Putnam v. Bessom

This is a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the selectmen of Swampscott to call a special town meeting in order to submit to all the voters by referendum ballot an article passed at a representative town meeting. The town of Swampscott has adopted St. 1927, c. 300, a special act authorizing representative town meetings, town meeting members, a referendum, and other matters. By § 8 provision is made for submitting to the registered voters of the town at large “the question or questions involved” in a vote passed at a representative town meeting. One condition precedent for such…