which shall have charge and control of the construction of any memorial hereunder, and shall have the custody and care of any such memorial after its construction. In cities, the board shall consist of the mayor, ex officio, and three members appointed by him and approved by the council, of whom one shall be appointed for a period of one year, one for two years, and one for three years and as the term of each member expires, a successor shall be appointed in like manner, for a period of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner. In towns, the said board shall consist of the chairman of the board of selectmen, ex officio, and three members elected by the town in the same manner as other town officers for terms of one, two and three years respectively; but until such a board is elected, the selectmen may appoint a temporary board to serve until the next annual town election. Any vacancy occurring in the town board shall be filled for the unexpired term by the remaining members. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved March 31, 1919. CHAPTER 64. AN ACT TO PERMIT THE USE OF ARMORIES BY MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE Be it enacted, etc., as follows: PUBLIC SCHOOLS. Subdivision (a) of section forty-eight of Part I of chapter three hundred and twenty-seven of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and seventeen is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following: - Meetings of such military organizations of scholars in the public schools of a city or town as may be approved by the school committee thereof, so that said subdivision (a) will read as follows: - Section 48. (a) Armories provided for the militia shall be used only by the volunteer militia for such military purposes or purposes incidental thereto as may be designated by the commander-in-chief: provided, however, that the commander-inchief, upon terms and conditions to be prescribed by him and upon an application approved by the military custodian of an armory, may allow the temporary use of such armory for public purposes at such times and in such manner as not to interfere with the military use thereof. The compensation for every such temporary use shall be fixed by the armory commissioners subject to the approval of the commander-in-chief, and shall, except as is otherwise provided herein, be at least sufficient to cover all expenses of lighting, heating, guarding and cleaning the armory, and similar expenses, and shall be paid to the military custodian of the armory before the occupation of the armory for such temporary use. The compensation as fixed shall be collected by the military custodian and forwarded to the adjutant general, who shall pay the same into the treasury of the commonwealth at least once in every thirty days. As used in this section the words "public purposes" shall include: A public meeting or hearing held by a state department or commission. An examination conducted by the state civil service commission. A meeting of an organization composed of veterans of the civil or Spanish wars, a board of trade, a chamber of commerce or an occupational organization, or a meeting to raise funds for any non-sectarian charitable or non-sectarian educational purpose. A meeting to raise funds for a benefit association of policemen or firemen. Meetings of such military organizations of scholars in the public schools of a city or town as may be approved by the school committee thereof. [Approved April 1, 1919. CHAPTER 84. AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE DISPLAY OF THE FLAG ON SCHOOLHOUSES. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Chapter forty-two of the Revised Laws, as amended by chapter two hundred and twenty-nine of the acts of nineteen hundred and nine, and by chapter two hundred and thirty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and eleven, is hereby further amended by striking out section fifty and substituting the following: — Section 50. Every school committee shall provide for each schoolhouse under its control, which is not otherwise supplied, a United States flag of silk or bunting not less than four feet long, and suitable apparatus for displaying the same. The flag shall be displayed, weather permitting, on the school building or grounds on every school day and on every holiday established by state or federal law, or proclaimed by the governor or the president of the United States. On stormy school days, the flag shall be displayed inside the building. Failure to comply with this section for a period of five consecutive days by the principal or teacher in charge of a school equipped as aforesaid shall be punished by a fine of not more than five dollars for every such period. Failure of the school committee to equip a school as provided in this section shall subject the members thereof to a like penalty. [Approved April 5, 1919. CHAPTER 94. AN ACT RELATIVE TO REINSTATEMENT IN THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PERSONS IN THE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Section one of chapter five hundred and thirty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and eleven, as amended by section one of chapter three hundred and sixtythree of the acts of nineteen hundred and twelve, by section one of chapter five hundred and sixty-eight of the acts of nineteen hundred and fourteen, and by section one of chapter one hundred and ninety-eight of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and fifteen, is hereby further amended by striking out paragraph (ƒ) and substituting the following: — (f) The words "continuous service" mean uninterrupted employment, with these exceptions: a lay-off on account of illness or reduction of force and a leave of absence, suspension or dismissal followed by reinstatement within two years: provided, however, that in the case of employees engaged in the military or naval service of the United States, or of the nations associated with the United States in the German war, such reinstatement may occur at any time within two years after their discharge from such service or release from active duty therein. As to appointees of the sergeant-at-arms, the intervals between sessions of the general court shall not be considered as breaking the continuity of service, and engineers and inspectors in the intermittent service of the common wealth shall not lose the benefit of continuity of service in the intervals between employments, and, for the purpose of computation, cumulative credit shall be given them for all periods of employment in the service of the commonwealth as shown by the records of the civil service commission. In the case of employees of any department or institution formerly administered by a city, county or corporation and later taken over by the commonwealth, service rendered prior to such transfer shall be counted as a part of the continuous service for the purposes of this act. In the case of employees who before entering the service of the commonwealth had been regularly employed as teachers in public schools, as defined by paragraphs (4) and (5) of section one of chapter eight hundred and thirty-two of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirteen, all periods of such employment rendered prior to July first, nineteen hundred and fourteen, shall be counted as a part of the continuous service for the purposes of this act; provided, however, that this clause shall not apply to employees entering the service of the commonwealth after July first, nineteen hundred and fourteen, who are not members of the teachers' retirement association established by said chapter eight hundred and thirty-two. [Approved April 9, 1919. CHAPTER 106. AN ACT RELATIVE TO REINSTATEMENT OF SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN COUNTY RETIREMENT SYSTEMS FOR EMPLOYEES. Whereas, Many county employees who have served in the army or navy during the present war will lose their right to share in the benefits of the retirement system for county employees unless allowance is promptly made for their absence in the said service; therefore the following act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. Paragraph (f) of section one of chapter six hundred and thirty-four of the acts of nineteen hundred and eleven, as amended by section one of chapter eight hundred and seventeen of the acts of nineteen hundred and thirteen, and by section one of chapter two hundred and thirty-four of the General Acts of nineteen hundred and fifteen, is hereby further amended by striking out the words "one year", in the fourth and fifth lines, and substituting the words:- a period of two years: provided, however, that in reckoning the period of two years all time spent in the military or naval service of the United States or of any nation associated with it in the German war, shall be excluded, so as to read as follows:- (f) The words "continuous service" mean uninterrupted employment, with these exceptions: a lay-off on account of illness or reduction of force; and a leave of absence, suspension or dismissal followed by reinstatement within a period of two years: provided, however, that in reckoning the period of two years all time spent in the military or naval service of the United States or of any nation associated with it in the German war, shall be excluded. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved April 16, 1919. CHAPTER 107. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR A RECORD OF MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN THE PRESENT WAR. Whereas, In order to obtain a complete and accurate roster of Massachusetts men who served in the present war it is necessary to begin at once the work of collecting information relating thereto; therefore the following act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, as necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the adjutant general to obtain, compile, revise, preserve and prepare for publication a complete roster of all persons who have served or shall hereafter serve in the army or navy of the United States during the present war, and who were residents of this commonwealth at the time when they were mustered into the said service. The adjutant general shall cause an index of the said roster to be made, and the index and roster shall be open to inspection by the public under such regulations and restrictions as may be necessary to secure them from mutilation or alteration. For the above purpose the adjutant general may employ such assistants as may be necessary, subject to the approval of the governor and council, and may expend such sums as shall annually be appropriated therefor by the general court. SECTION 2. The roster aforesaid shall contain a statement of the number of men entering the military or naval service of the United States from this commonwealth, the number furnished by each municipality, and in regard to each man the following particulars: whether white or colored, residence, whether enlisted or drafted, date of mustering in, age at the time of mustering in, rank, promotions, if any, wounds or disease, if any, medals, citations, or other marks of distinction, if any, in what country or countries the service was performed, date and character of discharge. SECTION 3. It is hereby made the duty of all city and town clerks and of other municipal authorities, and of all state officers, to furnish the adjutant general, upon his request, with such information as they may have or can obtain in regard to any person whose name appears or should appear on the roster aforesaid. SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Approved April 16, 1919. CHAPTER 125. AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' COMMISSION. Whereas, The deferred operation of the following act would largely defeat its purpose, therefore the act is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. There is hereby established the soldiers' and sailors' commission, whose object shall be to investigate the economic or other conditions which have resulted in the non-employment of many soldiers, sailors and marines who have been honorably discharged or have been released from the service of the United States; to procure employment for them; to take such measures as may be legal and proper to induce former employers of soldiers and sailors to reinstate them in the positions which they held before entering the service; to provide means of support for them and their dependents if they are unable to procure employment, or if they are unable to work on account of disability, or illness; and, in general, to befriend, protect and encourage those citizens of the commonwealth who have received or shall hereafter receive an honorable discharge or release from the military or naval service of the United States. SECTION 2. The said commission shall consist of the persons designated under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twelve of the Special Acts of nineteen hundred and nineteen. Any vacancies arising in the commission shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. The members of the commission shall elect a chairman and a secretary from their number. The commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed such sums for its necessary expenses as may be approved by the governor and council, to be paid out of the appropriation or appropriations for aiding returning soldiers, sailors and marines in finding employment. The commission may be furnished with rooms and may use those of any department with the consent of the governor and council, and may give public hearings if they are deemed necessary or expedient. SECTION 3. The said commission shall investigate all cases of non-employment among men discharged or released from the military or naval service of the United States which are brought to its attention, shall ascertain, so far as is possible, how many discharged soldiers or sailors are seeking employment, what kind of employment they are fitted for, and in what cities or towns they are resident. The commission shall ascertain from the municipal authorities of all cities in the commonwealth, and of the larger towns, what constructive public work in respect to buildings, roads, bridges or otherwise could advantageously be undertaken immediately, or in the near future, in their respective municipalities, what would be the cost of each undertaking, and whether it would be practicable, and of advantage to the public. Similar information as to possible constructive work, and the feasibility and estimated cost thereof, shall be obtained by the commission from the various county commissioners and from the commission on mental diseases, the state board of charity, the state board of labor and industries, the Massachusetts highway commission, the commission on waterways and public lands, the commissioner of agriculture, the state forester, the board of commissioners on fisheries and game, the Massachusetts commission for the blind, the board of education, the homestead commission, the metropolitan park commission, the metropolitan water and sewerage board, and the transit department of the city of Boston. And it is hereby made the duty of the mayors, or corresponding officers or boards of cities, of the selectmen of towns, and of the other officers, boards, commissions and departments aforesaid, to furnish the commission hereby established with all the information which they possess as to the matters above mentioned, or which they can procure by reasonable efforts. The said information shall be furnished to the commission, as speedily as possible, in pursuance of this act, and without any special request therefor. It shall be the duty of the said commission to report from time to time to the general court, with such suggestions for legislation or otherwise as it may deem necessary or proper; |