1861-06-05 Printed Report on Conducting Affairs at the Cemetery, 2021.004.033

REPORT

The Committee appointed to investigate the accounts of the Superintendent, and to suggest some plan for conducting the affairs at the Cemetery, beg leave to make a report upon the latter subject, and ask for further time to complete their examination in regard to the former.

The Comittee are satisfied that the interests of Mount Auburn require radical changes to be made in the mode of conducting its affairs, and without comment will make such suggestons as appear to them necessary.

In the first place they would advise that the Superintendent should have nothing to do with the receiving and disbursing of moneys of the Corporation. That it shall be his duty at the close of each day to render to the Treasurer an accurate statement of the name of each laborer employed, the amount of labor performed, and the rate of wages to be paid. If any work be done by the Corporation for proprieors, he shall keep a particular account of the same, and, when finished, report it immediately to the Treasurer In all other respects his duties shall be the same as at present. His compensation to be $1,000 per annum, and the use of the house.

Second. In order to have the accounts and books accurately kept, it is important that one person should have the entire custody and responsibility of all moneys of the Corporation, and the management of its financial affairs, together with all books, accounts, &c., under the direction and control of the respective committees, according to the by-laws.

The Committee therefore recommend that the Treasurer have his office at Mount Auburn, and reside near there. That he shall attend at his office at all times, except on Mondays and Thursdays prior to 3 o'clock, P.M.; on which days he shall attend to the business of the Corporation in the city, and shall be at the office in Boston between the hours of 12, M. and 2, P.M. He shall have a Time-Table, and shall enter therein daily in accordance with the report to be made to him by the Superintendent, the name of each laborer, the amount of labor performed, and the rate of wages; and at the end of each month make a pay-roll, and exhibit the same to the Committee on Finance, which shall contain the names of all the laborers employed during that month, the amount of labor performed by each, and wages paid therefor, duly recepted by said laborers.

He shall pay and receive, as Treasurer, and in the name of the Corporation, only such moneys as the Corporation shall be liable for, or may be due to it, and not receive and receipt for sums which may be due from proprietors to contractors, independent of the Corporation - a practice having heretofore prevailed whereby the Superintendent has receipted bills in the name of the Corporation, when the transaction did not appear upon the books, causing a great liability to mistakes and rendering it impossible to have a correct examination of the accounts. He shall collect and pay all bills, receive and disburse all moneys, and perform all duties usually pertaining to the office of Treasurer, as well as all others which it may be found expedient hereafter to assign to him. He shall give bonds with surety satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, in the sum of five thousand dollars. He shall keep all moneys belonging to the Corporation deposited in such bank as the Committee on Finance shall designate, to his credit as Treasurer of Mount Auburn Cemetery. His compensation shall be a salary of $1,200 per annum, and it shall be distinctly understood, that his whole time shall be given to the work and interested of Mount Auburn.

Third. There shall be a Gate-Keeper, whose duty shall be to attend the gate and perform such other services as he can without interference with that work; and in the necessary absenc of the Treasurer, he shall receive such burial fees as may be paid, and hand the same immediately to the Treasurer on his return.

His compensaton shall be one dollar per day for every day employed.

The Committee deem it of the utmost importance that, so far as is possible, all work performed in the Cemetery shouldbe udner the supervision and control of the Trustee's through the Superintendent. They would therefore recommend that the Superintendent be instructed to adopt as low a tariff of charges as possible without loss to the Corporation; and that a circular be printed and sent to the proprietors recommending them to employ the Superintendent, and also informing them that no one will be permitted to perform any work on any of the lots, without the written authority of the proprietor; and that all work done by parties outside must be done under the rules of the Corporation, and in strict compliance therewith; and, for any injury done to the grounds in the performance of the same, other than the necessary wear and tear, the proprietor in whose employ the work is done shall be held accountable; and that instructions be given to the Superintendent to strictly enforce these rules.

It is the opinion of the Committee, if the charges made by the Corporation are as low as or lower than the work can be done for by outside parties, that a large proportion of the proprietors would adopt the suggeston of the Trustees, and employ the Superintendent; and as Mr. Spooner, the Gardener, has resigned his position, and as that officer, although appointed by the Trustees, is merely a nominal employee of the Corporation, and not accountable to the Trustees except for any violation of the rules of the Cemetery, they would suggest, for the consideration of the Board, the expedience of abolishing that office.

It being necessary that a suitable room be provided for the transaction of the business of the office, where the books and accounts can be properly kept, and there being no room now of sufficient capacity, and as there is no room for the accommodation of ladies and children, in the grounds, the Committee recommend that the following arrangement be made, viz: -

That a room be finished betweedn the principal gate and the office now used by the Gate-Keeper, which, in connection with the present office, shall be used as the office of the Treasurer, and that a similar room be made on the right of the gate for the accommodation of visitors - and that water-closets be placed in the smaller apartment for the accommodation of ladies and children.

As the Board has alread voted to roof these spaces, and finish them with columns in front, the arrangement now proposed could be made at very trifing additional cost, while at the same time, the symmetry of the gate is preserved, and all the rooms needed are secured.

All of which is respectfully submitted

CHAS. G. NAZRO, URIEL CROCKER, E. S. TOBEY, CHARLES C. LITTLE,

Committee

Printed - Report of the Com^ee appointed, among other things, to suggest mode of conducting afairs at the Cemetery

June 5, 1861