510 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



turns in case of a disputed election in any 

 ward, and to decide the questions raised, and 

 amend the returns if they find occasion for 

 doing so. The third act relating to elections 

 requires a list of voters to be made out in cit- 

 ies, including all those qualified electors who 

 have been assessed for the year and who have 

 paid their tax of the preceding year, and pro- 

 viding that those who change their residences 

 from one ward to another after the 1st of May 

 shall vote where assessed. 



An act was passed for the better protection 

 of life in buildings occupied for public purposes 

 in the city of Boston. This provided for an 

 inspection of such buildings, and gave the in- 

 spector authority to require such changes to 

 be made as shall give security against fire and 

 other dangers. 



Among the less important acts of the session 

 was one fixing the compensation of members 



of the Legislature at $650 for each session, 

 that of the presiding officers being double the 

 amount ; one prohibiting the employment of 

 children under ten years of age in manufactur- 

 ing, mechanical, and mercantile establishments, 

 and those under fourteen unless attending 

 school at least twenty weeks during the pre- 

 ceding year ; one for the suppression of exhi- 

 bitions of fighting of birds, dogs, and other 

 animals ; one to incorporate the new town of 

 Merrimac from a portion of Amesbury ; one 

 authorizing the seizure, destruction, or sale, of 

 intoxicating liquors kept for sale coatrary to 

 law ; one regulating the execution of capital 

 sentences and giving the court authority to fix 

 the time and issue the warrant for execution ; 

 and one conferring the veto-power on the 

 mayors of cities. 



An amendment to the constitution of the 

 State was proposed by joint resolution of the 



VIEW OF BOSTON FROM THii 1IAKBOU. 



two Houses, annulling so much of Article II., 

 chapter 6, as relates to persons holding the of- 

 fice of president, professor, or instructor, in 

 Harvard College. The provision referred to 

 prohibits such persons from serving in either 

 branch of the Legislature. The amendment, 

 before taking effect, must receive the approval 

 of the next Legislature, and be ratified by a 

 vote of the people. 



Two acts were vetoed by the Governor. 

 One of these was an act confirming the mar- 

 riage of James Parton and Ellen Willis El- 

 dredge. These persons, when married at New- 

 buryport, held the relations of step-father and 

 step-daughter, and marriage in such cases is 

 prohibited by the laws of the State. The 

 Governor's objection to the bill confirming the 

 marriage was that it was not within the con- 



stitutional power of the Legislature to exempt 

 individuals from the operation of a general 

 law. The other act vetoed was an act to regu- 

 late the sale of intoxicating liquors. The Gov- 

 ernor did not approve of some of the changes 

 which it made in the existing license system, 

 and especially one which removed the condi- 

 tion that holders of licenses should not keep 

 an open bar, and that they should also hold 

 licenses as inn-holders or common victualers. 

 The political canvass was opened by a con- 

 vention of Republicans in Boston on the 26th 

 of April, to appoint four delegates at large to 

 the National Convention of the party. The 

 Hon. John E. Sanford presided, and urged a 

 high stand against corruption and extravagance, 

 and in favor of purity and reform. The dele- 

 gates chosen were E. Rockwood Hoar, Richard 



