Petitions - City of Somerville

Thursday:,_AprJl3. 24 153.0.
as members of Fire Department,
John K. Barrett ' 44367
Frederick M cGc~v_ern
Joseph G. Growlev * 44368
William J. Fitzgerald
Ernest J. Lenhart
as permanent members of police department
Albert H. C. Tyler as special policeman 44363
Referred to Committee on Public Safety.
To the Honorable the Board of Aldermen,
Gentlemen:
City of Somerville, Massachusetts 44362
Executive Department
April 24, 1930
I have before me for consideration, the order of Aldermen John M.
Grattan and John M. Lynch, calling for an increase in wages for city laborers
chauffeurs and mechanics.
Recently I had a conference with a delegation from the City Employee's
Union, and I explained to them In detail the condition of the City's
finances. I pointed out to them that for five years previous to 1929 there
had been an average increase in new building of about $4,000,000, whereas in
1929 there was an increase of approximately $2,500,000; that on account of
the stock market crash, Somerville's share of the State Income Tax would be
greatly reduced; that thi's year the city has to meet additional expenses
that no other administration has had to face. These items include the first
of ten annual payments of $50,000.00 each plus interest amounting to $22,000
this year on the Northern Artery; a natural increase of $68,000. for school
teachers over which the Mayor has no control; an increase of $30,000. for additional
police officers needed for protection of our citizens; $9,000. for
additional firemen; the first payment on the new high school additions, and
other unavoidable burdens.
For these reasons, and also because I propose to have a survey made
of the v/ages paid in other cities with a view to giving the employees of the
City of Somerville a wage equal to any city of our size and of equal financial
resources, I informed the delegates that it would not be possible to
grant an increase this year.
I further explained to them, that it was my intention to try and
keep the city employees on full time and eliminate,'to the best of my ability,
the customary seasonal lay-offs. I also pointed out that not a single
city employee had been laid off since I have been Mayor, although in a number
of other cities lay-offs have been made.
The City Employees of Somerville know my friendly attitude toward
them, and I have granted them every reasonable request, including permission
to hold'boxing bouts at Dilboy Meld in aid of their Relief Fund. I have
always fought for the rights of the working man and will continue to do so.
I am certain that this attitude is reflected in the friendly spirit manifested
toward me by the City Employees and I appreciate the splendid manner
in which they have performed their duties thus far.
However, I want to take this opportunity to express my contempt
for those insincere persons who attempt to make political capital at the expense
of the unsuspecting city employees.
This order was not introduced in good faith with the idea of getting
the city employees a raise, but with the idea of placing me in an embarrassing
position. This order was introduced at the behest of a disappointed
politician who has endeavored to make as much trouble as he possibly could.
He is no friend of the city employees but is endeavoring to use them as a
smoke screen behind which to hide his nefarious jealous and reprehensible
tactics.
The makers of this order were also members of the Committee on
Finance of the Board of Aldermen and not once did either of them broach the
subject of a pay raise for city employees. Instead, they chose, for the sake
633
Veto
633