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Ald. LEE. What year?

Mr. REED. 1891. (After examining record book.) Look at December 2— I think I got the wrong date. (Aftering examining record book.) I don't find what I want, so I guess I must have been mistaken. I think that is all.

Q. (By Mr. RILEY.) That is, what you meant, general, by your answer to the question asked you is, that the records kept by you at the meetings where you were present represent the facts truly? That is what you mean, isn't it?

A. The records in that book (pointing) are the acts and doings of the Commissioners, and approved by them; and I kept them and signed them.

Q. The counsel asked you if these records represented the true state of facts, and you said yes?

A. I do.

Q. Now, what you mean to say is that the records put down by you at the meetings at which you were present represent the facts truly, isn't it?

A. Everything in that book represents the facts and not on my own authority alone, but by the approval of the Commissioners.

Q. Let us see about that. There were many meetings when you were not present ?

A. There were some not a great many.

Q.

Well, there were meetings at which you were not present?

A. There was no executive session, as I term it; but there were other meetings.

Q. Well, your understanding of an executive session is that if you are absent there cannot be an executive session?

A. My idea of an executive session is when the records were read and I was present. I may be wrong, but that is my idea.

Q. So that if you happened to be absent for three months, the Board couldn't have an executive session during all that time?

A. If I am absent any length of time, a secretary pro tem. is appointed.

Q. There were meetings at which you were not present and some of the Commissioners would bring you the records of the meeting?

A.

Business has been done when I was out of town.

Q. And who would tell you about it?

A. Oh, I would be called in frequently and told that such a vote was passed by the Commission, and for me to make a record of it.

2. That is, they would tell you what they did?

4. Yes, sir.

Q. And you would put what they told you in the records?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. And if what they said was true, your record would be true?

A. Yes, sir. If they approved it, it was true, so far as I am concerned.

Q. You simply put down what they said?

A. Any of the Commissioners would sometimes bring me a paper and say, This paper was laid on the table,” or, That was referred to So-and-so." Of course, I put it down in my book and made it a part of the record; and when the records were read over to them afterwards and they approved of that entry, it formed a part of the record that is in that book.

Q. (By Mr. REED.) Then, as I understand you, in those instances to which Brother Riley has referred, the record which was made was afterwards read to the Board and approved by the Board?

4. Always.

Q. And that fact is recorded in the book and certified to by you? A. Yes, sir.

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Q. (By Ald. LEE.) Your records state, do they not, what members were present at each meeting where the records were read?

A. They do.

Q. And if only two Commissioners were present, you made a record of that?

A. I made a record of it.

Q. You made a record of who was present when they approved the records ?

A. Yes, sir; and if there were but two present at the time of their approval, I said so.

Mr. BRANDeis. I wish, Mr. Donohoe, that you would also bring these records, as well as the books of account, to-morrow.

Ald. LOMASNEY. — And I want the records of all bodies sent up for anatomical purposes. I only want the record of those sent from Long and Rainsford islands.

Mr. DONоHOE.
Ald. LOMASNEY.
Mr. DONOHOE.

You want all the paupers that were delivered ?
Yes, sir.

I can give you that.

Ald. LEE. — You only want the number?

Ald. LOMASNEY.

No, the name of the person, where they were sent

to, and the time they died.

(Adjourned, at 10.26 P.M. to meet on Saturday, December 22, 1894, at 10.30 A.M.)

EXHIBIT “T.”

CHARLES RIVER IRON WORKS,

EDWARD KENDALL & SONS, 72 to 86 Main street,
CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS., December 21, 1891.

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APPROPRIATIONS, LOANS, AND TRANSFERS FOR PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS, PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, FROM 1852-53 TO 1893-94, INCLUSIVE.

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EXHIBIT “V.”

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

In the Year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-four.

AN ACT

RELATING TO VAGRANTS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

When a person is set to work by an overseer of the poor in the exercise of the authority granted to such overseer by Sect. 2 of Chap. 84 of the Public Statutes, and such person refuses or neglects to perform such labor as the official physician shall certify to be suited to his age, strength, and capacity, such person shall, while he remains an inmate of such almshouse, be subject to such restrictions of liberty and diet as,said overseer shall deem proper, and may on complaint for such refusal or neglect to any court or magistrate having jurisdiction, be punished as provided in Sect. 42 of Chap. 207 of the Public Statutes.

FIFTY-FIFTH HEARING.

SATURDAY, December 22, 1894.

The hearing was resumed at 10.30 o'clock A.M., Chairman HALLSTRAM presiding.

COMMISSIONER EDWIN L. PILSBURY.

Q. (By Mr. PROCTOR.) What is your name ? 4. Edwin L. Pilsbury.

Q. You are a resident of Charlestown?

A.

2.

I am.

Sworn.

You are a Commissioner of Public Institutions? A. I am.

Q. How long have you been a Commissioner, Mr. Pilsbury?

A. Since February, '92.

Q. Do you remember the date in February?

A. February 6, I think.

Q. And your associates during that time have been Dr. Thomas L. Jenks and Mr. Thomas H. Devlin ?

A. They have.

Q. And you have attended nearly, if not quite all these hearings, bave you not, Mr. Pilsbury.

4. I have.

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Q. During your term as a Commissioner, Mr. Pilsbury, what has been the principal work of the Commission?

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The general conduct of the affairs of the Board.

Q. Yes, but I assume from what I have heard here that many changes have been made in buildings here and there and elsewhere? A. Very extensive changes have been made in buildings.

Q. Now, can you state to the committee when you went on the Board where the Truant School was?

4. On Deer Island.

Q. Is there a place being prepared for it now?

A.

There is, at West Roxbury, to be known as the Parental School.

Q. How soon will that be complete?

A.

The Board trust it may be complete within a month or six weeks. That will remove the boys of the Truant School and the House of Reformation from Deer Island?

Q.

A. It will remove the boys from the Truant School.

Q. Where is the House of Reformation?

A. On Deer Island.

Q. Where is it intended to put it as soon as the new building on Long Island is ready to receive the poor now at Rainsford?

A. On Rainsford Island.

Q. That would take them entirely from Deer Island?

A. It will.

Q. And leave nothing on Deer Island but the House of Industry?
A. Very properly.

Q. That, I suppose, will give you more room at Deer Island ?
A. Considerably more space.

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