APPENDIX
sufficient force, say ten in each county, to be used wherever needed in the state in the suppression of disorder. They could be utilized in the place of the corporation police, the game wardens, fish wardens, forest wardens, the officers of the different boards and commissions exercising police authority, and would enable the executive, in cases of emergency, to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” as the constitution requires, and they would be likely to inspire a confidence not now felt. The objection to such a course is the expense. To this objection there are several answers. The state ought to provide for its necessary work before being generous, no matter how meritorious the recipients of its bounty may be. It is doubtful whether the expense of a regular constabulary would, upon the whole, be greater than the occasional calling out of the National Guard, which it would at times obviate. Much of what would be the expense is now being incurred in desultory ways, and the expense of the corporation police comes ultimately from the people. Finally, it may be said that this constabulary could be taken from the ranks of the National Guard, thus starting with a disciplined service, and that no doubt the corporations would be satisfied to be assured of protection to their property and to be relieved of the burden of maintaining their present police.
There are many incongruities in our laws with regard to corporations, due largely to the fact that the legislation has been often enacted with reference to particular subjects without sufficiently considering its relation to the general system, and they ought to be corrected. Probably the best method would be to provide for a commission of expert lawyers, to be appointed by the governor, who could go over the whole subject carefully and report a code or what changes may be necessary. All corporations before they can be chartered, are required to give notice by advertisement of their applications, except railroad and street railway companies. It would seem to be specially important that these companies should give such notice. The act of 1889, as amended by the act of 1901, requires that the charters of street railway companies shall name the streets and highways upon which the railways are to be laid. But it further provides that the companies shall have authority to construct such extensions as they may deem necessary to increase their business, and this is accomplished by filing, without public notice, a copy of the minutes in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth. It has become a custom, more or less prevalent, to secure charters
upon obscure streets and reach the main avenues by means of
