BOSTON, January 31, 1924.

To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled:

In accordance with section 18 of chapter 486 of the Acts of 1909, the finance commission submits its annual report for the year 1923-24.

I. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION. There has been no change in the personnel of the commission during this year. The permanent staff of the commission was increased by the addition of one stenographer at $1,040 a year. An increase in salary from $15 to $18 a week was granted to a clerk.

II. APPROPRIATION AND EXPENDITURES. The regular appropriation of the commission is $35,000, exclusive of the salary of the chairman, which is $5,000. The other members serve without pay. Last year the commission petitioned the legislature for an increase in its appropriation from $40,000 to $50,000, in order that it might make its work more effective and might carry on certain studies and investigations, which it had then planned. The legislature granted an increased appropriation of $10,000, but for the year 1923-24 only. An itemized account of the expenditures under this amount, which was charged to special investigations, is given below.

The expenditures of the commission during the year were as follows: