MASSACHUSETTS. 



425 



settlements wholly or partly acquired before 1860 

 of no effect; and settlement is lost by absence from 

 the State for ten years in succession. Formerly a 

 settlement acquired since 1794 remained good, and 

 descended from father to son ; so that one who had 

 never lived in the State might claim a settlement if 

 his ancestors had gained one. Residence of five 

 years and payment of all taxes for three years are 

 now required to obtain a settlement. 



The Torrens system of land registration was 

 adopted. The Governor and Council are to appoint 

 a court of registration and a State recorder of regis- 

 tration. The court is to consist of two judges and 

 have original jurisdiction over all applications for 

 registrations of titles. 



It was provided that when the machinery in a 

 factory is stopped for any cause, and women and 

 minors have been obliged to stay in the workrooms 

 during the stoppage, they shall not lose pay for the 

 time nor be required to make it up without extra 

 compensation. -The law relating to employment of 

 minors was generally amended. The law providing 

 for the weekly payment of wages was made to apply 

 to all manufacturers, instead of only to those having 

 as many as 25 employees. The Labor Bureau is to 

 investigate Sunday labor in the State, and also the 

 subjects of profit-sharing and industrial insurance. 



A report was received from the committee ap- 

 pointed in 1897 to investigate the relations of street 

 railways to cities and towns, and a law was passed 

 embodying most of its recommendations. A special 

 tax was imposed upon the profits of roads paying 

 dividends of more than 8 per cent., and which have 

 paid dividends since they began operations equiva- 

 lent to 6 per cent., and also a tax on gross receipts 

 from 1 to 3 per cent. Street railways are to come 

 under the supervision of the State Railroad Com- 

 missioners. 



Some additions were made to the militia laws: 

 Volunteers are to give seven days of camp duty each 

 year, temporary enlistments and provisional com- 

 panies were provided for, and the commander-in- 

 chief was permitted to form additional companies 

 of naval militia, not exceeding four. 



The game laws were so amended that wild deer 

 may not be hunted before Nov. 1, 1903; and the 

 open season for scoters is to begin May 20, instead 

 of April 15. 



A general law was passed for the incorporation 

 and regulation of fraternal beneficiary insurance 

 associations. Fire insurance companies are not to 

 be liable for more than the value of property when 

 burned ; if the insurance is greater, the premiums 

 on the difference are to be refunded with interest. 

 Provision was made for insurance against loss by 

 bombardment. The law limiting the amount a 

 company may insure in a town or fire insurance 

 district on property other than dwellings and farm 

 buildings and contents was repealed. 



Laws in regard to convicts authorize the General 

 Superintendent of Prisons to establish a camp for 

 100 prisoners, who are to be employed in reclaiming 

 the land and preparing material for roads ; he is 

 also to employ inmates of the reformatories and 

 jails in the same way; and goods are to be made 

 for use in State and county institutions by convicts 

 under his direction. The "laws in reference to re- 

 leasing convicts on probation were amended. The 

 Governor may grant a conditional pardon to a con- 

 vict upon his petition, if he has served half his sen- 

 tence and has kept all the rules of the institution. 



It was enacted that the death penalty shall here- 

 after be inflicted by electricity, and $7,500 was ap- 

 propriated for a building for the purpose at the 

 State Prison. 



It was enacted that declarations of deceased per- 

 sons are not to be excluded from evidence as hear- 



say if they were made before the beginning of the 

 suit, and upon personal knowledge of the declarant. 

 A probate court may appoint a conservator of the 

 property of any person unable by reason of advanced 

 age to care for it. upon petition of such person or of 

 one or more of his friends. A probate court may 

 also authorize a special administrator to do such 

 acts as the interests of the property or estate may 

 require. A bill providing for a war loan of $1,500.- 

 000 became a law. The bonds are to run thirty 

 years, and to bear interest not to exceed 4 per cent., 

 payable semianmially. The money was needed to 

 pay bounties authorized for Massachusetts volun- 

 teers, and for other expenses on account of the war. 

 Another act appropriated $50.000 for a hospital 

 ship. 



An appropriation of $25,000 was made for making 

 Greylock mountain a State reservation. 



A resolution granting woman suffrage was debated 

 at some length, but when it came to a vote there 

 were not enough of the friends of the measure to 

 demand a rollcall. Twice the opportunity was 

 given for those who wished a yea and nay vote to 

 express themselves. It required 30 votes, and on 

 each occasion only 29 rose. 



Among other enactments were the following: 



Empowering cities and towns to construct bicycle 

 paths and appropriate money for the purpose. 



Establishing a State beard of insanity of 5 mem- 

 bers, to be appointed by the Governor and Council. 



Making the officers of corporations jointly and 

 severally liable for debts contracted before the 

 original capital is fully paid in and the certificate 

 of payment properly filed. 



Allowing associations not for profit to change 

 their purpose of incorporation. 



Prohibiting the use of trading stamps. 



Requiring records of religious societies to be de- 

 posited with the town or city clerk after meetings 

 have been discontinued for two years. 



For exterminating the brown-tail moth. 



Declaring advertisements on fences, etc., without 

 consent of the owner or tenant, public nuisances, 

 which may be abated by any person. 



Providing that no loans of less than $200 at an 

 interest greater than 12 per cent., secured by mort- 

 gage on personal property exempt from attachment 

 or by assignment of wages, shall be made without 

 a license ; the license board is to fix rates and may 

 revoke the license. 



Amending the law regulating the sale of poisons, 

 adding carbolic acid to the list, and prohibiting the 

 sale of cocaine without a physician's prescription. 



Providing that corporations having deposits to 

 the credit of any pauper shall give information to 

 the poor officers. 



Prohibiting the employment of other than citi- 

 zens of the State in the making and repairing of 

 State roads. 



Allowing cremation of the bodies of the dead. 



Giving the right of way to fire engines and carts 

 in cities and towns when going to fires, and provid- 

 ing fine and imprisonment for obstruction. 



Making persons and corporations liable in dam- 

 ages for not less than $500. or more than $5,000, for 

 negligence resulting in the death of a person not in 

 their employ. 



To provide an equitable process after the giving 

 of a judgment based on necessaries of life supplied 

 to a debtor. 



Prohibiting a married woman doing business on 

 her own account from carrying on business in the 

 name of her husband. 



Amending the law relative to exemption of prop- 

 erty of soldiers and their wives, and extending it to 

 widows of soldiers. The exemption of any one 

 family is not to exceed $2,000, and the combined 





