By chapter 404 of the Acts of 1892, for the purpose of securing an open space around the State House, the commissioners were authorized to take, by purchase or otherwise, the land bounded north by Derne Street, east by Bowdoin Street, south by Beacon Hill Place and west by the State House, and by chapter 129, Acts of 1893, they were authorized to sell the buildings thereon. Subsequently, the commissioners were authorized to take Beacon Hill Place (chapter 450, Acts of 1893) and also the land bounded east by Bowdoin Street, south by Beacon Street, west by Mount Vernon Street and north by the land then owned by the Commonwealth; and provision was made for the removal of buildings on said land and for the improvement thereof (chapter 532, Acts of 1894; chapter 223, Acts of 1897; chapter 382, Acts of 1900; and chapter 525, Acts of 1901). In 1901 authority was given to the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Council, to take in fee simple, in behalf of the Commonwealth, a parcel of land, with the buildings thereon, on the southerly side of Mount Vernon Street, immediately west of Hancock Avenue (chapter 525, Acts of 1901).

By chapter 92 of the Resolves of 1888 the Governor and Council were allowed a sum not exceeding $5,000 to enable them to devise and report to the next General Court a general plan for the better accommodation of the State government.

A plan was accordingly submitted to the General Court of 1889, and $2,500 were appropriated for the further perfecting of said plan. A bill to provide for the enlargement of the State House was subsequently reported in the Legislature and became a law (chapter 394 of the Acts of 1889). Under this act the Governor was authorized to appoint three persons, to be known as the State House Construction Commissioners, and Messrs. John D. Long, Wm. Endicott, Jr., and Benjamin D. Whitcomb were appointed the commissioners. Mr. Whitcomb died in 1894, and Mr. Charles Everett Clark was appointed to fill the vacancy. The latter died in 1899. In 1894 Mr. Long resigned, and Mr. George W. Johnson was appointed a member of the commission. The architects selected were Messrs. Brigham & Spofford of Boston. Subsequently to March, 1892, Mr. Charles E. Brigham was the sole architect of the extension.

On the twenty-first day of December, 1889, the corner-stone of the new building was laid by His Excellency Governor Ames with appropriate ceremonies. The removal of the various departments and commissions to the new building was begun in the latter part of 1894. The House of Representatives of 1895 convened in the old Representatives' Chamber on the second day of January, and on the following day met for the first time in the hall set apart for it in the State House

extension. It has occupied this hall ever since. Pending changes in the State House building, the Senate sat in a room numbered 239, 240 and 241, in the extension. Its first meeting in this room was on February 18, 1895. On April 8 it resumed its sittings in the old Senate Chamber.

By chapter 124 of the Resolves of 1896 the State House Construction Commission was directed to provide temporary accommodations for the Senate of 1897 and its officers. A temporary floor was accordingly constructed across the apartment, then unfinished, that has since come to be known as Memorial Hall, on a level with the present gallery; and the room thus made was finished and furnished as a Senate Chamber, with accommodations for spectators. On January 6, 1897, the Senate met in this chamber, which it continued to occupy throughout the session of that year, and it also, for the first time, made use of the reading-room and the other rooms and offices intended for its permanent occupancy.

By chapter 531 of the Acts of 1896, His Honor Roger Wolcott, Acting Governor, Hon. George P. Lawrence, President of the Senate, and Hon. George v. L. Meyer, Speaker of the House, were made a committee to decide upon a plan for preserving, restoring and rendering practically fire-proof the so-called Bulfinch State House. The committee was directed to employ an architect, who was to superintend the execution of the work in accordance with such drawings and specifications as should be approved by said committee. It was provided that the State House Construction Commission should have charge of the work. Mr. Arthur G. Everett was the architect selected by the committee, and with him was associated Mr. Robert D. Andrews. Mr. Charles A. Cummings was made consulting architect.

By chapter 470 of the Acts of 1897, His Excellency Roger Wolcott, Hon. George P. Lawrence, President of the Senate, and Hon. John L. Bates, Speaker of the House, were made a committee to decide upon plans for furnishing the so-called Bulfinch State House, with authority to employ an architect to make drawings, specifications and designs therefor, and also to superintend the execution of the work. Mr. Everett was selected for the purpose.

On the convening of the General Court of 1898, the Senate occupied for the first time the chamber in the Bulfinch building that had formerly been the hall of the House of Representatives. The original Senate Chamber was assigned to the Senate by the Governor and Council as one of its apartments. The Senate has continued to occupy its new chamber ever since.

For the purpose of meeting the expenses incurred between 1889 and 1913 in connection with the taking of land, including land damages,

the constructing and furnishing of the State House Extension, the finishing of the Memorial Hall therein, and the restoring and furnishing of the Bulfinch front, etc., bonds to the amount of $7,120,000 were issued from time to time.

By chapter 150 of the Resolves of 1912 the State House Commission (the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Treasurer and ReceiverGeneral and the Sergeant-at-Arms) was directed, with the co-operation of the State Art Commission, to cause to be prepared plans for alterations in, and additions to, the State House, and to report to the next General Court. Report was made to the General Court of 1913 (House Document No. 133); and, by chapter 830 of the Acts of that year, the State House Building Commission, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Council, was created, for the purpose of constructing additions substantially in accordance with the plan recommended in the report. Messrs. Albert P. Langtry, chairman, Joseph B. Russell and Neil McNeil were appointed the members of the building commission. Messrs. Robert D. Andrews, William Chapman and R. Clipston Sturgis were the architects selected by the commission. The work was begun in August, 1914. In 1915 Mr. John A. Keliher succeeded Mr. Langtry as a member of the commission and as its chairman, and Mr. J. Edward Fuller succeeded Mr. Russell.

By chapter 256 of the General Acts of 1915, the Commission was directed to construct a forward projection of the West wing, substantially the same as that already built in connection with the new East wing, and provision was made for the purchasing or taking of certain property and for the removal of the buildings thereon, etc. To meet the expenses connected with the making of these several alterations and additions, bonds to the amount of $2,265,000 were authorized and issued. By chapter 17 of the General Acts of 1916, taking effect March 2, the State House Building Commission was abolished and its powers were transferred to the State House Commission. The members of this latter commission were Albert P. Langtry (Secretary of the Commonwealth), Charles L. Burrill (Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth) and Thomas F. Pedrick (Sergeant-atArms of the General Court), Chairman.

COUNCIL RECORDS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 1780.

Ordered, That Nathan Cushing, Esqr., be a committee to prepare a Seal for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who reported a Device for a Seal for said Commonwealth as follows, viz.: SAPPHIRE, an Indian, dressed in his Shirt, Moggosins, belted proper, in his right hand a Bow, TOPAZ, in his left an Arrow, its point towards the Base; of the second, on the Dexter side of the Indian's head, a Star, PEARL, for one of the United States of America.

CREST. On a Wreath a Dexter Arm clothed and ruffled proper, grasping a Broad Sword, the Pummel and Hilt, TOPAZ, with this Motto: Ense petit placidam Sub Libertate Quietem. And around the Seal: Sigillum Reipublica Massachusettensis.

Advised that the said Report be Accepted as the Arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

[CHAPTER 2 OF THE REVISED LAWS.]

Of the Arms and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth. SECTION 1. The arms of the commonwealth shall consist of a shield having a blue field or surface with an Indian thereon, dressed in a shirt and moccasins, holding in his right hand a bow, and in his left hand an arrow, point downward, all of gold; and, in the upper corner of the field, above his right arm, a silver star with five points. The crest shall be a wreath of blue and gold, whereon, in gold, shall be a right arm, bent at the elbow, clothed and ruffled, with the hand grasping a broadsword. The motto shall be "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem."

SECTION 2. The coat-of-arms as drawn and emblazoned under the direction of the secretary of the commonwealth in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-eight and deposited in his office shall be the official representation of the coat-of-arms of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and all designs of said coat-of-arms for official use shall conform strictly to said representation.

SECTION 3. The great seal of the commonwealth shall be circular in form, bearing upon its face a representation of the arms of the commonwealth encircled with the inscription, "Sigillum Reipublicæ Massachusettensis." The colors of the arms shall not be an essential part of said seal, but an impression from a seal engraved according to said design, on any commission, paper or document shall be valid without the use of such colors or the representation thereof by the customary heraldic lines or marks.

SECTION 4. The seal of the commonwealth in use in the office of the secretary of the commonwealth when this act takes effect shall be the authorized seal so long as its use may be continued.