USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1915 > Part 6
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Ballot Clerks - Charles P. Ladd, Jr., Frank E. Kenney, Joseph J. Duffy and Clayton Hilliard.
Checkers at Ballot Boxes - Frank Y. Wellington, George C. Tewksbury, Frank F. Russell and George H. Peirce.
Inspectors - John J. McCarthy, Arthur E. Perkins, John F. Buckley and Chester E. Hoyt.
Tellers - John Z. Lawson, George Howland, Charles A. Paine, Herbert L. Converse, Oscar A. Schnetzer, James E. Sweeney, William D. Grannan, David T. Dale, John B. Meaney, Fred G. Wilder, Daniel E. Murphy, George White, John E. Robinson and George M. Richardson.
A sealed package of ballots, containing 3500, supplied by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, was then delivered by the Town Clerk to the presiding officer, who publicly broke the seal and delivered the ballots to the ballot clerks.
The ballot boxes were examined by the presiding officer and the Town Clerk and were found to be empty and the registers set at zero.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
A list of registered voters was supplied to the ballot clerks and checkers at the ballot boxes by the Registrars of Voters.
At five (5) minutes after six (6) o'clock in the morning the polls were declared open for the reception of votes and were kept open until thirty (30) minutes after four (4) o'clock in the afternoon, at which time, after due notice, they were declared closed.
During the day, from the opening of the polls until the same were closed, the keys of the ballot boxes were in the custody of Con- stable John Duffy.
By unanimous consent the ballot boxes were opened at various times during the day for the purpose of removing ballots to be counted.
At 7 o'clock the boxes registered the number of votes cast as follows:
At seven o'clock
A to L 234
M to Z
170
Total 404
At eight o'clock
A to L
497
Total
897
At nine o'clock
A to L
740
Total
1367
At ten o'clock
A to L
822
M to Z
693
Total
1515
At eleven o'clock
A to L
892
M to Z
745
Total
1637
At twelve o'clock
A to L
938
Total 1733
At two o'clock
A to L
1132
Total
2043
At three o'clock
A to L
1200
M to Z
976
Total
2176
And 4.30 o'clock
A to L
1324
And close
M to Z
1067
Total 2391
At four-thirty (4.30) o'clock the registers on the ballot boxes showed that two thousand three hundred and ninety-one (2391) votes had been cast. This was the total vote cast, the largest in the history of the Town. The unused ballots (1109) after being counted by the ballot clerks, were sealed up and delivered to the Town Clerk, together with the number cast (2391), these two
M to Z
400
M to Z
627
M to Z
795
M to Z
911
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TOWN RECORDS
amounts accounting for the total number of ballots received from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, viz .: 3500.
The Chairman, Town Clerk and Election Officers canvassed the votes given in and the whole number was found to be two thousand three hundred and ninety-one (2391) which were sorted, counted and declaration made thereof in open meeting by the Town Clerk at forty minutes after five o'clock in the afternoon as follows:
GOVERNOR.
Nelson B. Clark, Progressive Party, fifty-five (55).
Walter S. Hutchins, Socialist, thirteen (13).
Samuel W. McCall, Republican, thirteen hundred eighty-four (1384).
Peter O'Rourke, Socialist Labor, one (1).
William Shaw, Prohibition, ninety-one (91).
David I. Walsh, Democratic, eight hundred thirty-two (832). Blanks, fifteen (15).
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.
Edward P. Barry, Democratic, seven hundred fourteen (714).
Calvin Coolidge, Republican, fifteen hundred eight (1508). Alfred H. Evans, Prohibition, sixty-five (65).
James Hayes, Socialist Labor, one (1).
Chester R. Lawrence, Progressive Party and Citizens' Nomination Papers, thirty-eight (38).
Samuel P. Levenberg, Socialist, sixteen (16). .
Blanks, forty-nine (49).
SECRETARY.
Edwin A. Grosvenor, Democratic, seven hundred seventeen (717).
Albert P. Langtry, Republican, fifteen hundred eleven (1511).
Thomas J. Maher, Socialist Labor, eight (8).
Marion E. Sproule, Socialist, fifteen (15).
Willard O. Wylie, Prohibition, sixty-five (65).
Blanks, seventy-five (75).
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TREASURER. Henry L. Bowles, Democratic, seven hundred sixteen (716). Charles L. Burrill, Republican, fifteen hundred nine (1509). Charles E. Fenner, Socialist, thirteen (13).
William E. Marks, Prohibition, fifty-nine (59). Jeremiah P. McNally, Socialist Labor, six (6). Blanks, eighty-eight (88).
AUDITOR.
Alonzo B. Cook, Republican, fourteen hundred seventy-eight (1478).
James W. Holden, Socialist Labor, seven (7).
Henry C. Iram, Socialist, fifteen (15) ..
Jacob C. Morse, Democratic, seven hundred seven (707).
William G. Rogers, Prohibition, sixty-nine (69). Blanks, one hundred fifteen (115).
ATTORNEY-GENERAL.
Henry C. Attwill, Republican, fifteen hundred forty (1540).
Frank Auchter, Prohibition, fifty-six (56).
Joseph Joyce Donahue, Democratic, six hundred eighty (680). John McCarthy, Socialist, sixteen (16).
William Taylor, Socialist Labor, two (2).
Blanks, ninety-seven (97).
COUNCILLOR, SIXTH DISTRICT.
Joseph H. McNally, Democratic, seven hundred forty-four (744). Henry C. Mulligan, Republican, fourteen hundred eighty-two (1482).
Blanks, one hundred sixty-five (165).
SENATOR, SIXTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT.
Wilton B. Fay, Republican, fifteen hundred fifty (1550). Whitfield L. Tuck, Democratic, seven hundred sixteen (716). Blanks, one hundred twenty-five (125).
REPRESENTATIVE, TWENTY-NINTH MIDDLESEX DISTRICT. Jacob Bitzer, Republican, eighteen hundred twenty-nine (1829). Blanks, five hundred sixty-two (562).
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TOWN RECORDS
COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
Alfred L. Cutting, Republican, fourteen hundred sixty-seven (1467).
John Lathrop Dyer, Republican Reform Nomination Paper, fifty-two (52).
George A. Goodwin, Progressive Party, seventy-seven (77).
Michael M. O'Connor, Democratic, six hundred fifteen (615).
William H. Walsh, Democratic Citizen Nomination Paper, fifty- four (54).
Blanks, one hundred twenty-six (126).
COUNTY TREASURER.
DeWitt Clinton Clapp, Republican Citizens' Nomination Paper, ninety-six (96).
Joseph O. Hayden, Republican, fourteen hundred fifty-four (1454). David A. Keefe, Democratic, six hundred fifty-five (655).
Blanks, one hundred eighty-six (186).
SHERIFF, MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
John J. Donovan, Democratic, six hundred sixty-two (662).
John R. Fairbairn, Republican, fifteen hundred seventy-four (1574).
Blanks, one hundred fifty-five (155).
On the question "Shall the proposed amendment to the con- stitution, empowering the general court to authorize the taking of land to relieve congestion of population and to provide homes for citizens, be approved and ratified?" the following result was announced : Voting " Yes" fourteen hundred and eighty-one (1481). Voting "No" five hundred and eighteen (518).
Blanks, three hundred ninety-two (392).
On the question "Shall the following proposed amendment to the constitution, enabling women to vote, be approved and ratified " the following result was announced: Voting "Yes" eight hundred fifty-seven (857). Voting "No" fourteen hundred ten (1410).
Blanks, one hundred twenty-four (124).
On the question "Shall the proposed amendment to the con- stitution, relative to the taxation of incomes and the granting of
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
reasonable exemptions, be approved and ratified?" the following result was announced: Voting "Yes" fifteen hundred thirty-seven (1537). Voting "No" four hundred seven (407).
Blanks, four hundred forty-seven (447).
The election returns were filled in, signed by the Selectmen and countersigned by the Town Clerk, and were delivered to the Town Clerk to be forwarded by him to the several places of destination.
All business calling the meeting having been disposed of, the presiding officer, at forty-five minutes after 6 o'clock, declared the meeting dissolved.
A true record. Attest:
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk. .
MEETING OF TOWN CLERKS.
Arlington, November 12, 1915.
Pursuant to law the Town Clerks of Arlington and Lexington met in the office of the Town Clerk of Arlington, on Friday the twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, at 12 M., for the purpose of canvassing the votes cast on the second day of November for a representative to the general court of the Commonwealth to represent the Twenty- ninth Middlesex District.
The canvass showed the following result of the votes cast in Arlington and Lexington:
In Arlington Jacob Bitzer had eighteen hundred twenty-nine (1829) and in Lexington, seven hundred twenty-seven (727), making a total in the two towns of twenty-five hundred and fifty- six (2556).
As there was no other candidate the returns showed that Jacob Bitzer had a plurality of the votes cast in both Towns. Two cer- tificates were filled out, signed by the Clerks of both towns, one sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth and one to be delivered to Jacob Bitzer of Arlington.
THOMAS J. ROBINSON, Town Clerk of Arlington. CHARLES W. SWAN, Town Clerk of Lexington.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN.
The following report is submitted by the Board of Selectmen to the citizens on matters coming under the control of the Board together with such recommendations as they consider worthy the attention and consideration of the Town.
ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD FOR 1915.
At the annual March meeting of 1915 the Town having returned to the system of electing the Selectmen for a term of one, two and three years, Willis P. Howard was elected for one year, Thomas J. Donnelly for two years, and Horatio A. Phinney for three years. The Board met in the Selectmen's office on Monday eve- ning, March 1, 1915, and organized with Willis P. Howard as Chairman and Thomas J. Robinson as Clerk.
The duties of the Board are mostly of a statutory nature and include the supervision and control of the Police Department, Fire Department, Outside Poor, Public Lands and Buildings, Soldiers' Relief, State Aid, Military Aid, Gypsy Moth Work, Licenses of all kinds, and other matters pertaining to Town officers and not provided for by Statute Law.
In matters pertaining to Highways, Street Lighting, Franchises, Pole Locations, etc., the Board acts with the Board of Public Works as the Joint Board.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Willis P. Howard, Police Department and Public Lands.
Thomas J. Donnelly, Fire Department, State Aid, Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief.
Horatio A. Phinney, Outside Poor, Town House and Public Buildings.
As OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
Horatio A. Phinney, Chairman.
Thomas J. Robinson, Agent and Clerk.
73
74
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
TOWN DEBT AND TAX RATE.
On December 31, 1914, the fixed debt was
$792,250.00
Amount paid during the year
41,950.00
$750,300.00
Amount added during the year
65,500.00
On December 31, 1915, the fixed debt is
$815,800.00
While it will be seen from the Treasurer's Report that $139,500 in notes and bonds were issued in 1915; $74,000 of this sum was authorized in 1914, but not issued until 1915, and was included in the report of 1914, showing the net debt at the close of 1914 as $792,250.
The loans authorized and issued in 1915 amounting to $65,500 were as follows:
New High School furnishings
$18,500.00
New High School grading, etc. 11,000.00
Summer Street Extension 12,500.00
Water Extensions
12,000.00
New Fire Apparatus
2,000.00
New Streets
9,500.00
$65,500.00
SINKING FUND.
The amount of this fund on December 31, 1914, was
$93,672.94
Amount added during the year:
For Interest on Fund
$4,168.22
By Appropriation 14,550.00
18,718.22
$112,391.16
Amount paid from fund during the year:
Rent of Safety Deposit Vault
10.00
On December 31, 1915, the Sinking Fund is $112,381.16
Nothing was paid out of this fund in 1915 and none will be paid until 1922.
The fund is divided and classified as follows:
Water Loans
$83,129.44
Sewer Loạns
26,240.11
Town House Site Loans
2,532.36
Park Loans
479.25
$112,381.16
75
SELECTMEN'S REPORT
TAXABLE PROPERTY, STATE AND CEMETERY TAXES AND TAX RATES.
The taxable property in the Town, both real and personal, as reported and assessed by the Assessors for the year 1915, was as follows:
Personal Property
Real Estate
1914 1915
1914 1915 $2,046,807.00 $2,417,831.00
$13,765,955.00 $14,879,529.00
Showing an increase in personal property of $371,024 and an increase in real estate of $1,484,589 over 1914 and making the total taxable property of the Town in 1915, both real and per- sonal, $17,297,360. If the tax on the above property could be devoted to Town purposes only, the tax rate would be about $17, but we are called upon to pay the State, County, Metropoli- tan and other taxes levied by the State, amounting to $80,000, and necessitating the raising of our tax rate to $21.80. In other words, the maintenance of our Town departments costs the citi- zens of our Town $17.49 on every $1000, while this tax we are called upon to pay to the State and County amounts to $4.31 on each $1000 taxes paid.
STATE, COUNTY AND METROPOLITAN TAXES.
1915
1914
Increase
State Tax
$35,197.50 $31,587.50 $3,610.00
County Tax
18,300.00
17,322.62
977.38
Metropolitan Sewer Tax
14,540.00
14,611.90
71.09*
Metropolitan Park Tax
7,904.05
7,748.82
155.23
Metropolitan Water Tax
17,850.63
16,583.39
1,266.24
Charles River Basin Tax
1.145.20
1,222.72
77.52*
Alewife Brook Tax
2,567.75
2,646.59
78.84*
Fire Prevention Tax
106.07
106.07+
Wellington Bridge Tax
23.81
23.81+
Corporation Tax
49.76
49.76+
National Bank Tax
3.03
3.03t
$97,688.61 $91,723.54 $5,965.07
*Decrease. +Not levied in 1914.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
As will be seen from the foregoing table, the increase in taxes paid the State and County in 1915 was $5,965.07 more than in 1914, or an increase of more than 612 per cent. The increase in the amount raised for the maintenance of the various Town de- partments shows only the natural increase as the Town increases in population. With the tendency on the part of Legislature to increase rather than decrease the State taxes, the Board again urges the necessity of the practice of strict economy in all our departments, consistent with efficient service, if we are to keep our tax rate about $20, where it properly belongs. The Board is of the opinion that with our rapidly increasing population and our likewise rapidly increasing taxable property values, the tax rate can be kept down to the figures indicated if all depart- ments work in harmony and with this idea in mind, setting $21 tax rate as the maximum and as much less as can be without impairing the present efficient service.
CORPORATION AND BANK TAX RECEIVED BY THE TOWN.
1915
1914
Increase
Corporation and Bank Tax
$17,914.94
$17,918.85
$3.91*
Street Railway Tax
9,406.77
10,027.99
621.22*
Boston Elevated Ry. Tax
3,253.63
3,223.29
30.34
Bay State Street Ry. Tax
356.51
365.02
9.51*
Middlesex Street Ry. Tax
122.01
120.10
1.91
$31,053.86
$31,655.25 $602.39*
*Decrease.
The above figures show that the Town received, in 1915, $602.39 less from these taxes than in 1914. This decrease, while not as great as in 1914, compared with 1913 (a decrease of $3,221.24), shows that while the State is greatly increasing the tax levied on cities and towns, a smaller amount each year is received from these sources, necessitating a corresponding increase in our tax rate.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the year there has been no change in the personnel of this department, which consists of a Chief, Lieutenant, Sergeant and nine Patrolmen.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
The Board is pleased to report that the work of the department during the year has been kept at the high standard of efficiency of previous years. It will be noted, by a perusal of the report of the Chief to this Board, that multifarious duties are imposed on this department by a critical and exacting public.
It will also be seen how inadequate are the resources of the department to meet these exactions.
The Town is rapidly growing, new streets are being laid out and dwellings built thereon, thus requiring the patrolling of streets where but a few years ago only fields and waste land existed. To properly patrol these streets and give to all our citizens that feel- ing of protection to which they are entitled, the Board is of the opinion that the present force should be increased by the appoint- ment of two additional officers. The need of these two officers is more strikingly called to your attention when you consider the vast number of automobiles that daily pass through our Town and that our citizens are not properly protected at the danger points leading to and from the center of the Town, viz .: Pleasant Street, Mystic Street and Medford Street.
POLICE AMBULANCE AND PATROL WAGON.
From a careful consideration and study of the conditions exist- ing in this department relative to the handling of injured persons and the transportation of prisoners to the Court at East Cam- bridge, the Board is of the opinion that the best interests of the Town will be served by the purchase of a combination ambulance and patrol wagon for the department.
By referring to the report of the Chief to this Board, it will be seen how many accident cases the department is called on to care for during a year and the difficulties under which the officer in charge labors in order to properly care for these cases. The Board recommends the appropriation of $1500 for the purchase of an ambulance and patrol wagon for this department.
PATROLMEN'S PAY.
A request has come to the Board for an increase in pay for the patrolmen of the department. The men are paid at the present time $3 per day (seven days). They are allowed, with pay, one day off in fifteen. If not on duty for any reason (except sickness)
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
they receive no pay. If sick, by a certificate signed by the at- tending physician and approved by the Chief, the Board may allow half pay for a period of thirty days. If ill longer than thirty days, the officer receives no pay.
After a study of the salaries paid in municipalities similar to Arlington, the Board recommends that the wages paid the patrol- men of the Town be $3.20 per day, an increase of twenty cents ($0.20) per day.
For details of the work of the department, reference is made to the report of the Chief of Police made to the Board and made a part of this report. For details of expenditures, see Auditor's report under Police Department.
OUTSIDE POOR DEPARTMENT.
During the year 1915 the following amounts have been ex- pended for the care of the poor:
Amount appropriated $8,000.00
Received from State for reimbursement under Chap-
ter 763, Acts of 1913 1,515.99
Received from income Poor Widows' Fund
435.00
Received from individuals 24.00
$9,974.99
Amount expended in 1915
9,957.21
Balance unexpended
$17.78
From the above figures it will be seen that it has cost the Town about $1000 more in 1915 than in 1914 to care for the poor.
This expenditure covers all amounts paid to individuals, insti- tutions, other cities and towns, all emergency cases and aid ren- dered under the provisions of Chapter 763 of the Acts of 1913 (commonly known as "The Mothers' with Dependent Children Pension Act"). This Act requires that "adequate" aid be rendered (after careful investigation) to mothers with dependent children. If the State authorities approve the action of your local Board, they will reimburse the Town one-third the amount expended. The aid rendered must cover all expenses of the family, meaning rent, fuel, clothing and food. The local Board
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
is called upon to determine, before aid is rendered, whether the applicant is a proper person to not only care for her own children in a proper manner, but also whether she is a person who can handle a cash allowance or whether all interests will be best served by providing the necessaries for her. The weekly payroll for persons aided under this Act, at the present time, is $106, amounting, as can be seen, to about $5500 per year. From this amount the Town receives one-third reimbursement, or about $1833. The balance of the appropriation must take care of all other cases (and they are many) coming to the attention of the Board, and includes unfortunates in institutions, almshouse, old people with no children, hospital care, and those aided in other cities and towns, but having a settlement in Arlington.
It is only by a very careful consideration of each individual case that the Board has been enabled to meet all the requirements of this department of their work during the year. That the cases have been carefully investigated is evidenced by the fact that the State has approved in every case the findings of the Board and has allowed reimbursement for the total amount claimed.
It is the policy of the Board to aid all deserving persons unfortu- nate enough to require aid and to promptly discontinue aid when the necessity for that aid ceases. It is not the policy of the Board to encourage idleness, lack of the sense of obligation or a shifting of the natural responsibilities that rest with the parent for the child and the child for the parent.
The Board has been aided in the work by the willing co-opera- tion of the various charitable organizations in the Town, in some cases taking the whole responsibility when the Board, for legal reasons, was unable to aid.
For details of expenses, see Auditor's Report.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
No material change has been made during the year in the force of this department. During the year (December 31, 1915) the new motor-driven ladder truck was installed, the appropriation for this piece of apparatus ($6000) having been made at the Town Meeting in March.
With the installation of this truck, making three pieces of motor -.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
driven fire apparatus, the Board feels that the Town is better pro- tected than ever before.
The Chief of the department reports that all three pieces of apparatus are in first-class condition and capable of rendering efficient service.
The department has, during the year, continued to do very satisfactory work, although the number of calls was thirty less than in 1914. This fact, however, does not lessen the need of an efficient Fire Department, but does do credit to our citizens being alive to the prevailing "Fire Prevention" regulations. The total property value endangered by fire in 1915 (both build- ings and contents) was $117,750, while in 1914 the property endangered was $208,500. Applying the same rule of prevention to the fire and police departments of the Town, it will be seen that it is economy for the Town to maintain these departments at the highest possible efficiency.
The Board indorses the recommendation of the Chief of the department for the appointment of an additional permanent man, believing that the rapid increase in the number of buildings erected in the Town (amounting to $1,200,000 in 1915) warrants this only normal increase in the department.
The appropriation made for the department in 1915 was $15,800 and this amount together with a slight reimbursement was ex- pended. The Chief of the department has submitted to the Board a very full and complete estimate of the requirements of the department for 1916. The Board recommends the appropriation of $16,000 for the Fire Department for 1916.
For detailed report of the work of the department, reference is made to the report of the Chief of the department.
For details of expenditures, see Auditor's Report.
MILITARY AID, STATE AID AND SOLDIERS' RELIEF. STATE AID.
This aid is rendered to veterans of the Civil and Spanish wars and to the widows of veterans. The amount paid each applicant varies in accordance with the conditions existing, the largest amount being $6 per month, and the smallest being $4. This aid is ren- dered only by the approval of the Commissioner of State Aid and the whole amount is reimbursed by the State the following year.
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SELECTMEN'S REPORT
It will be seen, therefore, that aid rendered under this heading costs the Town nothing directly but is included in the State Tax paid by the Town. The monthly pay-roll of State Aid varies from $175 to $200.
MILITARY AID.
This aid is rendered only where it is shown that pension and State Aid is insufficient to properly care for the applicant and is only rendered in extreme cases of need. When rendered State Aid is suspended until the need of greater relief is removed. The State reimburses the Town one-half of the amount expended. During the period of 1915 there was only one receiving this aid, and at the close of the year the need in this case had been removed. Other cases are, however, liable to arise at any time.
SOLDIERS' RELIEF.
This aid may, in the judgment of the Board, be rendered to veterans and widows of veterans, where the applicants have settle- ment in this Town and are in needy circumstances and where a pension and State Aid are insufficient to properly care for them. The cases aided under this law are few and the monthly pay-roll of $35, as reported in 1914, has been reduced to $28. Like Military Aid, however, new cases may apply at any time. The Town bears the entire expense of this aid.
SUMMER STREET ESTATE.
This property, known as the Almshouse property, has not been a paying proposition for the past year. Owing to the absolute necessity for repairs, one-half the house has been vacant.
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