MASSACHUSETTS. 



459 



and between the hours of four and half-past 

 six in the evening." 



The most fruitful subject of discussion at 

 this session was the proposed division of the 

 town of Beverly, and the incorporation of the 

 town of Beverly Farms. The measure was 

 opposed by the people of Beverly proper, who 

 derived great benefit from the taxes of their 

 wealthy neighbors. Prolonged hearings took 

 place before the legislative committee, and 

 money was liberally spent by both sides in se- 

 curing an active lobby. Charges were also 

 made that members of the Legislature had been 

 bribed, and one Senator testified before au in- 

 vestigating committee that he had been cor- 

 ruptly approached by friends of one party. 

 The committee was, however, unable to find 

 any conclusive evidence of bribery. The bill 

 for division finally passed, but was vetoed by 

 the Governor, solely on the ground of the 

 questionable practices attending its passage. 

 He says: " While, of course, no member of 

 the Legislature has taken or would take money 

 for his vote, yet some $20,000 have been spent 

 to indirectly influence the action of the Legis- 

 lature. It is no excuse that such things, or 

 worse, have happened before without exposure. 

 This time the abuse has been investigated, ex- 

 posed, and rebuked in scathing terms by the 

 committees of both houses. I regard it as my 

 dut7 to the Commonwealth, and to the main- 

 tenance of a wholesome public sentiment in 

 behalf of legislation which shall be above sus- 

 picion, to act upon the reports made by these 

 committees and adopted by their respective 

 houses, and to strike emphatically at the evil 

 thus unearthed." 



Another act, passed after a contest, extends 

 for four years the time for the completion of 

 the Cape Cod Ship-Canal across the town of 

 Sandwich, from Cape Cod Bay to Buzzard's 

 Bay. The original company was permitted to 

 retain its franchise, although several others 

 sought earnestly to secure it. 



A State tax of $2,250,000 for the year was 

 apportioned among the towns. 



An act that promises to be of great value in 

 shortening legislative sessions, gives the Su- 

 perior Court jurisdiction of all personal claims, 

 either in law or equity, against the Common- 

 wealth, thus removing the necessity for per- 

 sonal-relief bills, of which a large number 

 were passed each year. 



Other acts of the session are as follow : 



To incorporate the Massachusetts Agricultural Ex- 

 periment Station at the State Agricultural College. 



Regulating the sale and purchase of poisons. 



Authorizing the Governor to appoint three directors 

 of the Fitchburg Railroad Company to represent the 

 interest, of the State in the stock of that road. 



To incorporate the American Pomological Society. 



Prohibiting the taking or sale of scallops at certain 

 seasons. 



Providing for the appointment of commissioners of 

 wrecks and shipwrecked goods, who shall take charge 

 of such goods and restore them to the owner, or other- 

 wise dispose of them according to the provisions of 

 this act. 



Authorizing the city of Boston to issue bonds, not 

 to exceed $2,500,000, for the erection of a new court- 

 house for Suffolk County. 



To secure proper ventilation and sanitary provis- 

 ions in factories and workshops. 



Prohibiting the employment of children in factories 

 to clean machinery in motion. 



Providing for the assessment of royalty - paying 

 machines at the place where they are use'd or operated. 



To incorporate the trustees of Clark University in 

 the city of Worcester. 



To establish a board of registration in dentistry, 

 and giving it powers to regulate the practice of the 

 profession in the State. 



To punish false pretenses in securing the registra- 

 tion of cattle and other animals, or the transfers of 

 such registration, and to punish giving false pedi- 

 grees. 



To provide for the appointment of a reserve police 

 force in Boston, and that appointments to the regular 

 force be made from such force. 



To provide for pensioning membero of the Boston 

 police department. 



To provide for the free instruction of deaf-mutes or 

 deaf children. 



Extending the time for which railroad corporations 

 may issue bonds from 20 to 50 years. 



To prohibit the unlicensed selling, distributing, or 

 dispensing of intoxicating liquors by clubs. 



To discontinue the Asylum for the Insane at Ips- 

 wich. 



To accept an annual appropriation of money by 

 Congress for the support of agricultural experiments 

 within the Commonwealth. 



To amend and codify the statutes relating to insur- 

 ance. 



To secure uniform and proper meal-hours for chil- 

 dren, young persons, or wcmen in factories and work- 

 shops. 



Exempting corporations whose franchise is subject 

 to taxation from taxation of their shares. 



To provide for the appointment of police matrons 

 in cities at the various police stations, and for the 

 establishment of a house of detention for women in 

 Boston. 



To co-operate with the United States in the sup- 

 pression and extirpation of pleuro-pneumonia by giv- 

 ing certain Federal officers the right of inspection, 

 quarantine, and condemnation of diseased animals in 

 the State, and conferring other powers upon them. 



To give the boards of health of cities and towns 

 power to suppress contagious diseases among animals. 



To make the first Monday of September, known as 

 "Labor's Holiday," a legal holiday. 



To extend and regulate the liability of employers 

 to make compensation for personal injuries suffered 

 by employes in their service. 



Providing that two hours, after the opening of the 

 polls for any State or national election, shall be al- 

 lowed an employe, at his request, in which to cast his 

 ballot. 



Regulating the taxation of insurance companies. 



To authorize a loan of $400,000 by the city^of Bos- 

 ton for the payment for lands heretofore acquired for 

 public parks in or near said city. 



To provide for the employment by the Commis- 

 sioners of Prisons of additional agents to aid dis- 

 charged prisoners. 



Enlarging the jurisdiction of the Superior Court by 

 giving it exclusive original jurisdiction over divorces, 

 proceedings for alimony, custody of children, and 

 otherwise, hitherto exercised by the Supreme Judicial 

 Court. 



Providing for a more thorough and regular inspec- 

 tion of railroad bridges. 



Providing for a change of venue in civil actions in 

 cases tried in the Superior or Supreme Court, when- 

 ever it appears, by reason of local prejudice or other 

 cause, that a fair 'trial can not be had in the county 

 where the action is pending. 



