1939: Massachusetts

Area and Population.

One of the thirteen original states, Massachusetts has an area of 8,266 sq. mi. The estimated population in 1937 was 4,426,000. The latest exact figures, as found in the Massachusetts Decennial Census of 1935, were 4,350,910. The state ranks 44th in size and 8th in population among the states. It has a greater number of cities with 50,000 or more inhabitants than any other state. Nine of these sixteen cities have over 100,000 population, including: Boston (the capital) 817,713; Worcester, 190,471; Springfield, 149,642; Cambridge, 118,075; Fall River, 117,414; New Bedford, 110,022; Lynn, 100,909; Somerville, 100,773; and Lowell, 110,114.

The latest figures obtainable for racial groups are those from the 1930 census. The total population then was 4,249,614, of which 4,192,926 were white, 52,365 Negro, and 4,323 members of other races. The foreign-born white population numbered 1,054,636, of whom 526,733 had been naturalized.

Agriculture.

During the legislative session of 1937, the Massachusetts Industrial and Development Commission was established 'for the promotion and development of the industrial, agricultural and recreational resources of the Commonwealth.' It was intended that a substantial part of the appropriation authorized under this legislation should be used for advertising state farm products.

Education.

In the school year 1937-38, the number of inhabitants of school age (5-16 years), and including 1,942 illiterate minors of from 16 to 21 years of age, was 787,042. This is a decrease of 17,918 from the preceding year. The total enrollment in public schools — elementary, junior high and high — was 729,849, a decrease of 14,853.

The expenditures of all public schools in 1937-38 amounted to $70,639,811; a decrease of $5,900,232 from the last school year. The average cost per pupil was $101.27. Out of the total school appropriation, the sum of $50,537,064.00 was expended for salaries of principals, supervisors and teachers.

Legislative Matters of the Year.

In January 1939 the Massachusetts Legislature, officially known as the Great and General Court, held its first biennial session under a recent amendment of the Constitution which provides that legislative sessions be held in the odd years. The session continued until August 13, the second longest in the history of the state.

Several state departments were reorganized, including the Division of Unemployment Compensation, the Department of Public Welfare, the Department of Civil Service and the Department of Public Works.

The cooperation of the state with the Federal Government for purposes of developing flood-control projects in the regions affected by flood was assured. A similar cooperation has also been provided for salvaging vast amounts of timber felled by the hurricane of 1938. Forests have also been cleared as a safeguard against the menace of forest fire.

New aviation control by state authorities was established which will promote more effectively the development of transportation by air.

A law was enacted making it mandatory on the Labor Relations Commission to recognize craft unions as distinct bargaining units, if a majority of the workers in a plant so desire. The forty-eight hour law was extended to include women and children employed in offices, banks, clubs, and similar places of business. The Fair Trade Law was strengthened.

A bond issue in the amount of $10,000,000 was authorized for the improvement of the north and south metropolitan sewerage districts. A state appropriation in the amount of $100,000 was made to the city of Boston to help cut down the deficit incurred in the operation of the East Boston tunnel.

A redistricting bill for Councilor, Senatorial and Representative districts was passed. The Governor vetoed a bill providing an increase of $1,000 in the salary to members of the Legislature.

Banking.

The 1938 report of the Commissioner of Banks lists the assets of the state's 992 banking institutions as $6,118,495,486.07, an increase for the year of $21,897,081.92.

The statement of condition of all Savings Banks as of the close of business October 31, 1938, sets forth aggregate depositors' balances of approximately $2,123,308,000, which, as compared with $2,142,859,000, on October 30, 1937, shows a decrease of $19,551,000, or about nine-tenths of one per cent. The number of deposit accounts decreased by approximately 35,000 during the year.

In the savings departments of Trust Companies, deposits for the first time in five years showed a decrease for the year amounting to $682,193. The number of depositors, however, has increased by 910 and now aggregates 330,530, the largest number depositing in such saving departments since the year 1931.

During the year ending Oct. 31, 1938, the amount of funds transmitted to foreign countries by the two corporations and one individual authorized to engage in that business, amounted to $244,186, a decrease of $42,476 from the preceding year.

Finance.

The net direct debt of the state on November 30, 1938, the end of the fiscal year, was $40,685,084.33, an increase for the year of $14,045,998.96. The net contingent debt on November 39, 1938, was $59,022,427.53, an increase for the year of $1,253,188.97. The state budget for the year 1939 totaled $80,838,265.37, and for 1940, $80,205,615.25.

Welfare and Correction.

State institutions for correction and welfare include the Massachusetts Reformatory, Concord; Reformatory for Women, Framingham; State Farm, Bridgewater; Industrial School for Boys, Shirley; and Industrial School for Girls, Lancaster.

State schools for mental defectives include the Belchertown State School, Belchertown; Walter E. Fernald State School at Waltham; Wrentham State School, Wrentham.

State Officers.

Governor, Leverett Saltonstall; Lieutenant-Governor, Horace T. Cahill; Secretary of the Commonwealth, Frederic W. Cook; Treasurer and Receiver-General, William E. Hurley; Auditor, Russell A. Wood; Attorney-General, Paul A. Dever; Commissioner of Education, Walter F. Downey.

United States Senators.

David I. Walsh, Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.