Chap. 346.—An ACT Authorizing the Division of Cities and Towns of
more than 5,000 Inhabitants, into Wards. 8

‘ Approved April 80, 1874.
1. Be it enacted by the general assembly, That it shall be &
lawful for the judges of the hustings or corporation courts of P
cities and towns having five thousand or more inhabitants, o
within this commonwealth, in their discretion, not to be so
exercised more than once in every succeeding two years from 2%
the pasrage of this act, to appoint one competent voter from al
each ward as at present defined, and one person (a voter)
from the city or town at large, who shall constitute a board 3
of commissioners, whose duty it shall be, after having taken 7
an oath or affirmation before some one authorized by law to
administer oaths that they will faithfully and honestly dis.
charge the duties required of them by this act, to proceed to
lay off their respective cities or towns into wards, precincts,
and voting places in such manney.as to them may seem pro-
per for the public convenience and expedient for the interest
of their city or town; defining such wards, precincts, and B
voting places by streets, water courses or otherwise, so as to 4
locate definitely the same, and designate such wards by num-
bers: provided, said wards shall be as nearly equal in popu-
lation as practicable. And the said commissioners shall pre-
Map of divi- pare, at the earliest practicable day, an outline map showing
sions; where such divisions, and return the same to the clerk of the hust-
ings court for such city or town, who shall file the same with
the report of such commissioners; and the wards, precincts,
and voting places so prescribed, shall thenceforth stand as
the wards, precincts, and voting places of such city or town
until duly changed, as they may be by the terms of this act:
Change of vot- provided, that the said hustings judge shall designate in due
deo “hem time sume other suitable voting place in case of the destruc.
tion of or inability to use any such voting place as may have
Wards and vot- been so prescribed. And it shall be the duty of the said clerk
ing pleces tobe to cause the boundary lines of the said wards and precincts
and the prescribed voting places to be published in one or
more newspapers of such city or town for teu days after the
filing of such maps and report.
Expenses; how 2. Tho expenses of such commission and work shall be

yed fixed by such hustings judge, and, upon his order, the same
shall be paid by the treasurer of such city or town.
Repealing 3. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with this act are
a6

hereby repealed. ”
Commencement 4. This act shall be in force from its passage.