PART I.

REPORT TO THE GENERAL COURT.

BOSTON, January 26, 1915.

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled:

The finance commission submits herewith its report for the year 1914-15, as required by sec. 18, ch. 486, Acts of 1909.

1. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION.

The personnel of the commission has changed since the date of the last annual report. On February 3, 1914, the chairman of the commission, Mr. John A. Sullivan, was appointed by the present mayor to the position of corporation counsel and immediately tendered his resignation to the governor. He was succeeded as chairman on February 25, 1914, by Mr. John R. Murphy, to fill out Mr. Sullivan's unexpired term, and on June 24, 1914, Mr. Murphy was reappointed as chairman of the commission.

On June 23, 1914, Mr. Geoffrey B. Lehy, after five years of continuous service, resigned and was succeeded on September 26, 1914, for his unexpired term of one year, by Mr. James M. Morrison.

The commission wishes to record here its appreciation of the work done by both Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Lehy. The city of Boston has lost by their retirement the services of zealous and efficient men, devoted to the work of the commission and with absolute courage and integrity in the fulfillment of their duty. The citizens at large who have known the commission only through its published reports can hardly realize the large amount of work which these men did during their long service, or how intelligently they performed their part to solve the many difficult questions brought before the commission for solution.

On August 19, 1914, Mr. James P. Magenis sent his resignation to the governor to take effect upon the appointment of his successor. As no successor has been appointed, Mr. Magenis has continued his service.