RHODE ISLAND. 



695 



and it was passed. Other important measures 

 considered and passed by the House were the 

 following : The antivaccination bill (defeated in 

 the Senate), the factory inspection bill, the bill 

 making nine hours a legal day's work (action 

 postponed in the Senate), and the bill urging 

 upon Congress to permanently establish the war 

 college in Newport. Among the acts passed 

 were the following : Exempting the property of 

 educational and charitable institutions from 

 taxation; compelling the sale of nuts, shelled 

 beans, and berries by dry measure; appointing 

 a commission of inland fisheries ; compelling the 

 militia to perform camp duty each summer; 

 prohibiting illegal carnal knowledge of girls 

 under sixteen years of age; prohibiting trout 

 fishing between April 1 and July 15 ; concerning 

 a more efficient prevention of cruelty to chil- 

 dren ; providing for the election of representa- 

 tives in Congress by a plurality vote ; providing 

 for the safety of women and children in mercan- 

 tile industries and manufacturing establishments ; 

 restraining gambling and pool selling ; for the 

 protection of railroad employees ; and for the en- 

 couragement and protection of the fishing in- 

 dustries. 



The May session was convened in Newport on 

 May 29, and continued until June 13. The 

 House promptly organized, and for the first time 

 in two years assembled with the Senate in grand 

 committee for the purpose of canvassing the 

 votes for State officers. The House chose as its 

 Speaker Samuel W. K. Allen. On June 12 

 George P. Wetmore was chosen United States 

 Senator for a term of six years, in place of 

 Nathan P. Dixon. There was no opposition, and 

 Mr. Wetmore received 100 votes out of a possi- 

 ble 109. Among the measures enacted at this 

 session were the following : Prohibiting lotteries 

 and policy lotteries ; for the protection of navi- 

 gation by removal of wrecks, etc. ; prohibiting the 

 taking of oysters between May 15 and Sept. 15 ; 

 authorizing the construction of certain buildings 

 and otherwise fitting up a permanent State 

 camp ground ; establishing and defining the 

 lien of warehousemen ; also numerous acts per- 

 taining to the laws of Providence, especially 

 concerning buildings, sewers, streets, and water- 

 ing the streets. 



Insurance. The State Insurance Commis- 

 sioner's report for 1893 shows that there were 

 102 companies doing fire and marine insur- 

 ance business in the State. Of the stock fire 

 and marine insurance companies of Rhode Island 

 there are 3, representing a paid-up capital of 

 $900,000. The total amount of their fire risks in 

 force Dec. 31, 1893, was $182,000,827; marine 

 and inland risks in force on the same date, 

 $4,354,187, or a decrease of over $3,000,000 in 

 each case in comparison with the returns for 

 1892. The losses paid show an increase of more 

 than $18,000 over 1892. There were 17 Rhode 

 Island mutual fire insurance companies doing 

 business in 1893. The business of these com- 

 panies for the year shows an increase in risks of 

 $28,177,375 in comparison with 1892, an increase 

 in losses paid of over $500,000 ; an increase in 

 liabilities of $181,583, and a decrease in surplus 

 of $336.166. During the January session of 

 1894 12 new companies were incorporated. On 

 Dec. 31 there were 88 fire and marine companies 



of other States and countries transacting busi- 

 ness. Of this number 55 are stock, 8 mutual, 

 and 25 United States branches of foreign com- 

 panies. The 55 stock companies report a to- 

 tal stock capital of $37,910,075, a decrease of 

 $2,500,000; premiums received, $72,617,800. 

 an increase of $247,515 ; fire losses paid, $49,- 

 426,224, an increase of $3,975,818; fire risks 

 written, $7,989,066,744, a decrease of $174,605,- 

 699 ; fire risks in force, $9,619,106,800, a decrease 

 of over $190,000,000. Thirteen of these com- 

 panies report a decrease in marine risks written 

 of $3,961,882 ; marine losses paid, $3,083,898, an 

 increase of $480,905. 



Saving's Banks. The total amount of de- 

 posits in institutions for savings on Nov. 14, 

 1894, was $67,444,117.14. The number of de- 

 positors, 131,623. The total deposits in trust 

 companies, participation account, on Nov. 14, 

 1894, was $8,829,247.46. The number of depos- 

 itors, 5,390. 



Education. The number of children enrolled 

 during the year in public schools was 55,671, an 

 increase of 1,976. In addition 15,195 have re- 

 ceived instruction in 67 private institutions, in- 

 cluding kindergarten and parochial schools. The 

 expenditures during the year were $1,629,163.57, 

 of which sum $439,549.93 was for buildings and 

 equipment. Of the total expenditure, $277,- 

 069.72 was drawn directly from the treasury, and 

 $1,352,093.85 was furnished from the treasuries 

 of cities, towns, and districts. The Board of Ed- 

 ucation expects to begin the new normal school 

 early in the spring. Plans and specifications 

 have been accepted and the site determined 

 upon. It will be on Smith's Hill, adjacent to 

 the new Statehouse. At the Institute for the 

 Deaf there was an attendance of 51 pupils. The 

 expense of maintenance was $13,163.28. Of the 

 special appropriation $986.92 was expended in 

 the introduction of the Sloyd system of manual 

 training and the teaching of printing. There 

 are 18 pupils at the Perkins Institute for the 

 Blind in South Boston, and 11 at the Waverly 

 School for Feeble Minded. By the terms of the 

 compromise resolution, passed at the January 

 session, providing for a settlement of the con- 

 troversy between Brown University and the Col- 

 lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, the lat- 

 ter institution has come into possession of the 

 Morrill fund, amounting to over $85,000, which 

 carries with it an annual appropriation from the 

 United States Government of $25,000. The Gen- 

 eral Treasurer also holds in trust for the college 

 the sura of $50,000, representing the funds of the 

 land grant act of 1862. These funds will enable 

 the college to increase its equipment, enlarge its 

 courses of study, and to open its doors to a larger 

 number of students. At its first commencement, 

 in June, 17 students were graduated ; 40 new 

 students entered in the autumn. 



Railroads. The animal report of the Rail- 

 road Commissioner shows that the capital stock 

 of the steam roads owned and operated in Rhode 

 Island is $85,527,375, an increase of $5,608,825 ; 

 their total property and assets is $147,280,397.02, 

 an increase of $10,756,698.50 ; their indebtedness 

 is $57,696,704.40, an increase of $8,296,697.66. 

 The number of passengers carried was 52,826,- 

 331, a loss of 4,921,875 ; total number of tons of 

 merchandise transported, 11,811,582, a decrease 



