TL4 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (MASSACHUSETTS.) 



was filled with visitors, among them being several 

 hundred descendants of Eliot who held a reunion 

 in connection with the celebration. 



Services on the two hundred and fiftieth anni- 

 versary of the organization of the First Parish 

 in Bridgewater and the one hundredth anniver- 

 sary of the building of the present meeting-house 

 in the parish, were held in the old church, June 

 23, which is now in West Bridgewater. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature con- 

 vened Jan. 2, and was prorogued June 19. On 

 joint ballot there were 214 Republicans, 64 Demo- 

 crats, 4 Independents, and 2 Socialist-Democrats. 

 Rufus A. Soule was made President of the Sen- 

 ate, and James J. Myers was Speaker of the 

 House. 



United States Senator George F. Hoar was re- 

 elected, to serve the term ending in 1907, his fifth 

 term. He received 29 votes in the Senate and 169 

 in the House, against 8 in the Senate and 48 in 

 the House for Richard Olney, the Democratic 

 candidate, and 1 in the House for C. H. Bradley, 

 Socialist-Democrat. 



Laws to the number of 532, and 116 resolutions, 

 were passed and signed, and 6 measures were 

 vetoed. 



The State being entitled under the act of Con- 

 gress to one more Representative (14 in all), the 

 congressional districts were reapportioned. 



A metropolitan water and sewerage board was 

 created. It is to consist of 3 members, appointed 

 by the Governor and Council; the term is three 

 years; the salary of the chairman is $5,000; of 

 other members, $4,500. The Metropolitan Water 

 Board and the Board of Metropolitan Sewerage 

 Commissioners was abolished. Contractors em- 

 ployed in the construction of metropolitan water- 

 works must give bonds to indemnify the commu- 

 nity for expense on account of the introduction 

 of pauper or indigent employees. 



The office of prison commissioners was abol- 

 ished. The Governor was authorized to appoint 

 a board to take their duties, to consist of 5 per- 

 sons, 2 of them women, to serve without salary 

 except the chairman, whose salary is to be $4,000; 

 the term is five years. The board may remove 

 any prisoners except those under life sentence 

 from the prisons to the Reformatory. 



The emission of smoke within a quarter-mile 

 of a dwelling is to be deemed a nuisance, but 

 annual permits may be given. 



A bill presented on petition of the State Total 

 Abstinence Society, providing that at annual 

 town meetings the polls shall be open for the 

 reception of votes upon the question of licensing 

 the sale of intoxicating liquors from the organ- 

 ization of the meeting until the close of the polls 

 for the election of town officers, w r as passed with 

 the change of time to " at least one hour." An- 

 other amendment to the liquor laws provides that 

 native wines may be sold in no-license towns only 

 on the premises *of the makers. A druggist may, 

 on prescription of a physician, sell liquor to a 

 person supported by public charity within the 

 year. 



The law on cigarettes was changed so as to 

 make it a misdemeanor to sell or give to a per- 

 son under eighteen, instead of sixteen, as formerly. 

 Wagering contracts in stocks or commodities 

 where no purchase is intended were prohibited. 

 The lack of the seller's. ownership is to be taken 

 as evidence of a wagering contract. 



A commission appointed in 1900 to codify and 

 revise the militia law reported this year. Some 

 changes were recommended in the rank of staff- 

 officers, and the number reduced; squadron and 

 artillery battalion headquarters to be abolished, 



and all drum-corps abolished, and other unim- 

 portant changes. It was estimated that a saving 

 of $19,500 a year would be effected. 



Political party caucuses, except for special elec- 

 tions, are to be held on a day named by the State 

 committee for the whole State. All delegates are 

 to be elected and candidates nominated at the 

 caucus, and the convention is not to be held 

 within seven days after the caucus. 



Other enactments were: 



Requiring a corporation with a franchise for 

 using public streets to pay 4 per cent, interest 

 on deposits received from customers for payment 

 of future expenses, if held more than six months. 



Allowing charitable, religious, educational, and 

 fraternal corporations to hold real estate of value 

 not over $1,500,000. 



Requiring tax-collectors' deeds to be recorded 

 within thirty days after sale; and after the ex- 

 piration of five years such deeds shall be prima 

 facie evidence of facts therein. Notice of intended 

 sale need not be posted on the premises. 



Exempting women from poll-tax. 



Making penalty for non-payment of poll-tax 

 seven days' imprisonment instead of twenty. 



Providing that the civil-service act may apply 

 to police and fire departments of any town where 

 the majority vote to accept it. 



Permitting city council or town meeting, if they 

 accept the act, to retire on half-pay policemen 

 incapacitated by injuries received in the service. 



Allowing mutual-assessment accident insurance 

 companies to insure against disability from ill- 

 ness. 



Permitting insurance companies to insure 

 against loss by breakage or accident to machinery. 



Allowing street-railway companies to carry 

 newspapers and United States mail. 



Directing the Tax Commissioner to assess an 

 annual tax of \ of 1 per cent, on average trust 

 deposits of corporations with the Treasurer. 



Providing that the defendants in actions for 

 libel and slander may prove acts of the plaintiff 

 tending to prove the charges true. 



Making the penalty for kidnaping twenty-five 

 years' imprisonment. 



Fixing the New York boundary. 



Allowing the United States to acquire a tract 

 of land on Peddock's island, in Boston harbor. 



Allowing bootblacks to work on Sunday till 

 11 A.M. 



Forbidding the employment of minors under 

 eighteen in the making of acids pronounced in- 

 jurious to health by the State Board of Health, 

 under penalty of $100 for each offense. 



Requiring 5-per-cent. inheritance tax on all 

 property, instead of on property over $10,000 

 only. 



Providing that the affidavit of the subscribing 

 witness to a will may be received as evidence for 

 probate. 



Prohibiting the sale of food containing antisep- 

 tic or preservative substances, with some excep- 

 tions. Articles of food and drink must be la- v 

 beled with letters of a certain size showing the 

 ingredients and with the manufacturer's name. 

 Carcasses of food animals must be inspected ex- 

 cept in establishments under Federal supervision. 



Appropriating $3,600 for instruction of adult 

 blind persons at home. 



Permitting cities and towns to regulate the 

 speed of automobiles. 



Authorizing a State highway loan of $500,000 

 bonds at not more than 4 per cent., for not more 

 than thirty years. Five per cent, of the highway 

 fund must be spent in towns of valuation not 

 over $1,000,000; 5 per cent, may be spent in 



