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7 minute read
Taft and his ‘Summer White House’
BY MARK HURWITZ
Every summer from 1909 to 1912, President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft escaped the oppressive heat and humidity of Washington D.C. for the cool, ocean breezes of Beverly.
The fact that he picked Beverly as his summer destination was not as unusual as it might seem. Beverly was part of what was then known as the “Gold Coast,” a string of waterfront mansions that attracted the country’s rich and famous from around the nation, including a number of Republicans and Republican allies.
Beverly Hills/Beverly
In the year 1900, Burt Green purchased land in California to drill for oil. After he didn’t find enough oil to make a profit, he renamed the property “Beverly Hills” and subdivided it and began selling lots.
The development was named after Beverly Farms in Beverly, where he summered, and the hills around the Los Angeles area.
Once word spread that Taft was staying in Beverly, both the press and the general public
BY BOB KATZEN
THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill
Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from early February sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.
MORE TIME
TO CONSIDER
AMENDMENTS (H 2023)
House 23-130, rejected a rule that would prohibit technical or perfecting amendments from being considered until 30 minutes after representatives have received a copy of the amendment. The rule would allow such an amendment to be considered in less than 30 minutes if a two-thirds vote of the House agrees to the shortened time.
“Providing a half-hour to review a technical or perfecting amendment would give members an opportunity to ask questions, get answers and better understand the amendment before a vote takes place,” said sponsor GOP House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading).
“I think this change is eminently reasonable and fair, and it also provides an option for the 30-minute review period to be waived or suspended if enough members agree to it.”
Opponents of the rule said technical amendments are just that — technical, and don’t need a half hour to review. They argued that the 30-minute requirement is unnecessary and noted members are currently informally given sufficient time to see the amendments before they are considered.
(A ”Yes” vote is for allowing 30 minutes.
A “No” vote is against allowing 30 minutes.) Rep.
Jennifer Armini: No
GIVE 1-WEEK NOTICE (H 2025)
House 24-129, rejected an amendment that would increase from three days to seven days the amount camped outside the front gates of the “Summer White House,” hoping to catch a glimpse of him and his family.
Marie Antoinette Evans of advance notice for committees to notify the House and the public of the time, location and agenda of all public hearings and executive sessions.
For the first two years, Taft rented a guest house (Stetson Hall) located on the property of Marie Antoinette Evans located on Ober Street. Stetson Hall was a 14-room “cottage” used by Evans as a guest house.
“A public hearing before a committee is the only opportunity that a person has to be directly involved in the legislative process,” said Rep. Todd Smola (R-Warren). “By expanding the notification window for when hearings take place from 72 hours to one week, we are providing the public with more time to prepare and participate in the process. We welcome the viewpoints of our constituents on bills before the Legislature, bills which are often nuanced and very complex. It is not unreasonable to provide people with a few more days’ notice before a hearing commences.”
Opponents of the amendment said three days is more than sufficient and noted that under House rules, members of the public no longer have to plan far in advance to come into the Statehouse to testify since they can now testify online from their home. They noted that the increase to a week unnecessarily goes too far. (A ”Yes” vote is for requiring seven days’ notice. A “No” vote is against requiring seven days’ notice.) Armini: No
BILLS, BILLS, BILLS
House and Senate clerks continue to process the thousands of bill filed for consideration in the 20232024 session including: DONATE FOOD (SD 263) – Would provide civil liability protections to individuals, restaurants and organizations that make direct food donations to persons in need. The donor would also receive a tax credit of up to $5,000. A similar bill received a favorable report from the Judiciary Committee last year but died from inaction in the House.
“Massachusetts saw the greatest percentage growth in food insecurity in the nation during the pandemic,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “It could have been even more severe had it not been for commonwealth farmers who came forward again and again with donations of produce, dairy and meat — all the while acutely aware that they make 94 cents for every dollar they spend.
Along with his wife and children, Taft also brought along his Secret Service detail. The Secret Service was kept very busy keeping the large crowds forming outside the gates from entering the property and disturbing the president. They would also handle the many visitors who came to see the president, including members of the third estate and foreign dignitaries.
Through a tax credit, this bill further incentivizes already committed farmers, as well as generous local restaurants, to donate food to food banks, meal sites and pantries — allowing them an opportunity to give within an expanded liability protection framework while strengthening our food system.”
TAX CREDIT FOR DONATION OF OYSTER SHELLS (SD 432) – Would provide a tax credit of $5 per full 5-gallon bucket to individuals or businesses that donate oyster shells to an oyster shell recycling organization.
“A shell recycling tax credit presents a creative and thoughtful tool to help diminish landfill waste, create habitat and mitigate pollution in our waters,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “A $5 tax credit per 5-gallon bucket of recycled shells for restaurants will help encourage this environmentally friendly practice.”
LAST MONTH’S RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSIT (SD 141) –
Would amend a current law which allows landlords to charge both last month’s rent and a security deposit to new tenants.
“If this bill is enacted, landlords will only be permitted to charge last month’s rent or the security deposit,” said sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). In short, this bill significantly lowers the upfront cost of renting.”
Located just a few yards away stood the main house where Evans lived with her family.
When word spread about the president staying on the Evans estate, people would jump the fence and literally rip the clapboards off the guest house as souvenirs to keep and sell.
After two years of hosting the president at her estate, Evans contacted the White House and
(SD 617) – Would require any presidential candidate who files to appear on a primary ballot in Massachusetts to release the most recent four years of their federal tax returns.
“For half a century, it has been a bipartisan custom for presidential candidates to release their tax returns before the election,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “I filed this legislation because voters deserve transparency from presidential candidates. Tax returns provide the necessary information to assess the details of a candidate’s potential conflicts of interest or possible corruption, which could have an undue influence on candidates should they be elected to office.”
ESTABLISH CHILDREN’S CABINET (SD 2242) – Would establish, under the governor’s office, a Children’s Cabinet to develop and implement a cohesive vision using integrated services to improve child, youth and family outcomes, including issues relating to child poverty, educational preparedness, mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice and the health, safety and welfare of children.
“I am proud to sponsor this legislation so we can ensure the wellbeing of our children is prioritized and elevated across the most powerful cabinets of state government,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “Children across our state were some of the hardest hit individuals throughout the pandemic.” He noted the new cabinet will coordinate government agencies to use every lever of power to feed, house and protect our kids.
$1,500 TAX CREDIT FOR HEARING AIDS PURCHASE (SD 355) –Would allow a $1,500 tax credit for taxpayers 55 and older who purchase hearing aids.
“Hearing loss is one of the most common struggles for our seniors told the administration that her guest house would no longer be available to the president.
Even with the president no longer staying at her guest house, strangers would continue to trespass on her property and steal things.
Evans had the guest house cut in half and floated by barge across the bay to Peach’s Point in Marblehead, where it was reassembled. In its place, she installed an Italian rose garden, today the site of Lynch Park, off Ober Street in Beverly Cove.
During the final two years of his presidency, Taft continued to summer in Beverly. He rented a property called ‘’Parramatta,” the 18-room former estate of late merchant and shipowner Henry W. Peabody in the Montserrat section of Beverly.
Archibald Butt (1865-1912) and many times these devices are out of their financial reach,” said sponsor Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth).
Archibald Butt was an Army officer and served as military aide to both President Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
After spending six weeks on vacation in Europe, Archibald Butt booked passage on the RMS Titanic for New York. He later died aboard the vessel shortly after it struck an iceberg in April of 1912.
“Insurance companies will often only cover the cost of one hearing aid, even if the patient may need one in each ear to hear. Every citizen should have the right to a comfortable life and this tax credit would help reduce the financial burden many seniors face and allow them to carry on with everyday life.”
Quotable Quotes
“[We] appreciate the support and partnership with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and remain committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable populations, including elders, have access to local, fresh food. At a time when food insecurity rates remain high, the added benefit will provide elders with high-quality, nutritious food while supporting our Massachusetts farmers and food producers.”
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux announcing that Massachusetts has been awarded $1.4 million to expand the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
“Massachusetts has completely lost its economic competitive edge, now having the highest top tax rate for income taxes in New England, and seventh highest in the entire country. Despite this setback, some Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing forward with ways to add more taxes such as penalizing couples when they file their taxes as married.”
— Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance on a new Tax Foundation report.
“His public health expertise and military service make him uniquely qualified to serve as Massachusetts’ first-ever Secretary of Veterans’ Services. I’m confident that he will be the leader our veterans need and deserve and will always stand up for their health, safety and wellbeing.” — Gov. Maura Healey on appointing Rep. Jon Santiago (D-Boston), a major in the U.S. Army Reserve and a physician as the state’s Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs which was recently elevated to a cabinet level position.