V. B.
Douglass, Henry E.
Spinney, George F.
Douglass, Rodney A.
Taylor, James L.
Doughty, Willis E.
Tuttle, Edgar M.
Earp, John B.
Wiley, Edwin F.
Finney, Winslow
Widger, J. Henry
Curtis, T. B. P.
Heath, George A. Jackson, Charles T. Jameson, John A.
5
54
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Report of the Selectmen.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
Again it is our pleasure as well as our official duty to lay be- fore the citizens of Swampscott a receipt of our transactions for the year now drawing to a close. We feel that we can the better do this as the past year has been one of prosperity to all. The interests of the Town have been well guarded, the appropriations entrusted to our charge have been judicously expended, as will appear on reference to the report of the different departments hereto presented. Many subjects of vital interest to the Town have received our undivided attention.
Essex Street Bridge.
The Selectmen have attended all hearings at Boston, and be- fore the County and Railroad Commissioners. The first com- mission included only the railroad and the town. The Board took exception to this and had that commission set aside and another appointed, which included the county of Essex and the cities of Lynn, Salem and Beverly. At the completion of bridge, the commissioners will give a hearing to all parties interested, at which time any exceptions may be taken.
This commission has full power to assess cost, and after their decision, the town will know the exact amount it is to pay. The The job will probably be completed March 15, and the hearings will follow in about thirty days.
55
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
1902]
House Offal and Ashes
The Selectmen have advertised for proposals in this matter and the contract for ashes was given to Louis A. Delano, and the collection of house offal to Benjaman T. Getchell. The work as far as we have been able to learn has been done in a satisfac- tory manner.
Street Crossings
The street crossings voted to be laid by the Town were put in place during the summer. The stone was furnished by Tuttle & Edgerly and the work done under the direction of the Super- intendent of Streets.
Orient Street, Wall and Fence.
The contract for setting capstones and iron rails was given to Lyons & Mather, they being the lowest bidders.
A new entrance and steps to beach were set in place at the easterly end. The completed work is a great improvement over the old style of wooden rails.
Cemetery
Eighty-seven new lots have been added to the cemetery the past year. These lots are of various sizes with prices varying from $25 to $50. New avenues have been laid out connecting the new and old portions. This addition will probably be ample for years to come. The work was done by M. McDonough, he be- ing the lowest bidder.
Ellis Road.
This street was built as by vote of the town during the past summer. No contracts for this work were offered, but was given to townspeople and done under the supervision of the Superintendent of Streets.
Town Hall.
We wish to call attention particularly to the condition of the tower. Two contractors have been consulted, and both agree
56
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
that the timbers in the base are in a decayed condition, and the great weight of the bell and fire alarm apparatus in the top make it dangerous. This matter should be attended to at once. The building should be painted inside and out, also a new floor laid in the upper hall. To do this we would recommend an appro- priation of $2,200.
Petitions.
A large number of petitions have been received to lay out streets. In the several cases, plans have been made, notices posted, and hearings held, after which the streets have been laid out by the Board. This matter will be submitted to the citizens for acceptance at the annual March meeting. At a time too late for the Board to take action, petitions were received for the lay- ing out of Outlook road, Ingalls terrace, Hardy road, Phillips avenue also a side street running from Orient street to Phillips. These petitions we refer to our successors in office.
Beach Bluff Culvert.
We have visited this locality several times during the past sum- mer, and at the end of the year find ourselves in an embarrassing position regarding the matter. The abutter on one side claims that the culvert in its present condition is a constant damage to his property while the abutter on the opposite side threatens suit in amount of several thousand dollars if any change is made. We had hoped that the parties interested would come to a mutual understanding, but such has not been the case. We think the culvert in its present condition a nuisance, as stagnant water stands several months in the summer. In our opinion, the only solution is in raising the bottom of the drain about eighteen inches, but owing to the attitude of the parties interested, we make no recommendations.
Atlantic Avenue Culvert.
This matter has been thoroughly investigated by the Board. We find the plank sides and bottom decayed, and would recom- mend that the sum of $400 be appropriated to repair same.
57
REPORT OF THE SELECTMEN.
1902]
Claim of Mrs. Emmons.
On account of straightening the boundary lines in the con- struction of Paradise road, a number of trees and shrubbery were removed and a portion of the property of Mrs. Harriet N. Emmons was taken. After various interviews, Mrs. Emmons and the Selectment have decided on a sum of $400 as damage, and we recommend that this amount be appropriated. The cost of rebuilding fence has been paid from the Selectmen's appro- priation.
Appropriations.
We have consulted the heads of departments as far as able and recommend the following amounts :
Selectmen's Department
$5,000 00
Highway Department
8,000 00
Sidewalk Department
1,500 00
Crushing Stone .
1,000 00
Catch Basins and Gutters
900 00
Resetting Curbstone
300 00
Tree Warden
400 00.
School
21,000 00
Street Watering
2,500 00.
Health
1,500 00
Police .
4,900 00
Street Lights
8,000 00
Poor
3,000 00
Fire .
5,400 00
Town Hall .
900 00
Concrete and Curbstone
500 00
Cemetery
750 00
Library
450 00
Care Monument Lot
35 00
Memorial Day
150 00
Water Rates
900 00
Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid
1,000 00
Amount carried forward,
$68,085 00
58
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Amount brought forward,
$68,085 00
Interest, (estimated) ·
2,800 00
State Tax, (estimated) .
3,500 00
County Tax, (estimated)
5,500 00
$79,885 00
Respectfully submitted
GEORGE A. R. HORTON, JOSEPH M. BASSETT, CLARENCE B. DELANO,
Selectmen.
59
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1902]
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The first matter which we desire to call to your attention is the Supervision Law of 1900 : "An Act relative to the employ- ment of Superintendents of Schools by cities and towns."
The school committee of each town or city in the Common- wealth may, and after July first in the year 1902 shall employ at the expense of the town or city a Superintendent of Schools, who under the direction and control of the committee shall have the care and supervision of the public schools ; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to dissolve existing unions for the employment of a Superintendent, or to prevent towns from uniting for such employment under the provisions of sections forty-four and forty-five of chapter forty-four of the Public Statutes, or of section six and seven of chapter four hundred and sixty-six of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight.
In accordance with the above, your committee at a meeting held May 22, 1901, voted, to appoint Mr. Harold C. Childs, principal of our High School, as Superintendent of Schools from September Ist, 1901.
As it will be seen, we did not wait until the maximum time, as we desired that this change should take place at the commence- ment of the school year.
As it is customary for the Superintendent to report to the School Committee and through them to the citizens of the Town, we will simply review the improvements and repairs that have been made on the school buildings and grounds during the past year.
60
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 21
Repairs and Improvements.
During the past year all the school buildings (the wooden structures) have been painted, a new fence built at the Reding- ton and Farm schools, the seats and chairs in three rooms shel- laced.
The improvement most needed was made at the Redington street building, where the narrow crooked stairs were replaced by broad and comfortable ones. We also enlarged the upper halls and the room on the first floor, which was formerly used as a playroom for the primary grades. This can be, and we think must be, used as a class-room the coming year. New sanitary, as well as additional heating arrangements have been made.
These changes greatly improved this building, making it the best in town with the exception of the Phillips school.
Phillips School.
We have been obliged to raise the chimney on this building in order to improve the draught. This has had the desired effect.
We found that the roof needed repairing as the slating was cracked and broken. This also was attended to.
Acknowledgment.
We acknowledge with thanks, a gift to our schools of several beautiful silk flags from the " Women's Relief Corps."
These flags were placed in the class-rooms, to help keep alive the spirit of patriotism in the hearts of our youth.
We now refer you to the Superintendent's report which con- tains detailed information and statistics of interest, with sugges- tions and recommendations.
Respectfully submitted,
F. E. INGALLS, E. F. SMALL, E. M. BAILEY.
61
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1902]
"The money paid by the town for schools is not an expense it is an invest- ment."
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott :
GENTLEMEN,-In submitting this, the first report of the Super intendent of Schools for the town, allow me first to acknowledge the general interest and sympathy of the town's people in the work of the schools. The town has not been grudging in its support or captious in its criticism of them, as a rule.
It is well that the townsmen are interested in the support and well-being of their schools, though they may not be able to give much personal attention to them. The schools are the most im- portant part of any community's work. The education of its youth is a more vital interest than that of roads or parks or any other thing in which any town may be interested, therefore the town rightly pays more for its schools than for anything else, i. e., invests more in them.
But when any work is entrusted by a town to a committee of its citizens, the whole body of citizens is inclined to dismiss any idea of personal responsibility in the matter, and should its com- mittee in the exercise of its judgment, happen to differ in that judgment from some individual citizen, he is too likely to oppose such committee because of personal feeling rather than because of any desire to benefit the town. Condemnation of any town officer is the right of a town, but such condemnation should be always for the good of the town and not the result of family or personal feeling. This is particularly unfortunate in school mat- ters in which all self-seeking and personal feeling should be un- known. We are fortunate in this town that so few are actuated by any but the best motives in criticism of school affairs.
Criticism for the bettering of the schools is always desirable, and when citizens become personally acquainted with the faith-
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