DISPOSITION OF SUITS. Decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court. City of Boston v. Treasurer and Receiver General et al. (237 Mass. 403.) A bill in equity was brought by the city to recover moneys paid by it in pursuance of legislation to cover the deficit of the Boston Elevated Railway Company. The city attempted to have certain provisions of the Acts of 1918, chapter 159, authorizing said payment, declared unconstitutional and void as against the City of Boston, and to prevent the assessment upon the city as required by said act. The defendants filed demurrers and the Supreme Judicial Court sustained them. The city then asked for a writ of error to the United States Supreme Court, where the case is now pending. Charles E. Donlan v. City Council of Boston. (238 Mass. 557.) This was a petition for the issuance of a writ of prohibition, filed in the Supreme Judicial Court by Dr. Charles E. Donlan, for many years superintendent of the Boston Almshouse and Hospital. The Board of Trustees of the hospital sought to remove Doctor Donlan as superintendent, alleging neglect of duty, and the City Council, in pursuance of the statute giving it jurisdiction over such cases, removed Doctor Donlan. The petition sought to restrain the City Council from continuing to hold the hearing, and to prohibit them from making any finding or decision upon the charges brought by the Board of Trustees. The Supreme Court refused to issue the writ of prohibition and dismissed the petition on the grounds that the writ of prohibition was not the proper remedy. Three bills in equity were brought: One, to force a market lease; another, to collect tax paid, and another to abate tax. In all three a finding was made for the city. A petition was brought in the Probate Court to revoke the guardianship of a city ward and a finding was made for the city. Five petitions for abatement of betterments were brought four were settled without payment and in the other a payment of $2,049.07 was made. Two petitions for reinstatement were disposed of; in one instance the petition was allowed and the other petition was dismissed. Many bills were collected without suit. In the conveyancing branch of the department, many titles were passed and awards paid; numerous instruments were drafted and many examinations on sundry titles were made. Eight petitions in the Land Court were disposed of. Two cases in which the city was plaintiff were settled by payment of $409.29. Total ad damna Total of payments $68,795 53 $8,445 70 ENFORCEMENT OF THE BUILDING LAW. From February 1, 1921, to January 31, 1922, there were referred by the Building Department to the Law Department 328 complaints for prosecution for violations of the building law; fourteen were for neglect to provide satisfactory egress and 314 were for various other violations, including failure to provide automatic sprinklers. Seven hundred and thirty-two pending complaints were finally disposed of and closed, consisting of 355 for insufficient egress and 379 for various other violations, including failure to provide automatic sprinklers. Eighty one new egress complaints and 140 sprinkler complaints were prosecuted and disposed of in court. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT. Cases in which compensation was paid Cases in which employees were not entitled to compensa- Cases tried before Industrial Accident Board 115 336 7 3 12 473 Respectfully submitted, E. MARK SULLIVAN, CITY OF BOSTON |