may discontinue the draw of any such bridge below which SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NUMBER Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Chap.225 amended. mittees may etc. SECTION 1. Section eighty-four of chapter eleven of R. L. 11, § 84, the Revised Laws is hereby amended by inserting after the word "consist", in the fourth line, the words:which number shall be announced in the call for the meeting at which they are to be chosen; but said number may be increased or decreased by vote of said meeting, so as to read as follows: Section 84. A state, Political comcity or town committee may make rules and regulations, make rules and not inconsistent with law, for its proceedings and rela- regulations, tive to caucuses called by it, and may fix the number of persons of whom it shall consist, which number shall be announced in the call for the meeting at which they are to be chosen; but said number may be increased or decreased by vote of said meeting. Each city or town committee may make reasonable regulations, not inconsistent with law, to determine membership in the party, and to restrain persons not entitled to vote at caucuses from attendance thereat or taking part therein. But no political committee shall prevent any voter from participating in a caucus of its party for the reason that the voter has supported an independent candidate for political office. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE BETTER PROTECTION OF SHEEP Chap.226 Be it enacted, etc., as follows: It shall be lawful for the county commissioners of any Protection of county, or their agents thereto authorized in writing, to sheep from enter upon the premises of the owner of any dog known. dogs. Chap.227 R. L. 225, § 121, amended. Release of probation. to them to have worried or killed sheep, and then and there to kill such dog, unless such owner whose premises are thus entered for the said purpose shall give a bond in the sum of two hundred dollars, with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the county commissioners, the condition of the bond being that the dog shall refrain from killing or worrying sheep for the space of twelve months next ensuing. And if the owner of the dog declares his intention to give such a bond the said county commissioners or their agents shall allow him reasonable time in which to procure and prepare the same and to present it to them, or to file it with the clerk of the city or town in which the said owner resides. Approved March 26, 1902. AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS UPON PROBA- Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. Section one hundred and twenty-one of chapter two hundred and twenty-five of the Revised Laws is hereby amended by striking out the words "for a misdemeanor", in the fourth and fifth lines, so as to read as follows:- Section 121. A probation officer may, prisoners upon with the consent of the county commissioners, or, in the county of Suffolk, of the penal institutions commissioner of the city of Boston, investigate the case of any person who is imprisoned in a jail or house of correction upon a sentence of not more than six months, or upon a longer sentence of which not more than six months remain unexpired, for the purpose of ascertaining the probability of his reformation if released from imprisonment. If, after such investigation, he recommends the release of the prisoner, and the court which imposed the sentence, or, if the sentence was imposed by the superior court, the district attorney, certifies a concurrence in such recommendation, the county commissioners or the penal institutions commissioner may, if they consider it expedient, release him upon probation, upon such terms and conditions as they may prescribe and may require a bond for the fulfilment of such conditions. The surety upon any such bond may at any time take and surrender his principal, and the county commissioners or the penal institutions commissioner may at any time order any prisoner released by them upon probation to return to SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. AN ACT TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE INSPECTOR Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Chap.228 duties of in transferred to SECTION 1. The powers and duties heretofore con- Powers and ferred and imposed upon the inspector of gas meters and spector of gas of illuminating gas are hereby conferred and imposed meters, etc., upon the board of gas and electric light commissioners. gas and electric The care and custody of all property of the Common- sioners. wealth in the possession of said inspector are hereby transferred to said board. light commis SECTION 2. Said board shall have under their control Inspectors, appointment, an inspector and one or more assistant inspectors, who term, etc. shall be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of three years from the dates of their respective appointments, and who shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their official duties. The inspector, assistant inspectors, and the deputy in- . spectors hereinafter provided for, shall not be pecuniarily interested, directly or indirectly, in the manufacture or sale of illuminating gas, of gas meters, or of any other article or commodity used by gas light companies or used for any purpose connected with the consumption of gas or with gas companies, and shall not give certificates or written opinions to makers or vendors of any such articles or commodities. duties. SECTION 3. Said inspectors, subject to the rules and Powers and regulations prescribed by the board, shall make the inspections of gas required by section fourteen of chapter fifty-eight of the Revised Laws, and shall inspect, examine, ascertain and prove the accuracy of all gas meters which are used for measuring the quantity of illuminating gas and are to be furnished to or for the use of any person, and shall seal, stamp or mark every such meter, if it be found correct, with some suitable device, which shall be recorded in the office of the secretary of the Common Deputy inspectors may be appointed for temporary service. Fees. Compensation of inspectors, etc. Payment of expenses of board, etc. wealth, and with the name of the inspector, the date of the inspection and the number of burners which the meter is intended to supply. They shall also perform such other duties and make such reports of their doings as the board may require. SECTION 4. If the inspectors at any time are unable fully to perform the duties required of them by this act the board shall appoint for temporary service one or more deputy inspectors of meters, and shall determine their compensation. Any person now in the service of the inspector of gas meters and of illuminating gas may be appointed or employed as such deputy without civil service examination. Such deputies shall be sworn, shall act under the direction of said board, shall not be connected with or employed by any gas company, and from their decisions the gas company or the consumer may appeal to the board. SECTION 5. For examining, comparing and testing meters, with or without stamping them, the board may collect a fee of twenty-five cents for each meter delivering not more than a cubic foot of gas in four revolutions, vibrations or complete repetitions of its action, and for each meter so delivering more than a cubic foot, a fee of thirty cents with twenty cents added for every additional cubic foot so delivered. The board shall designate one of its members to receive said fees, who shall give a bond to the treasurer and receiver general in the penal sum of five thousand dollars. All fees so received shall be paid into the treasury of the Commonwealth quarterly, on the last days of March, June, September and December in each year. SECTION 6. The salary of the inspector shall be twentyfive hundred dollars a year, the salary of the first assistant inspector shall be fifteen hundred dollars a year, and the salary of the second assistant inspector, if there be one appointed, shall be twelve hundred dollars a year, and the board may expend annually a sum not exceeding five thousand dollars for the compensation of deputies and for necessary apparatus, travelling expenses, office rent and expenses, and for other necessary expenses incident to the duties of said inspectors. SECTION 7. The amount of the expenses incurred by the board under this act, and of salaries paid thereunder, less the amount deposited with the treasurer and receiver general from the fees for the inspection of meters, shall be borne by the several gas companies in proportion to their gross earnings, and shall be assessed and recovered in the manner provided by section ten of chapter one hundred and eleven of the Revised Laws for the assessment and recovery of the expenses of the railroad commissioners. If at any time however the amount collected under the provisions of section five hereof shall exceed the amount of such salaries and expenses, such excess shall be applied to reduce the annual assessment levied upon the several gas companies under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twenty-one of the Revised Laws, for the annual expenses of the board. SECTION 8. Sections one, two, three, four, five, six Repeal. and seven of chapter fifty-eight of the Revised Laws, and so much of section seven of chapter nine thereof as relates to the annual report of the inspector of gas and gas meters, are hereby repealed. effect. SECTION 9. So much of this act as relates to the When to take appointment of the inspector and assistant inspectors shall take effect upon its passage, and the remainder of this act shall take effect as soon as said officers are appointed and qualified. Approved March 27, 1902. AN ACT RELATIVE TO WATER COURSES AND DRAINAGE IN THE Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Chap.229 borough may improve certain brooks, etc., purposes, etc. for drainage SECTION 1. The city of Marlborough, for the purposes City of Marlof surface and ground drainage and for the protection of the public health, may by its board of aldermen from time to time improve the brooks and natural streams in said city by widening the same, removing obstructions in or over them, diverting the water, or by altering the courses or deepening the channels or constructing new channels, and may conduct the water of any such brook or stream and any surface or ground water through pipes, covered conduit or open channel, or convert any such brook or stream, whether in its original channel or after the alteration of the course of the same, wholly or in part into a covered conduit; and for the purposes aforesaid may by May take land, its city council from time to time, subject to the provisions course of hereof, purchase or take land in fee simple or otherwise, brooks, etc. or any right or easement in land, including any brook or change the |