Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-07-29
Out Of 972 Acts Governor Foss
Signed GID, Returning rs.
Sets New Mark for Messages
with IS Prepared and Sent.
Nearly All Suggestions Are Turned
Down-kIns Bills Over Veto.

Boston, July 2s.--The 1920 session OF
the Great and General Court of Mas
sachusetts was prorogued at O'Clock
tonight after all records for executive
and legisla tive activity on Beacon Hill
had been broken.
From Jan. 4, when the outgoing Re-
publican Governor, Eben S. Draper,
administered the oath to the 2S0 MEM
bers of the tWo branches. followed the
next day by the Inauguration of the
new Democratic Governor, Eugene N.
Foss. until this afternoon, when Sec
retary of State Langtry proclaimed
prorogation, there were POI legislative
days. or one more than the session of
1888, when Benz. F. Butler, another
Democrat, was Governor.
The session of 1911. like that of 1SS3
was practically joint debate between
the Governor and the Legislature and
here again new records were estab
lished. The Legislature sent 972 acts
and resolves to the executive branch.
The Governor signed 914. returned 25
without his approval and allowed to
become laws without his signature SO
others.
In addition to the 25 vetoes. Gov.
Foss sent IS messages to the Legisla-
ture, far exceeding any of his prede-
cessors in that respect. Nearly all of
these suggestions were turned down.
and in addition the Legislature passed
nine measures over the Governors
veto-stiIl another record
Despite the long controversy between
the two branches of the government
they Joined in placing many important
acts on the statute books. Labor was
especially favored this year in Massa-
chusetts with the adoption of work
ingmen's compensation act, and the
passage of a 54-hour bill for women
and minors, an S-hour bill for public
employees and the trial by jury in con-
tempt cases. One of the most important
acts was that for a state wide direct
primary in elections. and including
al, but Presidential electors. This act
will have its first, trial on Sept. 226
Many transportation problems were
considered and those that went through
provided for four new subways in Bos-
ton. extending the lease of the West End
Street Railway to the Boston Elevated
Railroad, offering further encouragement
to the building of the Boston & Eastern
ftd1iIDdu lTOHi btNcIly " bOSlOlis anu
consolidating the Boston e. Northern and
Old Colony Street Railways, which oper-
ate nearly all the electric trolley lines
outside Boston, with a radius of 30 miles.
An appropriation of 100000 was made
for new docks in Boston harbor. The
corrupt practices act was extened and
the Legislature raised the salaries of
its members over the governors veto
from $3.50 to $1,000.
Among the important measures that
failed were the federal income tax. which
was defeated for the second time; wo-
mans suffrage, biennial elections. peace
full picketing in labor difficulties, and a
proposition to connect the railroad sys
TENS on the north and south sides ol
the harbor with tunnel
There was lively struggle at the out
set of the session over the reelection OF
United States Senator Henry Cabot
Lodge. and while the House failed to
agree with the Senate. joint conven-
ton returned Mr.. Lodge for fourth
term by a margin of four votes. The
Legislature was also compelled to I'LL
two vacancies in state offices, and in
both cases members of the Legislature
were selected. Rep. A. P. Langtry OF
Springfield being made secretary of state
and Senator John A. White of Tysbury
state auditor