Centennial Spending Objections  – (PIP #95)

By Louise Peloquin

No consensus among City Council members discussing centennial spending.

L’Etoile – Front page, January 23, 1926

OBJECTIONS TO THE $35,000 VOTE FOR THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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Councilor Campbell says it is beyond the city’s means.

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ONLY $15,000, SAYS MR. STEARNS

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     Miss Tanner’s original $34,000 project was rejected, declared Mr. Stearns, president of the Centennial committee. – A motion to transfer $8,700 from the Hapgood Wright centennial fund.

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     At a special City Council meeting last night, a $35,000 allotment from the 1926 budget to cover this year’s centennial celebration costs could not pass because certain councilors objected. The vote was postponed to the next special meeting. 

     Given that March 1, the date of Lowell’s founding, is so close, City Council President Gallagher suggested that action should be taken soon.

     Councilor Campbell expressed doubts about the sum of $35,000 and suggested that it would be better to immediately tap into the Hapgood Wright fund created to cover the March 1 ceremonies.

     President Gallagher then said that the city solicitor should draw up a suitable order for the transfer of $8,700 from the Wright fund for immediate use. Mr. Campbell then made a motion to that effect. The City Council voted to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, January 25.

     The late Hapgood Wright’s will expressly stipulates that the City Council, by a two-thirds vote, can dispose of this fund provided that the initial $1,000 bequest remain in the bank to accumulate interest for another 50 years in order to contribute to Lowell’s 150th anniversary celebration in 1976.

     When President Gallagher presented the $35,000 order, Councilor Cosgrove objected to a second reading without clarifying his objections. President Gallagher then asked the Council to hear Mr. Frank K. Stearns, president of the Centennial committee, to examine the possibility of overcoming the objections. Mr. Stearns presented the history of the centennial and of its preparation as well as the projects discussed by the centennial executive committee. According to Mr. Stearns, $35,000 would cover expenses for both the March ceremonies and the June pageant. So far, the directors have paid their own expenses without complaining, Mr. Stearns pointed out. He believes that a pageant with all of  Lowell’s ethnic groups would be much more appealing than an industrial exhibition. In addition, admission ticket sales for the pageant would largely cover expenses and even bring in profits to the city treasury.

     Councilor Campbell said that he objected to the present $35,000 order because it would be managed by the mayor rather than by the committee in charge of the festivities. Mr. Gallagher responded that the mayor controls all expenses and that money cannot be spent without his approval. Mr. Campbell declared that this was his principal objection.

     Councilor Campbell then indicated that Miss Virginia Tanner had estimated $34,000 for the June pageant expenses and had pointed out that seven pageant performances would bring in $81,000, a considerable profit for the city. Mr. Campbell does not believe that Lowell can incur such costs and suggested that the pageant be organized at a smaller scale. Mr. Stearns, who took the floor after Mr. Campbell, stated that the Centennial committee had already rejected Miss. Tanner’s project and that the pageant presently proposed would only cost about $15,000. Final decisions regarding the pageant have yet to be taken.

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DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FESTIVITIES

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The Lowell Harvard Club proposes that president Lowell of Harvard University, descendant of the city founder, be centennial guest of honor.

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     At its annual meeting at the Whistler House last night, the Lowell Harvard Club voted to suggest that the Centennial committee invite president A. Lawrence Lowell of Harvard University as principal guest and speaker during the celebration of Lowell’s hundredth anniversary this year.

     President Lowell is the most famous descendent of Francis Cabot Lowell, founder of the city named after him. President Lowell is nationally known as an outstanding orator. (1)

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1) Translation by Louise Peloquin.