USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 16
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254
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
VACANT HOUSES.
The care of vacant houses by the Police in the absence of their owners during the summer months devolves on this Depart- ment. That they have received proper attention during the past summer is conclusively proved, as we have received no complaints of any loss ; but parties leaving their houses vacant should not advertise that they are going away, to be gone so long, but they should notify the Officer in charge of the Station House, and then proper attention will be given for the safety of the same.
EXTINGUISHING GAS LIGHTS.
Among the many duties of this Department at the present time is the extinguishing of gas lights. This duty should be done by contract by private parties. It has been performed by this Department since its organization without any ordinance to that effect. Necessarily the night patrol must neglect its Police duties while putting out gas lights, and on many of the out beats it requires over one hour, and with the limited number of Patrol- men at present in proportion to the demands of the public, is certainly disadvantageous. I have yet to learn of any town or city of any magnitude where this duty is performed by the Police Department, and I trust the time is not far distant when this cause of complaint may be obviated.
GRADED SYSTEM.
I know that many object to a graded system, but to my mind the arguments in favor of grading, and the experience of older cities like London, New York, and Boston, where the system has been in practice many years with satisfactory results, are conclu- sive, and should overcome the objections against it, which consist mainly of the doctrine that men should be paid the same amount of money for like service. On that principle the apprentice should receive the same wages as the skilled workman. Again, the quality most necessary to success in a Police Officer is ambition tempered with sound discretion. But how shall this necessary quality be stimulated and encouraged ? There should be an
255
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
incentive to good work and a knowledge on the part of the Officer that good behavior will not only retain him in his posi- tion, but will bring him a material reward in the shape of salary, in case there be no room for promotion. In my opinion, the graded system will be an economy to the city, and greatly increase the efficiency of the service by stimulating ambition on the part of those in the lower grades and inciting those who have attained the higher grades to renewed industry in order to retain their positions. Besides this, the man of experience is worth more than a new man in business. I should like to see only such men apply for admission to the Force as have made up their minds to make Police business their avocation. Those who apply, thinking it is an easy situation, and that they can loaf away their time, will never be of much use to the service. I believe the recommendation for grading into classes to be in the line of civil service reform and hope it will be endorsed by the appointing power.
BOOTBLACKS AND NEWSBOYS.
The necessity of placing bootblacks and newsboys under some degree of surveillance, and obliging them to procure licenses, has been brought to my attention many times during the past year. I would respectfully recommend that an ordinance be passed to license and regulate the business of bootblacks and newsboys, so that good behavior would be all that would be required of them to get a license. Such a system has been adopted in many large cities, as it is a valuable protection to such boys as are well dis- posed and are willing to conform to the rules and regulations. It would also enable the Police to relieve our merchants and citizens of a great cause of complaint and at the same time benefit the boys who conduct themselves in a proper manner.
POLICE TELEGRAPH.
I would respectfully call your attention to the Police Tele- graph system now in use in several large cities. So far as I am able to judge from personal observation, together with reports
256
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
from the cities which have adopted it, I am of the opinion that, if introduced, it would be one of the most powerful aids to the Police Department that has yet been devised. During the past year, upon the recommendation of His Honor the Mayor, we had under consideration the advisability of adopting a Police Telegraph system, which has been in use for some time past in several large cities, and which has given good satisfaction. Sev- eral other systems of the same nature have been presented for examination, all of which have developed special points of merit. On the fifteenth day of January I visited the city of Lynn in company with William Brophy, Superintendent of the Fire Alarm Telegraph of this city, and we had the opportunity of seeing the practical workings of one of these inventions, and I can vouch for its efficiency as an aid in police work.
I would recommend that a barn be built or hired for the use of this Department where we can take care of our own teams, as it now requires to do the work, two horses, two wagons, two ambulances and two sleighs, and harnesses for the same. We have many calls for the Police, and also for the Police ambu- lances to convey persons that are injured or sick, either to their homes or to the City Hospital, and these calls are increasing every year. Any physician who has a patient to be moved either to his home or to the City Hospital will call for the Police ambulance, and often when the patient could be removed in any other carriage. This Department is always willing to render any assistance when it is necessary, but why we should be obliged to bear the expense, when the patient could be removed in any other carriage, I cannot understand. We have conveyed to the City Hospital since January 8th, 54 persons. We have conveyed to their homes during the same time, 16.
I would suggest to the City Council that there should be some form of punishment for the violations of Police Rules and Reg- ulations other than dismissal or being allowed to resign. There are various offences for which Officers should be called to account, and for which a fine or a loss of pay for a certain length of time would answer a good purpose and put into the hands
257
REPORT OF CITY MARSHAL.
of the executive a very necessary judicial function which at pres- ent he does not possess. The following are some of the offences which should be included in the above suggestions :-
Continued and persistent neglect to pay just debts.
Intoxication.
Receiving bribes.
Any act of insubordination.
Contracting a debt under false pretences.
Any acts of oppression or tyranny.
Sitting down while on patrol duty.
Neglect of duty.
Any act of insubordination or disrespect towards a superior officer. Violation of Police Rules and Regulations.
Using disrespectful language.
Neglect or disobedience of orders.
Unjustifiable assault.
Absence from duty without leave.
Failure to report any violation of City Ordinances.
Immoral conduct.
Fault-finding or slandering a brother Officer.
Conduct unbecoming an Officer.
Failure to discover a burglary.
Conduct injurious to the public peace or welfare.
Neglecting or refusing to pay a debt for uniform clothing, or for rent, or the necessaries of life.
Conversing during the tour of patrol duty with any other member of the force, or with a citizen without any cause therefor.
Not patrolling, or not properly patrolling, his route during his tour of patrol duty.
Unnecessary absence from his route during his tour of patrol duty.
Any other act contrary to good order and discipline, or constituting neglect of duty or a violation of the Rules and Regulations of the Department.
It gives me much pleasure to say that harmony, an element of strength in all institutions, has prevailed in this Department. Jealousy and bickerings have been unknown. The conduct and discipline of the force has, with few exceptions, been excellent. A strict compliance with the Rules and Regulations has been demanded, and generally cheerfully complied with. Our
-
258
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
thanks are due to Simon E. Combs, chief of the Fire Depart- ment, and to his assistants. To Captain Hiram R. Williamson of the fire patrol, and members of the Fire Department for favors received and courtesies rendered.
Assistant Marshals Thayer and Churchill, Captain Matthews and Sergeants Ranger and Welsh, are officers of great experi- ence and every way valuable to the city. Their faithfulness to every trust confided to them has made their services invalua- ble to me, with the rank and file of the Department who have so generously given me their support, and have in season and out of season promptly responded to every call and cheerfully complied with all orders given. Also to the Hon. Samuel Utley, Judge of the Central District Court, and the able and genial Clerk of the same, Major E. T. Raymond, who has ever been ready by day and by night to render this Department such services and councils as are so often needed in a business like this.
In closing this Report I can but kindly remember his Honor Mayor Reed who has done so much and so well in everything that pertains to the interest of this Department ; his wise councils are always freely given. And the officers have invariably under- stood that in him they have a steadfast friend, and one who would not be slow to reprove when reproof was necessary. My official acts have been endorsed by him in every case, and the doings of the Department complimented as they deserved. Per- haps I am more keenly alive to the sentiments here expressed than may usually be the case. But when I consider that I too have performed these duties,-and in fact, side by side with many who now comprise this Department,-I think I can fully realize any exertions made in the right direction and appreciate the sup- port which I have been so generously given. In discharging the duties devolving upon me as City Marshal I have endeavored to faithfully and impartially enforce the Laws and Ordinances that each and all might receive the benefits of the same.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
AMOS ATKINSON, City Marshal.
REPORT OF PROBATION OFFICER.
The office of Probation officer having been established the past year, and having been appointed to fill that position, I would respectfully present the following report of the work done to November 30th, 1884. Whole number taken on probation from Central District Court was 103.
Number of males, 94
66 " females,
9
66
taken on Probation from the Superior Court,
2
66
" Worcester Jail, 12
Total, 117
OFFENCES.
Simple drunks,
84
Drunkenness, 2d offense,
11
3d offense,
7
Common drunkard,
5
Larceny,
7
Keeping liquors,
3
Probation, as practised by the court, is simply a suspension of sentence for a limited time to give the offenders opportunity to reform without punishment, upon condition that they be of good behavior, and keep the peace toward all persons ; that they appear at court from time to time as their bonds require and save their sureties harmless ; that they pay to the court the costs they have made the County when the court requires, and that they report to their surety as often as twice each month during their term of
260
CITY DOCUMENT. - No. 39.
Probation. If these conditions are not complied with they are liable to arrest and sentence at any time. Release from prison : Under authority of Chapter 220, Section 69 of the Public Statutes, the Probation Officer may, with the consent of the County Com- missioners of the county in which he is appointed, investigate the case of any person imprisoned in a jail or house of correction for any offence other than a felony upon a sentence of not more than six months remaining unexpired, with a view to ascertain the probabilities of a reformation of such person if released from imprisonment. If, after such investigation, the Probation officer recommends the release of the prisoner, and the court which imposed the sentence certifying a concurrence in such recommen- dation, the County Commissioners, if they deem it expedient, may release the prisoner upon Probation. By direction of the pardoning power under this law, I have investigated and recommended the release of 12 persons from the Worcester County jail. I am of the opinion that much good can be done by the proper enforcement of this law, as it was framed for the express purpose of reforma- tion; the result in most cases has been gatifying. In the discharge of my duties as Probation Officer I am grateful to Judge Utley, District Attorney, Wm. S. B. Hopkins, and the County Commis- sioners for the assistance they have rendered me.
Respectfully submitted.
AMOS ATKINSON,
Probation Officer.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE BOARD OF
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR,
FOR THE YEAR 1884.
At the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, held January 2d, 1885, the following Report was adopted and the Clerk was instructed to present the same to the City Council with the request that when printed, the Board be furnished with 500 copies for their use and distribution.
Also, that the Reports of the Committee on the Truant School and of the City Physician may be printed with them, as has been the custom for several years past.
By order of the Board.
GEORGE W. GALE, Clerk.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE BOARD OF
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Gentlemen of the City Council :
In accordance with the City Ordinance, we present our annual report for the year 1884.
How to deal humanely and wisely with the poor is a problem that has not yet been satisfactorily solved. The officers who are selected as the almoners of the City's bounty are being constantly " between two fires." One person with large sympathy and a knowledge of but one side of the case complains of the executive officer, charging that he fails to perform his whole duty, while another with an eye to the tax levy, and perhaps with no definite ideas upon the policy to be pursued, charges him with an excess of liberality, and that the City funds are disbursed too generously or to unworthy persons; but if our citizens generally would make personal investigation of reported cases, or have an inter- view with the Almoner or some one of the Overseers of the Poor, they would obtain a much more correct idea of what ought to be done or what had been done. .
The indiscriminate giving of alms, without care or a strict investigation, only adds to the evil it seeks to cure, and in time the recipient loses all self-respect or self-reliance and falls into a state of confirmed pauperism, to prevent which is the duty of every one, as it is also to furnish as far as possible employment and to extend kindly sympathy and aid to the prudent and
18
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
worthy, advice to the improvident, and reproof to the lazy and intemperate.
The experience of upwards of twenty years confirms us in the belief that three-fourths of the poverty existing here is the direct result of intemperance, improvidence and shiftlessness, and neglect in making provision while in health and prosperity for the time of sickness and trouble which invariably comes.
The settlement laws now in force give us a large number of dependents which we have not heretofore been called upon to provide for, making it desirable that the various benevolent associations of the City should co-operate with this Board and thus prevent a duplicating of relief and often to avoid contribu- ting to sustain unworthy persons.
It has been the endeavor on our part in all cases to render aid with our best judgment, according to the facts and circumstances of each individual case, regardless of nationality, creed or color, inclining to the side of charity rather than to insist upon the strict letter of the law.
The policy to which brief allusion was made in our last report, of providing as far as possible at the Almshouse for all of those whom we are called upon to fully support, has during the past year been still further carried out, and with such good results that our efforts in the future will continue to be directed to that end.
In the case of the harmless insane, it is found that they can be more comfortably cared for, as well as kept under far less restraint where the numbers are small, than when collected in such vast crowds as fill to overflowing the insane hospitals.
The pauper laws which have yearly augmented the expenses of this department have received an addition by the passage of Chapter 239 of the Acts of 1883, which changes the name of the " School for feeble-minded and idiotic youth " to " School for the feeble-minded," and by the omission of the word Youth, it is claimed, leaves it in the power of the Trustees to retain their scholars until adult age. It is also further claimed by them that under the statute they have a right to compel any city or town to pay for the support of adult paupers of feeble mind in their
265
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
institution against the wishes of the Overseers of the Poor of the city or town where such idiot has a settlement, and to col- lect from such place of settlement the same price as is paid for the support of insane persons at the lunatic hospitals.
The City of Worcester has had three paupers committed to this school, and the bills for their support there have been paid when presented ; but the Board of Overseers of the Poor, wish- ing to provide for all its wards at the City institution, which is pronounced inferior to none in the Commonwealth, respectfully petitioned the Trustees of the school for the feeble-minded for the discharge of those in its care, at the commencement of the summer vacation, as the school was then being closed and the idiots sent home. One, a boy ten years of age, came to our Almshouse, and the others, women grown, one nineteen and the other twenty years old, went to their homes and spent the sum- mer. The request of the Board for their discharge was refused in the case of the two women, but as the boy was already in our Almshouse, although they sent a notice for him to return to their school, they did not remove him. When their bill for the summer term was sent to this City the charge for the boy was $7.43, as they had discharged him, but for the two women, who were in the school precisely the same length of time as the boy, the charge was not only for the full term, but included also the time of vacation, when they were not there, and was $42.71 apiece, or $35.78 each more than for the boy, making in a bill of $92.85, a charge of $71.56 for boarding the two women while absent from the school and at their own homes. When the attention of the Trustees was called to the subject, they claimed that under the statute above quoted they have a right to do so. If this be correct, it is recommended that the Representatives to the Legislature for this city be instructed to ascertain if such was the intention of those who framed the law, and if so, to take such measures as may be necessary to have it so amended as that the feeble-minded may be subject to the control and orders of the Overseers of the Poor of the place where they have their settlement the same as other paupers are, and that the age to which they may be detained in the school shall not exceed
266
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
eighteen years, and that the cost of their maintenance there shall not be charged to or collected from such place of settlement for any time they do not actually reside in the institution.
The suit brought by the City of Worcester against the Town of Barre for the maintenance of Mrs. Mary J. Gates, in the Lunatic Hospital, the claim for which amounted to upwards of $500, has during the year been argued before the Supreme Court and decided in favor of this City, the case being as fol- lows :- Her husband, George W. Gates, had a settlement in Barre, through his parents, which was held by his wife, and she had been for some time in the hospital at the expense of that town, and although living in Worcester several years and assessed here, Gates had evaded the payment of his Poll Taxes, and con- sequently no subsequent settlement was gained here. In April, 1881, the Legislature passed the law, in Chapter 188 of which it is provided that persons who actually maintain themselves, but have a wife or child maintained by the State in a charitable or correctional institution, shall not thereby be pauperized ; and the Overseers of the Poor of Barre, thinking the law applied in their case, refused longer to pay her expenses, and Gates obtained sufficient funds from some source to pay the four poll taxes which had been assessed against him, and claim was made by Barre that a settlement had thereby been gained by him here, although he had up to that time been aided as a pauper by the place of his legal settlement; to which exceptions were taken by the Overseers of the Poor of Worcester on the ground that a man cannot be in process of gaining a settlement in one place during the time he is being aided as a pauper by another town, and that the law above quoted, not being retroactive, could not apply in such case until five years' residence and payment of taxes after the passage of the law.
This is the first suit that has been brought by this City to recover for the maintenance of a pauper for upwards of twenty years, and is of importance, as the prospective cost of providing for the case in question may probably be even greater than the expense already incurred.
267
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
CITY RELIEF DEPARTMENT.
The total number of families having applied for and received aid during the year is eight hundred and twenty-six, comprising thirteen hundred and eighty-four males, and fourteen hundred and seventy-two females, or twenty-eight hundred and fifty-six persons.
Of these, five hundred and twenty-eight families, consisting of eight hundred and sixty-eight males and nine hundred and seventy- four females, or eighteen hundred and forty-two persons, have legal pauper settlements in this city or elsewhere ; and two hun- dred and ninety-eight families, consisting of five hundred and sixteen males and four hundred and ninety-eight females, or ten hundred and fourteen persons were State paupers, or had no known place of settlement.
The whole number having a legal pauper settlement who have received full support for the whole or part of the year is two hundred and fourteen, or one hundred and thirty-one males and eighty-three females.
The number provided for at the several insane hospitals during the year has been twenty-eight-seventeen males and eleven females.
Sixty-eight State paupers have been sent to the State Alms- house at Tewksbury after having been aided here to a greater or less extent.
One hundred and fifteen families, consisting of one hundred and eighty-eight males and two hundred and eighteen females, or four hundred and six persons having a legal settlement in other cities and towns, but living here, have been aided here during the year, in accordance with the wishes or instructions of the Overseers of the Poor of the several places where they have their settle- ment.
In providing for the cases above mentioned, by the Depart- ment for Temporary Aid, at the office of the Clerk of the Board, there have been drawn three thousand, one hundred
268
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
and eighty-four orders on various persons, for the following necessaries :-
For Fuel,
$1,791 50
Groceries,
3,383 10
Clothing,
51 50
Medicine, attendance and nursing,
354 38
Burial expenses,
635 00
Transportation of paupers,
362 64
Insane Hospital bills,
4,486 96
State Reformatory Institution bills,
1,176 29
Cash allowances,
334 44
Aid to Worcester poor in other towns,
907 67
Stationery, postage and printing,
240 44
Miscellaneous expenses,
555 04
Total,
$14,278 96
For the monthly expenditure of which, you are referred to the table attached to this section of the report.
CITY RELIEF DEPARTMENT.
No. of Orders Drawn.
477
$329 50
$495 00
$13 50
$20 95
$45 00
$25 54
$984 43
$21 00
$63 78
$19 75
$45 25
$2,063 70
January,
1884,
618
299 50
556 00
12 25
36 35
50 00
50 90
40 39
$303 82
46 90|
63 77
31 50
75 24
1,566 62
February,
444
322 00
476 60
28 20
80 00
18 29
20 00
91 15
15 00
59 50
1,110 74
March,
391
262 00
411 50
5 00
36 10
60 00
85
1,017 33
126 75
22 75
180 75
112 52
48 12
2,302 67
April,
251
135 00
242 00
39 45
90 00
14 35
33 50
59 27
15 50
92 50
721 57
May,
164
41 50
228 00
12 00
20 70
80 00
44 23
136 50
122 43
15 14
15 50
5 00
35 00
756 00
June,
116
26
164 00
6 00
19 30
25 00
37 53
1,177 28
126 75
34 35
78 50
3 00
36 58
1,734 79
July,
111
12 50
143 00
2 75
18 10
45 00
49 75
36 68
332 07
25 80
86 45
5 00
32 37
789 47
August,
101
14 00
137 00
39 48
45 00
26 20
34 00
50 75
2 00
16 6
365 05
September,
102
45 50 - 107 50
41 95
15 00
18 10
1,004 43
23 75
107 93
3 00
62
1,386 78
October,
136
75 00
155 00
23 20
35 00
34 25
89 92
157 04
35 5
70 75
23 17
50 49
749 32
November,
273
228 50
267 50
30 60
65 00
23 65
7 43
21 75
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