of all the people, without regard to social distinctions, the means of obtaining an education sufficient for all the practical purposes of life, is largely due, no doubt, to the liberal provision which has always been made for its support. The public sentiment of the city has always been in favor of a liberal provision for educational purposes, and it is hoped that this sentiment will never cease to be a characteristic of this community. But there are limits to expenditures for even the best of objects, and in view of the large amount of the aggregate expenditure for this department of the city service during the past two or three years, I would respectfully suggest that during the present year all demands for extra outlays be carefully scrutinized.

The last Legislature passed an act creating a Board of Street Commissioners, and giving to them all the powers which the Board of Aldermen, before the passage of the act, possessed, concerning the laying out, altering, or discontinuing the streets or ways in the city, and concerning the abatement of taxes. The third section of the act confers upon the Commissioners such extraordinary powers that I venture to quote it entire. It provides that whenever said Board of Street Commissioners shall adjudge that the public safety and convenience re

quire that any street, lane or alley in the said city shall be laid out, altered or discontinued, they shall make and record an estimate of the expense thereof; and if such estimate shall exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, or if such estimate, with the estimates of any previous alteration or discontinuance of any part of said street, lane or alley, during the municipal year, shall exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, the order for such laying out, alteration or discontinuance, together with an estimate of the expense thereof, shall be sent to the City Clerk, who shall forthwith lay the same before the City Council for their concurrence or rejection; and such act shall not take effect or be in force until said City Council shall concur therein; provided, that if said City Council shall not act definitely thereon within thirty days after the time when the same shall have been laid before them, and cause a certified copy of their proceedings to be transmitted to said Board of Street Commissioners, the order shall take effect at such time as said Commissioners may determine.

The purpose of the Legislature in giving to a Board of Street Commissioners jurisdiction of the subject of abatement of taxes is not readily apparent. Many of the other duties and powers

of the Board of Aldermen, or of the City Council, might as appropriately have been conferred upon the Street Commission.

The Commissioners are required to submit to the City Council any proposed laying out, alteration or discontinuance of any street, lane or alley, only when their estimate of the expense thereof shall exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars; and even in that case, if the City Council shall fail to act definitely upon the subject within thirty days from the time when it shall have been laid before them, the power of the Commissioners in the execution of their plans ceases to have any limit, or to be subject to any check or control.

The time given by the Statute to the City Council in which to act definitely upon the important questions which will, under the provisions of the law, be submitted to them by the Commissioners, is altogether too short for the proper investigation and discussion of subjects of such magnitude.

If the two branches shall, after due deliberation, fail to concur, then the power of the Commissioners, after the lapse of thirty days, becomes absolute and unlimited.

The usual deliberations and discussions of the Commissioners will probably not be, like those of

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both branches of the City Council, public, and they, therefore, will not be so subject to the restraining influences of public opinion. They are not charged with the duty of raising or providing for the money which they spend, and they therefore will be less likely to feel a proper responsibility for its expenditure. Great power is given to them, and no sufficient checks or restraints upon its exercise are imposed.

I believe I shall have the concurrence of the gentlemen who have been elected Commissioners under this act, when I advise (as I do most earnestly advise) the City Council to ask the Legislature to modify and amend the act.

The subject to which this law relates, viz: the streets and avenues of the city, is one of such exceeding importance, that were it not for the act in question I could not excuse myself for not considering it more at length.

It is now very obvious that in the early history of the city some of the municipal governments failed to foresee and appreciate the future growth, prosperity and wants of the city; and it is to their want of foresight that many large expenditures for widening, improving and laying out of streets which have been already made, and which still require to be made, are properly chargeable.

The public improvements in this respect have not kept pace with private enterprise. Recent legislation has given greater power to anticipate the wants of the future in this respect than formerly existed.

It is also of great importance in a sanitary point of view, as well as for the public convenience, that the grade of projected streets should be properly established. The addition to the city of large territory, by the annexation of Roxbury and Dorchester, has given an increased importance to this subject. I earnestly recommend the City Council so to exercise whatever power and influence may remain to them on this subject that they may not be amenable to the same charge which is now made against some of their predecessors.

Under the authority of a special act of the Legislature of 1868, the city took possession, on the 13th of July last, of the land, with the buildings thereon, lying between Pleasant street and Dover street, known as the Suffolk Street District, for the purpose of abating the nuisance caused by impaired drainage. The plan of improvement proposed, and in part executed, is substantially the same as that carried out on the Church Street District. The grade of the territory is to be raised in accordance with a