Petitions - City of Somerville

754
44936
Thursday, July 10, 1950
On account of the unemployment situation, which is without precedent
in this city, and despite the efforts of the Employment Secretaries
of my office, vfrio have succeeded in placing close to 2000 men and women at
work, I find that employment conditions seem to get worse.
Several of the factories where we have placed help have been
forced to make large lay-offs.
The axpected increase in "building construction in and around
Boston has not materialized, and according to a statement by one of the offi*
cers prominent in a labor organization, 49$ of the tradesmen of Boston are
out of employment at present.
The Boston Elevated just has been required to place their workmen
on short time, and nearly every factory has been obliged to reduce its
force to a minimum.
One of the chief obligations of the Nation, State and City is
to take care of the men who have served v/ith the colors. In the budget of
this year $53,018.00 was appropriated for Soldiers.Relief for the year 1930.
During the months of January, February and March, the demand for
Soldiers 1 Relief became so great that it averaged over $10,000. a month. With
a viev* to investigating these claims and giving proper consideration to all
Veterans, I appointed on March 14th, a Soldiers* Relief Commissioner, in accordance
with the Ordinance of the city. That this appointment was an advisable
one, can be seen from the fact that nearly 60 persons who had been
receiving Soldiers 1 Relief-for a period of from one to two years, have been
dropped from the list because they were neither disabled, nor did they make
any attempt to obtain employment. However, no disabled Veteran has been deprived
of Soldiers 1 Relief.
Due to the activity of the Soldiers 1 Relief Commissioner in investigating
these cases, and the cooperation of the Employment Secretaries,
the Soldiers* relief was reduced to approximately f5300.00 during the month
of June. This effected a tremendous saving for the city without hardship to
anyone» and more than justified this appointment.
Despite our every effort to keep down expenditures, there has
been spent to date $46,797.15 for Soldiers 1 Relief.
Until we consider a supplementary budget the Soldiers' Relief
Commissioner informs me that he will require §5000. for Soldiers' Relief and
§500.00 for Military Aid to take care of requirements for July and August.
I respectfully request that $5500, be transferred from the Overlay Account
tO-S-Oldiers* Relief and Military Aid accounts.
Yours very truly,
John J. Murphy
Mayor.
Referred to Committee on Finance.
City of Somerville, Massachusetts
Executive Department
To the Honorable the Board of Aldermen:
Gentlemen:
July 10, 1930.
On Tuesday I made a personal inspection of the Fire Department
equipment to obtain first 'hand information as to the condition of the equipment
and to ascertain v/hat was required to bring the Department up to a proper
standard.
I fo-und that the Fire Department equipment was in the same antiquated
condition as that of every other Department of the city.
Under the guise of economy, the working paraphernalia has been allowed
to run down to a deplorable- degree and modern and necessary equipment has not
been provided. Some of the hose listed as equipment was purchased in 1922 and
is in poor shape. The chief requested me to purchase 1000 feet of hose but
after examining the condition of the hose now in use, it is found that at
least 2000 feet 'of new hose should be purchased at once.