NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



545 



and duties delegated by law to town superin- 

 tendents, and has a general oversight, examina- 

 tion, and charge of the teachers in his union. He 

 must hold a State teachers' certificate and devote 

 his entire time to the work. When a union of 

 towns or districts has been effected, and a super- 

 intendent has been employed and paid, then the 

 State reimburses the towns in the union to the 

 extent of half the amount so expended for super- 

 visory purposes. The towns or districts entitled 

 to State aid are those untler $2,000,000 of valua- 

 tion each. 



The State Library. This library consisted of 

 about 1,000 volumes in 1846, 7,000 in 1867, 36,000 

 in 1896, 49,000 in 1898, and 61,000 at present. 

 About half this number consists of the law 

 library and the reports and journals of the dif- 

 ferent States and of the United States; the other 

 half, of a general reference library on all sub- 

 jects. The trustees are prohibited by law from 

 purchasing fiction and poetry, except as written 

 by New Hampshire authors or printed within the 

 State, in which cases they are of special interest 

 to the institution. The collection of works illus- 

 trating the bibliography of New Hampshire is 

 large and constantly increasing. The miscellane- 

 ous library is also strong in New England local 

 history, genealogy, natural science, and sociology. 

 The rate of increase is about 7,000 bound vol- 

 umes each year, and as many pamphlets. The 

 librarian is Arthur H. Chase, of Concord. 



The Anti-Saloon League. This is a branch 

 of the American Anti-Saloon League, a temporary 

 organization having been effected by Dr. H. H. 

 Russell, superintendent of the American League, 

 Feb. 1, 1899. Dr. P. S. McKillop was appointed 

 superintendent to carry forward the work of agi- 

 tation with a view to permanent organization. 

 This was perfected in Manchester, March 14, 1899. 

 The president is Rev. J. H. Robbins, and the 

 secretary and treasurer, L. M. Robbins, both of 

 Concord. Rev. P. S. McKillop, who remained 

 superintendent until his resignation, June 30, 

 held about 100 meetings, and sought to arouse 

 a better public sentiment in towns visited, and 

 to concentrate such awakened public sentiment in 

 organized effort for the suppression of the liquor 

 traffic. After his resignation the work was con- 

 tinued by the president with such help as he could 

 secure from the pastors of the State. In Novem- 

 ber the Hon. M. J. Fanning, of Baltimore, Md., 

 was made superintendent, and continued a vigor- 

 ous campaign throughout the year. 



The objects of the league are the maintenance 

 of the prohibitory law upon the statute books, 

 with improvements as may from time to time be 

 found necessary, and the securing of its impartial 

 enforcement. 



Legislative Session. The . session of the 

 Legislature began Jan. 4 and ended March 11, 

 with 24 Senators (22 Republicans and 2 Demo- 

 crats) and 359 Representatives. Thomas N. Hast- 

 tings was President of the Senate, and Frank D. 

 Currier, Speaker of the House. 



Frank W. Rollins was inaugurated, Jan. 5, 

 the fifty-fifth Governor of the State and the forty- 

 sixth person to occupy the office. The follow- 

 ing were declared to have been elected councilors: 

 S a inner Wallace, Stephen H. Gale, George F. 

 Hammond, Harry M. Cheney, Henry F. Green. 



The Republican candidates for State officers 

 Edward N. Pearson for Secretary of State, 

 Solon A. Carter for Treasurer, and Arthur E. 

 Clarke for Public Printer were also elected. 



In all, 179 bills (public and private) and 43 

 joint resolutions were passed; no bill was ve- 

 toed. 



VOL. xxxix. 35 A 



Punishment by imprisonment in the State 

 Prison not exceeding ten years, or by fine not 

 exceeding $1,000 and imprisonment not exceed- 

 ing one year, is provided for any person know- 

 ingly having in his possession, for any purpose, 

 burglarious tools or implements. 



An act relating to the repairs of highways pro- 

 vides that each town shall be divided into high- 

 way districts, with a surveyor for each ; that each 

 town shall annually appropriate a prescribed 

 sum for the repair of highways and bridges, to be 

 expended under the supervision of the surveyors; 

 that the selectmen may determine the prices of 

 labor and materials; and that the highway sur- 

 veyors shall make all repairs subject to the gen- 

 eral direction of the selectmen. This act to be 

 in force only in such towns as vote to adopt 

 the same. 



An act in amendment of existing laws concern- 

 ing the " public printer and public printing " ma- 

 terially reduces prices of composition, presswork, 

 and stock. 



All payments and expenditures made by the 

 Governor and Council in connection with the 

 furnishing of troops in the war with Spain are 

 ratified and confirmed and the Treasurer author- 

 ized to charge them to the account of the Spanish 

 war, against such time as a settlement may be 

 effected with the United States Government. 



The State accepts the donation of $10,000 from 

 Hamilton Smith, of Durham, for the benefit of 

 the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and 

 the Mechanic Arts, with the conditions specified 

 in the deed of gift. 



Every plumber in any city (or town, under 

 certain conditions) must, before he can prose- 

 cute his business, secure a plumber's license from 

 a board of examiners, which license is to be paid 

 for and recorded, and renewed every year. 



Provision is made for the appointment of State 

 and town liquor agents, with regulations for their 

 conduct. 



Verification of the books of depositors in sav- 

 ings banks must be made every four years, under 

 stringent provisions. 



Foreign insurance companies may not write 

 policies except through resident agents, nor re- 

 insure risks except as provided. 



The width of wheel rims or fellies for heavy 

 wagons is prescribed, the act to take effect Jan. 

 1, 1900. Violations of its provisions are subject 

 to a fine not exceeding $25. 



Two commissions were appointed to represent 

 the State at the Paris Exposition of 1900. 



The sum of $25,000 was appropriated to the 

 Asylum for the Insane for new buildings for 

 each of the years 1899 and 1900; a special appro- 

 priation of $9,400 for the Industrial School; 

 $20,000 for a "Soldiers' Home fund," to cover 

 the years 1899 and 1900; $7,500 for the New 

 Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Me- 

 chanic Arts for each of the years 1899 and 1900; 

 $10,000 annually for two years to Dartmouth 

 College; and $8,000 for special uses at the State 

 Normal School. The State Prison is nearly self- 

 sustaining through its manufactures. 



Among other measures passed were these: 



Relating to holidays. 



Relating to registration of births, marriages, 

 and deaths. 



For the protection of fish and game. 



To prevent the adulteration of candy. 



For protecting bald eagles. 



A new apportionment for assessment of public 

 taxes. 



For better protection of water supplies. 



To prevent the desecration of national and State 



