1861-06-05 Trustee Committee Report to Investigate the Superintendent and Mode of Conducting Affairs, 2021.004.034

The Committee appointed to investigate the accounts of the Superintendent + to suggest some plan for conducting the affairs at the Cemetery, beg leave to make a report upon the latter subject and also for further time to complete their examination in regard to the former. The Committee 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 suggestions 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, + the rate of wages to be paid - If any work be done by the Corporation for proprietors, he shall keep a particular account of the [?] and when finished, report it immediately to the Treasurer. [?] all other reports his duties shall be the same as at present. His compensation to be $1000 p. annum + the use of the house. In order to have the accounts + books accurately kept, it is important that one person should have the entire custody + responsibility of all moneys of the Corporation + the management of its financial affairs,

together with all books, accounts - under the direction + control of the respective Committees according to the By-Laws. The Committee therefore recommend that the Treasurer have his offices at Mount Auburn and reside near there. That he shall attend at his office at all times except on Mondays + Thursdays prior to 3 o'clock P.M.; on which days he shall attend to the business of the Corporation in the City + shall be at the office in Boston between the hours of 12 + 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 + the rate of wages, and at the end of each month make a Pay Roll + 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 + wages paid therefor, duly receipted by said laborers. He shall pay + receive as Treasurer + in the name of the Corporation only said moneys as the Corporation shall be liable for or may be due to it + not receive a receipt for sums which may be due by 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 + rendering it impossible to have a correct examination of the accounts.

He shall collect + pay all bills - receive + disburse all moneys, + perform all the 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 Banks as the Committee on Finance shall designate, to his credit as Treasurer of Mount Auburn Cemetery. His compensation shall be a salary of $1200 p. annum + it shall be distinctly understood that his whole time shall be given to the work and interests of Mount Auburn. 3. There shall be a Gate Keeper, whose duty shall be to attend the Gate + perform such other services as he can without interference with that work + in the necessary absence of the Treasurer, he shall receive such burial fees as may be paid + hand the same immediately to the Treasurer on his return. His compensation shall be $1 p. day for every day employed. The Committee deems of the utmost importance that so far as it is possible all work performed in the Cemetery should be under the supervision + control of the Trustees, through the Superintendent; they would therefore recommend that the Superintendent be instructed to adopt as low a tariff of charges as possible without [?]

to the Corporation + that a Circular be printed and sent + the proprietor recommending them to employ the Superintendent + 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 entered must be done under the [?] of the Corporation + in strict compliance therewith - and for any injury done to the grounds in the performance of the [?], other than the necessary wear + tear, the proprietor in whose employ the work is done shall be held accountable + that instructions be given to the Superintendent to strictly enforce these rules. It being the opinion of the Committee that if the changes made by the Corporation are as low or lower than the work can be done for by outside parties, that a large proportion of the proprietors would adopt the suggestion of the Trustees + employ the Superintendent and as W. 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 expediency 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 + accounts can be properly kept, + there being no room now of sufficient capacity, + as then is no room for the accomodation of Ladies + children in the

grounds, the Committee recommend that the following arrangement be made - vis - The a room be furnished between the principal gate + 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 accomodation of visitors + that [?] closets be placed in the smaller apartment for the accomodation of ladies + children. As the Board has already voted to roof these spaces + finish them with columns in front, the arrangement now prepared can be made at any trifling additional cost, which 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 G. Little } Committee