MASSACHUSETTS. 



457 



stitutional amendment. Tha twenty-third amend- 

 ment was such ;t constitutional provision, this was 



repealed as unnecessary and oppressive, but exist- 

 ing circumstances may seem to justify at least a 

 shorter term of probation. As to woman suffrage. 



the recent vote on the municipal proposition seemed 

 to prove that " public opinion will not for some 

 time be prepared to accept any radical change in 

 the established system." The Governor recom- 

 mended that the amendment making State elections 

 biennial be parsed again and submitted to the peo- 

 ple : that the liquor-license question be placed on a 

 nonpartisan basis: that restrictive legislation be en- 

 acted for trust companies and for gas and electric 

 companies: that mutual benefit and insurance 

 companies be subjected to stricter supervision ; that 

 the taxation laws be carefully revised. He said the 

 application of the civil-service rules to the employ- 

 ment of laborers, which had been in operation in 

 Boston for twelve years, has been highly com- 

 mended by the mayors. The system has since been 

 applied in Cambridge. Xew Bedford, Brookline. and 

 Everett, and citizens of other places have asked that 

 it be applied in their municipalities. 



The constitutional amendment for biennial elec- 

 tions was passed for the second time, after which it 

 was submitted to popular vote. 



An act was passed providing for a new South 

 Union Railroad station in Boston. Federal Street 

 is to be closed south of Summer and Essex Streets, 

 and the space between an extension of the line of 

 Cove Street from Kneeland to Summer and the 

 Fort Point channel is to be taken for railroad pur- 

 poses. The real property there is assessed at about 

 s:i.000.000. The train house will cost from one to 

 two millions. 



An important measure presented to the Legisla- 

 ture was the so-called ' Greater Boston " bill. It 

 provided for a new county, including Boston and 

 the surrounding cities and towns, namely : the mu- 

 nicipal areas of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, 

 Arlington. Belmont. Cambridge, Everett, Lexing- 

 ton, Maiden, Medford. Melrose. Xewton, Sommer- 

 ville, Stoneham. "Wakefield. Waltham, Watertown, 

 Winchester. Woburn, Lynn. Xahant, Saugus, 

 Swampscott, Brookline. Dedham, Hyde Park, Mil- 

 ton, and Quiney. in case a majority of the electors 

 in the said district should vote in favor of it. The 

 joint committee to which the matter was referred 

 recommended that it should be left over for the 

 next Legislature. 



The election laws were amended in many partic- 

 ulars. Provision was made for carrying on the 

 work of the park commission and other great pub- 

 lic works. Agents of the State Board of Educa- 

 tion were forbidden to be pecuniarily interested, di- 

 rectly or indirectly, in the publication or sale of 

 any text-book or article of school supply used in 

 the public schools. Some changes were made in 

 the laws relative to insurance companies, banks, 

 and mutual associations. A part of the law on 

 civil service was amended. 



Among other measures passed were: 



Making changes in methods of taxation. 



For the redistricting of the State for councilors, 

 Senators, and Representatives. 



Incorporating the Massachusetts Pipe Line Com- 

 pany. 



Ordering preference to be given to veterans of 

 the war in the public service. 



Abolishing days of grace on commercial paper, 

 except on sight drafts. 



Providing that preference be given to citizens of 

 the United States in the employment of mechanics 

 and laborers on public works. 



Providing that women over twenty-one years old 

 may be appointed special commissioners. 



Amending the act in regard to the surrender 

 value of endowment policies. 



To facilitate the collection of small debts for 

 labor performed. 



Defining the persons who shall be deemed tramps. 



Regulating the sale of commercial fertilizer-;. 



Among the resolves and resolutions were the fol- 

 lowing: 



Condemning such discrimination on account of 

 color as was shown by certain hotels in Boston 

 which refused entertainment to a colored bishop of 

 the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



Favoring an amendment to the United States 

 Constitution placing within the power of Congress 

 to enact laws regulating the hours of labor in the 

 several States according to some uniform system. 



Providing for the acquisition of land and the 

 erection of tablets or monuments on the battlefield 

 of Antietam. 



Providing for the collection and circulation of 

 information relating to abandoned farms. 



Providing for erecting in the Statehouse or on 

 the Statehouse grounds a bronze equestrian statue 

 of Major-Gen. Joseph Hooker. 



Appropriating $100,000 to continue the work of 

 suppressing the gypsy moth. 



Political. The earliest State convention this 

 year was that of the People's party, held in Boston, 

 Feb. 22. Delegates were chosen for the national 

 convention, and resolutions were adopted, among 

 which was the following: 



We should welcome the co-operation of all those 

 opposed to the money powers that are attempting 

 to force upon this country the British gold stand- 

 ard, and to secure its defeat we should endeavor to 

 unite all forces into one address, forming an irre- 

 sistible phalanx that will secure free coinage of 

 both silver and gold at 16 to 1 and the issue of all 

 property by the United States without the interven- 

 tion of banks of issue, and be receivable for all 

 debts, public and private." 



At the second convention of the People's party, 

 Sept. 25, a State ticket was chosen, and resolu- 

 tions were adopted opposing the proposed amend- 

 ment providing for biennial elections, and calling 

 for free coinage of silver, an income tax, and taxa- 

 tion of mortgages. By agreement with the Demo- 

 crats, one of the candidates for presidential electors 

 on their ticket was named by this convention. 

 George F. Williams was made the candidate for 

 Governor, Archibald Dakin for Lieutenant Gov- 

 ernor, Asa Hall for Secretary of State, W. W. 

 Knox for Treasurer and Receiver General, William 

 Prpctor for Auditor, and W. H. Norse for At- 

 torney-General. 



The Republicans held their State convention 

 March 27. Delegates to the national convention 

 were chosen, and were "urged to give their earnest 

 united and active support " to Thomas B. Reed as 

 presidential candidate. The resolutions declared 

 in favor of protection to American industries in 

 general, and said in reference to protection of ship- 

 ping interests : 



" We have always given protection to our ship- 

 builders. In late years we have neglected to pro- 

 tect our shipowners. We believe the time has 

 come to return to the policy of Washington and 

 Hamilton, which, by discriminating duties in favor 

 of American bottoms, secured 90 per cent, of our 

 carrying trade to American ships, and which, if 

 now restored, would again revive our shipping and 

 cause American freights to be paid to Americans." 



On the silver question they said : " We regard the 

 silver agitation as harmful to business and destruc- 

 tive of confidence, and, as has recently been shown, 

 it is hostile to tariff legislation, designed to give 

 protection to our industries and revenue to our 



