S3o MASSACHUSETTS 



votes to 70,923. Two other amendments one making women eligible as notaries 

 and one permitting the legislature to refer statutes to the people for their approval 

 were referred to the next session. The legislature ratified (May 22, 1912) the proposed 

 amendment to the Federal Constitution calling for the popular election of United 

 States senators. In 1911 the lower house approved, but the senate defeated by one 

 vote, the proposed Federal amendment providing for an income tax. In 1911 the number 

 of associate justices of the superior court was increased from 24 to 27. In 1912 a 

 commission of economy and efficiency was established. 



In 1911 a direct primary was required for all state officers, excluding presidential electors 

 but including the district members of state party committees and delegates to the state party 

 conventions. A law of 1912 requires the primary election of delegates to national party 

 conventions in presidential years and the preferential primary for candidates for the presi- 

 dency. The corrupt practices act of 1907 was amended (1911) by the definition of "personal 

 expenses" and by limiting expenditure for primary or local election to $25 for each 1,000 

 voters qualified to vote for the office but permitting an expenditure of as much as $150 

 no matter how few voters there are and no more than $5,000 no matter how many voters 

 there are. In 1912 the law of 1908 prohibiting political contributions by business corpora- 

 tions was made more explicit. 



The provisions of the civil service law in regard to police were extended to the superin- 

 tendent or chief of police in all cities except Boston and in all towns accepting the civil 

 service law, and the removal, suspension, or transfer of any member of the civil service 

 (except in Boston police, the district police, or the Metropolitan park commission police) 

 is to be reviewed on petition in a police, district, or municipal court. 



The governor was required to set apart the I4th of June as flag-day, each year, and the 

 1 2th of October (Columbus Day) was made a legal holiday. 



In 1912 the legislature established a state board of labour and industries. A commission 

 on the employment of women and children and especially on the establishment of wage 

 boards and the question of minimum wage was created, and a 1912 law makes the commission 

 permanent and provides that, if it decides that wages are too low in any industry, it may 

 establish a wage board to report a minimum wage, which the commission may approve after 

 public hearing and which may be reviewed by the superior court upon an employer's filing 

 a declaration that the payment of this minimum wage would endanger the prosperity of 

 his business. A minimum wage was set for employees of the Metropolitan parks and the 

 water and sewerage departments. The 8 hour day must be observed by contractors working 

 for the state or for a municipality that has adopted the 8 hour law, but the act excepts the 

 printing of ballots and work in public institutions. Women and children under 18 are not 

 to work in manufactories or mechanical establishments more than 54 hours (formerly 56) a 

 week, nor more than 10 hours a day, but in seasonal employments they may work for 58 

 hours a week if the average is not more than 54 a week. Women and children under 18 

 are not to work more than 56 hours a week on the "altering or repairing of garments" in 

 clothing factories owned by a store proprietor and in connection with a clothing store. The 

 hours for street railway employees were made 9 or 9^ a day on car platforms and all work over 

 9 hours a day must receive extra pay. No one under 21 may be employed in messenger 

 service, except in newspaper offices, between 10 P.M. and 5 A.M. No illiterate minor is to be 

 employed in factories, workshops, mechanical, or mercantile establishments without a certifi- 

 cate tnat he is 16 or over (1911), and illiterate minors under 21 (formerly 18) must attend 

 evening school (1911). The age and schooling certificate must show that the child employed 

 can read and write English as it is required for admission to the fourth grade (1911). The 

 board of education was directed (1911) to report in January 1913 on the need of vocational 

 and part time schooling for working children, especially between the ages of 14 and 17. 



By far the most important recent labour legislation has been in regard to pensions and 

 retirement of employees. A retirement system for state employees practically an assisted 

 old aye pension was provided. Contributions from employees for the fund are voluntary 

 in the case of present employees but are compulsory for those entering the service after the 

 passage of the act. Retirement may take place after service of 15 years on the recom- 

 mendation of the head of the department. The employees share not only in the expenses 

 but in the administration. One member on the board represents employees, as one does the 

 employers; the third is the state treasurer. The system was extended to municipalities and 

 to counties, and any town, on the acceptance of the act by the voters in 1912, is permitted 

 to pension an employee incapacitated for labour who is 60 years old and who has been em- 

 ployed by the town for 25 years. Besides, several acts were passed providing for the retire- 

 ment on half pay of veterans of the Civil War in municipal employ. 



A law for (elective) state insurance against accidents was passed in 1911 and slightly 

 amended in 1912. If the employers choose the insurance system, the common law defences 

 are abrogated. To be compensated a disability must last for more than two weeks. The 

 amount of damages recoverable was increased in 1912. In case of death, it is 300 times 



