exceeding twenty dollars for any one offence. Pub. Sts., c. 102, § 58.

A city or town may provide by ordinance or by-law that every keeper of a shop for the purchase, sale, or barter of junk, old metals, or second-hand articles, within its limits, shall keep a book, in which shall be written, at the time of every purchase of any such article, a description thereof, the name, age, and residence of the person from whom, and the day and hour when, such purchase was made; that such book shall at all times be open to the inspection of the mayor and aldermen or selectmen, and of any person by them respectively authorized to make such inspection; that every keeper of such shop shall put in some suitable and conspicuous place on his shop a sign having his name and occupation legibly inscribed thereon in large letters; that such shop, and all articles of merchandise therein, may be at all times examined by the mayor and aldermen or selectmen, or by any person by them respectively authorized to make such examination; and that no keeper of such shop shall directly or indirectly either purchase or receive by way of barter or exchange any of the articles aforesaid, of a minor or apprentice, knowing or having reason to believe him to be such; and that no article purchased or received shall be sold until a period of at least one week from the date of its purchase

or receipt has elapsed. A city or town may also prescribe in like manner the hours in which such shops shall be closed, and that no keeper thereof shall purchase any of the articles aforesaid during such hours. Pub. Sts., c. 102, § 29.

The city council of any city and any town may adopt such ordinances, by-laws, and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 102 of the Public Statutes, as it may deem reasonable in relation to the manufacture, mixing, storing, keeping, or selling, within the corporate limits of such city or town, oil made from coal or petroleum and naphtha, and may affix penalties for breaches thereof, not exceeding fifty dollars for each offence; reasonable notice of which ordinances, by-laws, or regulations, shall be given. Pub. Sts., c. 102, § 75; St. 1885, c. 122.

Every city by ordinance, and every town by by-law, may direct which power its collector shall exercise to enforce the lien for taxes or assessments laid on real estate, that of sale or of taking; and in the absence of any such ordinance or by-law, the collector may exercise either power at his discretion; but the passage of any such ordinance or by-law shall not render invalid any proceedings commenced before the passage of the same. St. 1888, c. 390, § 77.

Each town shall make all needful provisions

and arrangements concerning habitual truants and children between seven and fifteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets or public places therein, having no lawful occupation or business, not attending school, and growing up in ignorance, and such children as persistently violate the reasonable rules and regulations of the common schools; and shall make such by-laws as shall be most conducive to the welfare of such children, and to the good order of such town; and shall provide suitable places for the confinement, discipline, and instruction of such children. Pub. Sts., c. 48, § 10; St. 1889, c. 249.

If three or more towns in any county so require, the county commissioners shall establish at the expense of the county, at a convenient place therein, other than the jail or house of correction, a truant school for the confinement, discipline, and instruction of minor children convicted under the provisions of sections ten and twelve and all acts in amendment thereof and in addition thereto; and shall make suitable provisions for the government and control, and for the appointment of proper teachers and officers thereof. But the county commissioners of two, three, or four contiguous counties may, and if three or more cities or towns in each of such counties require, shall, at the expense of said counties, establish for said counties at a convenient place therein a union truant school, to be

organized and controlled by the chairman of the county commissioners of said counties in the manner provided for the government and control of county truant schools by county commissioners; and any county so uniting with another county or counties in the support of a union truant school shall not be required to support a truant school of its own. St. 1890, c. 309.

A city or town may establish ordinances or by-laws respecting the marking and weighing of lighters and other vessels employed in transporting stones, gravel, sand, or other ballast; the inspection and weighing of such ballast within the city or town; and the appointment and compensation of weighers, markers, inspectors, and other officers necessary to carry such ordinances or by-laws into effect; and may affix penalties for breaches thereof, not exceeding those mentioned in sections 17, 20, and 21. Pub. Sts., c. 69, § 22.

The by-laws of a town must not be repugnant to the laws of the State; and must be reasonable, that is, not interfering with the liberty, property, and business of the citizen more than is requisite to secure the lawful and proper object in view: Commonwealth v. Patch, 97 Mass. 221; and must be certain; though a by-law imposing a penalty not exceeding a certain sum has been held not to be void for uncertainty. Cool. Con. Lim., *202.

Before any by-law takes effect it shall be approved by the superior court, or, in vacation,

by a Justice thereof, and shall, with such approval, be entered and recorded in the office of the clerk of the courts in the county where the town is situated, or in the county of Suffolk in the office of the clerk of the superior court for civil business. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 21.

Celebrating Centennial, or Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of its Incorporation. A town may at its annual meeting raise by taxation a sum of money, not exceeding one-tenth of one per cent of its assessed valuation for the year last preceding, for the purpose of celebrating any centennial or two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its incorporation, and of publishing the proceedings of any such celebrations. Pub. Sts., c. 27, § 11; St. 1889, c. 21, § 1.

The above statute refers to the act which was the beginning of its corporate existence whether as a district or as a town. Hill v. Easthampton, 140 Mass. 381. Towns were not formally incorporated until 1785. Commonwealth v Roxbury,

9 Gray, 511.

Compensation of Officers. Towns may grant compensation for the services of their officers and agents, although many of them are not entitled to pay for the discharge of their ordinary official duties. Sikes v. Hatfield, 13 Gray, 347; Farnsworth v. Melrose, 122 Mass. 268; Arlington v. Peirce, 122 Mass. 270.

Contracts. - Towns possess only a limited right to bind themselves, and the inhabitants and prop