1938: Rhode Island

Area and Population.

The smallest state in the Union, 'Little Rhody' was one of the thirteen original states. With an area of only 1,248 sq. mi. (including 181 sq. mi. of water), it has a coast, washed by tide waters, of about 400 miles. In population it ranks 37th among the states, numbering 687,497 according to the census of 1930; 681,000 on July 1, 1937, according to a Federal estimate. In 1936 the foreign-born whites numbered 144,952 (21.3 per cent of the total), of whom 30,093 were Italians, 33,145 Canadians, 20,458 English, 13,459 Irish, 6,355 Polish, and 5,133 Scotch. The largest cities are Providence, the capital, 252,981; Pawtucket, 77,149; Woonsocket, 49,376; Cranston, 42,911.

Agriculture.

The southern part of the state has a mild climate and rich soil. In the vicinity of Providence are milk farms, stock farms, market gardens, orchards and greenhouses.

Manufactures.

Rhode Island is primarily a manufacturing state. In the census of manufacturing in 1936, 1,254 manufacturing establishments had 92,152 wage earners, who earned $76,123,742; on July 31, 1937, there were 885,896 active spindles in the state, consuming 120,417 bales of cotton.

Education.

In the field of education there have been outstanding accomplishments. Among these are establishment and recognition of the principle of equalization of educational opportunities; increased state aid for every school district of Rhode Island; the expansion of the Americanization, Adult, and Vocational Education programs; increased scholarships for the Rhode Island School of Design, the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Providence College and the World War Orphans' Fund; additional facilities at the Rhode Island State College in the erection, renovation and equipment of buildings, together with the enlargement and improvement of grounds; additional facilities at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf; increased aid to the blind.

Legislation.

Some of the outstanding legislative measures passed by the 1938 General Assembly included the following: transfer of $700,000 by the Board of Commissioners of Sinking Funds, from surplus to general treasury for purposes of state unemployment relief; appropriation of $177,000 for the State Unemployment Relief Commission; creation of a Commission to study the advisability of establishing a cancer hospital; promotion of adequate child welfare services for Rhode Island; requirement of blood test for marriage license; compulsory blood test for pregnant women; creation of a Division of Scientific Crime Detection; amendments to old age pension act; forbidding use of tear gas or other similar gases during labor strikes or lock-outs; Columbus Day closing of stores, factories and industrial plants.

The state has 2,375 miles of rural roads, of which 1,163 miles have been approved by the state legislature as composing the state highway system. On this system 772 miles are maintained by the state as of June 1, 1938.

Political and Other Events.

Because of an avalanche of Republican majorities at the November election, the state government for the next two years and the control of the General Assembly, will be in the hands of the Republicans. This is a momentous change, since, by the Administrative Code adopted by the Democratic majority in 1935, the state government was entirely reorganized into departments and divisions thereunder. Previous boards and commissions were abolished and their functions and duties assumed by the new departments. At the same time, in 1935, the tenure of office of the justices of the state Supreme Court was terminated and the vacancies thereby created were otherwise filled. It is anticipated that one of the first proposals of the incoming administration will be for the enactment of a civil service law.

Battered by the great hurricane of September 21, 1938, inundated by tidal wave with sudden disaster to the capital city, homes shattered or vanished completely, and shore line changed, Rhode Island is rehabilitating with courage and determination. State authorities, in conference with Federal engineers and local officials, have planned beach developments which will in the future safeguard lives and property and beautify the shore line. (See also MASSACHUSETTS: The Hurricane.)

Finance.

The most recent financial figures available are those for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938. The cash on hand, June 30, 1937, was $2,956,888; the year's receipts were $19,042,037, making a total of $22,598,025. Expenditures were $21,778,494.59, leaving cash on hand as of June 30, 1938, in the amount of $820,430.41. The net bonded debt of the state on June 30, 1938, amounted to $27,305,591.30. The assessed valuation in 1937 of property within the state was: $943,600,540.34, real, and $573,225,990.75, personal.

Rhode Island has no state income tax although there have been several attempts to pass such a law. In the appropriation bill for 1938-1939 there is set up for payment of Serial Bond Issue Installments the following: 2nd unemployment relief loan, $200,000; 3rd loan, $200,000; 4th loan, $500,000; and an appropriation for unemployment relief of $1,600,000. Part of the three-cent tax on gasoline is to be spent for unemployment relief.

Banking.

On June 30, 1938, Rhode Island had twelve licensed national banks with deposits of $82,571,865; loans of $40,701,005; investments of $33,388,605. Twenty-three licensed state banks had deposits of $372,303,268; loans of $129,412,588; investments of $237,780,270.

State Officers.

As a result of the election of November 1938, the chief officers of the state are as follows: Governor, William H. Vanderbilt; Lieutenant-Governor, James O. McManus; Secretary of State, J. Hector Paquin; Attorney General, Louis V. Jackvony; General Treasurer, Thomas P. Hazard.

United States Senators:

Peter G. Gerry and Theodore Francis Green.