and the first Monday of every month is made a return day for all writs, processes, notices, and citations, and ten days therefrom are allowed for defendants to appear, upon failure of which the clerk may enter a default and judgment to follow four days afterward. The courts are always open in every county, and any business may be transacted at any time, except on Sunday, but regular sessions shall be held at the same times and places as before provided for the terms of the same.
Any justice of the Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts, after having held his commission ten consecutive years, and having attained the age of seventy years, who shall resign his office, shall during the residue of his natural life receive three- fourths of the salary which was by law payable to him at the time of his resignation.
No child under ten years of age shall be employed in any manufactory, mechanical or mercantile establishment, and no child under twelve years old shall be so employed at any time during the days in which the public schools are in session in the city or town in which he resides. For every violation of this act the parent or guardian permitting such employment incurs a penalty.
Perhaps the most important act, was to amend the Constitution of Massachusetts providing for biennial elections, and biennial sessions of the legislature. These can only be secured by the concurrence of two consecutive legislatures, and then, only thereafter by an approval of the people by a popular vote. The amendments are passed by two separate resolves, to be submitted and ratified by the next legislature, and subsequently to the people separately. One may be accepted and the other may be rejected, or both may be accepted, or rejected.
MARYLAND.
The legislature of this state has held no sessions during the past year.
