Documents of the City of Boston, Volume 6
By Boston (Mass.). City Council
I have to thank many persons connected with City Hall for the uniform kindness which they have shown to me during that time — the greatest that could be shown to any person.
I wish to thank personally the City Clerk and his assistant, the clerks in his department, the Clerk of Committees and his assistant with the clerks in his department, the City Messenger and aids, the official stenographer and members of the press.
It seems to me also that I should at this time extend my thanks to the members of this Board with whom I have been associated, and whose uniform kindness and treatment of me while I have been associated with them I shall never forget. Leaving the Board of Aldermen of 1894 with the work of having Blue Hill widened, and work fairly started in the same direction on Columbus avenue, I feel that I have had glory enough for one year.
Gentlemen, I thank you all for the uniform kindness and courtesy you have shown me, and I extend to you my wishes for a happy and prosperous year. [Applause.]
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Alderman Hall said :
Mr. Clerk and Gentlemen: I am glad to have an opportunity to second these resolutions. I am glad to express
express my appreciation of the high character and qualities, the unfailing courtesy and fairness, of the gentleman who has presided over our deliberations for the past year. In the discharge of his duties he has been always impartial and absolutely faithful. Ile has neglected no public duty, and his acts have been characterized by his honesty, ability, and wisdom; he has maintained the dignity of his important position, and has served this Board and the city with absolute fidelity.
There was a time when the Mayor presided over the legislative branch of the City Government, and in our early history it was charged
against Josiah Quincy that he made himself chairman of every committee. You cannot be So criticised, Mr. Chairman, You have trusted to the abilities of your associates in the matter of committees, and for my part I thank you for your kindness and confidence. I am sure that you will look back upon the year that has just passed with gratification and pleasure. Work well done is an unfailing source of satisfaction.
And in speaking words of well-earned praise of the Chairman we must include the Clerk.
We are all familiar with Mr. Galvin's able work. His accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the legislative business of this municipality is everywhere recognized. His ability and his fidelity to the duties of his important office I venture to say have never been surpassed. To him and his able assistant we ewe the highest praise. For a long time I had known him as a friend, and lately I have known him and esteemed him as an official, able and honest.
The Clerk of Committees, Mr. Hillard, and his assistant, Mr. Brawley, are also to be remembered. I shall never forgot their able and kind assistance. There is another familiar presence without which this chamber
yes, City Hall
Hall - would strange.
Colonel Alvah H. Peter's is as much a part of City Hall as the monument is a part of Bunker Hill. His distinguished military bearing, his exceptional success as a master of ceremonies and
preparer of itineraries, his paternal solicitude for new members and watchful care over all - these are but few of the things which make up the sum and substance of his career as a city official. Let us thank our distinguished colonel and his staff of assistants for their ever-watchfulness and assistance and kindness.
Mr. Harnden, Mr. McKibben, Mr. Chisholm, the takers of our speeches and the correctors of our errors, and the members of the press,
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have been cheerful, patient, and kind.
We certainly are indebted to them in many ways.
I would not except anybody. I sincerely thank all, from the heads of departments down, for unfailing kindness and many favors.
The Board of 1894 has been a hard-worked body. We have had many important measures before us, and it has been difficult to decide always aright, but I do not now recall a single vote on my part I should wish to change. The taxpayers of Boston should be satisfied with the work which has been done here.
It seems to me that there should be closer relations between the Mayor and the City Council, but perhaps longer experience might teach me differently. However, we not here for serious discussion. We have, I believe, every one passed a pleasant year. As a retiring member, let
that I shall ever have in my mind's eye this chamber, with you, Mr. Chairman, beaming down upon us all. On my extreme left I shall see my honored friend from Brighton, Chief Justice of the Court of Claims, in spirits the youngest man in the Board; my emaciated but able, cheerful, and philosophic friend from Roxbury, who sits next; the genial Judge, famous as the trier of our public institutions; our friend from the West End, always earnest and untiring in debate, and ready for contest; my nearest neighbor on my left, whom we recognize as one who has served his city now for fifteen consecutive years.
On my right I shall see the eloquent Alderman from Charlestown. IIis near neighbor is our friend who leads the voting on the wrong side; next comes my esteemed fellow-townsman from my old bailiwick, East Boston, and near to him my associate and friend from my own district; and finally our military member, who marches with the Ancient and Honorables as their leader when they turn out to inspiring music for a good dinner.
These are the faces and surroundings I shall recall with pleasure. While learning about the affairs of a great municipality and trying to legislate for its best interests, we have formed enduring friendships. None will hold them closer than I shall; and while I am glad to go back to the practice of law, I assure you, gentlemen, I am sorry to part from this company. I second the resolution. [Applause.]
Alderman HALLSTRAN said:
Mr. Clerk, I was glad to see that the closing remarks of the Alderman who has just sat down in seconding these resolutions partook of a somewhat lighter vein than is usual on such occasions.
It is customary at the last meetings of the Common Council and of the Board of Aldermen to introduce resolutions such as have now been introduced, and then speeches seconding those resolutions have been made in a funercal tone. The fact that Alderman Fottler, Alderman Hall. and myself had been pickerl out as three of the chief mouners on this occasion made me think that to-night was going to be another one of those funereal occasions, and I was glad when I saw that Alderman Ilall was speaking in a lighter vein. Although parting is in some respects sau, yet I feel that this is not parting. We go away from here to-day, and although some of us do not come back to-morrow, yet we shall meet upon the street and in the business circles of the city as friends and not as strangers. That is one satisfacetion we have in making our acquaintancesbips bere.
It has been my pleasure to serve the city of Boston five consecutive years. I have made many pleasant acquaintances during those five years, and none
more pleasant than the acquaintance of our presiding officer. In his position in this Board he has shown marked ability, firmness, impartiality, and a thorough kuowledge of parliamentary law. In all of his rulings I believe
that he has been just. He has expedited the business of this Board of Aldermen, and has done the city a great service by reason of the direction in which he has pointed the legislation. I know full well bis modesty, and that he does not care to sit here and listen to the praises which might be sounded in his behalt. lle knows full well that every member of this Board is his friend, and every member of this Board knows that he has a friend in Alpheus Sanford.
It may not seem amiss to the members of the Board if I mention the fact that one of the things which I congratulate myself most on, and for which I thank the members of this Board and also His Honor the Mayor, is the accomplishment of the extension of Columbus avenue. I beliere it will prove to be one of the greatest things which has been done by any City Government for a number of years, and time will show the wisdom of it.
I desire also to thank the officers of City Hall, the City Messenger and his deputies, the City Clerk and all bis office, and all the others without mentioning them in particular, and also our friend Frank Chisholm, our private stenographer. I shall look back upon the five years which I have served in the City Government, including the two years in the Board of Aldermen, with a great deal of pleasure. I shall look back, as the poet says:
And so we shall look back upon these days of joy that are left behind us.
I will close, Mr. Chairman, by thanking you and each one of the members of this Board for the