Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-11

to be engrossed was carried in the afirma-
tive-152 yeas, "a nays. twill probably
pass the Senate without much opposition.
This viii be great step taken BY the Lee
gislature, and shows that we are beginning
to feel the Importance of taking measures to
develope the resources of good old Massa-
chusetts. There will be no State tax this
year: so the House have determined by an
overwhelming majority. | doubt whether
this determination will be acceptable to
the public, who have looked with some con-
6dence to this Legislature to meet the sub
ject fairly and supply the deficiencies Of our
revenue. A bill was reported some time
since, by S. F. Dickinson, of Amherst, re-
ducing the salaries of the Governor, Lieut..
Governor, Judges of the Supreme Judicial
Court, Court of Common Pleas, and the
salaries of several others of our public Off
GERS. This proved to be rather small game,
and after Some discussion the good sense of
the House prevailed and the bill was indef-
nitely postponed.
On Friday the bill for the government and
regulation of the State Prison was taken up.
The Committee who introduced the bill
made report, the substance Of which has
appeared in many of our newspapers. 1t
would seem that they have investigated the
subject quite fully, and have come to the
conclusion that important alterations are ne
cessary in the management of the concerns
of the prison. Controversies have for a long
time existed between the Warden and Di-
rectors, and in one way and another the for
mer has been gradually deprived of his law
full authority. The difficulties have been
occasioned, say the Committee, by Mr.. John
son, the overseer of the stone department
and they further declare that the interests
of the establishment require his removal
from Office. The bill proposes to abolish the
Office of Director, to increase the power of
the Warden, and to provide for board OF
three Inspectors, &c. &c. 1t takes away
the over stint which the prisoners have for
merly received, and which has been subject
to great abuses and, instead thereof, pro-
yides that no convict shall hereafter leave
the prison without decent suit of clothes,
and that the Warden, at his discretion, may
pay to such convicts sum of money not ex-
ceeding five dollars, if deserved by good con-
duct" The bill is very long and minute,
and is intended to supersede the existing
laws relating to the State Prison. The
House went into committee of the whole.
when the subject was under discussion, for
the purpose of allowing Mr.. Speaker Jarvis,
who is one of the directors, and is least
implicated by the report, an opportunity OF
indicating himself, in which he in great
measure succeeded. The bill is an accept
able one: it has passed the House, and, ac-
cording to appearances, viii pass the Senate.
To-day the debate has been upon a bill
creating New Bedford a half shire of Bristol
County. The House adjourned before the
vote was taken.
There has been some very animated dis
cussion in the Senate this week. After the
bill for the extension of the Hampshire and
Hampden canal, and the bill for the improve
ment of the navigation of Connecticut river.
which occupied the first days of the week,
were finally disposed of, by being passed to
be enacted, the bill to establish the War
rem bridge corporation was taken up. Sc
veral amendments were offered which were
all rejected. A purchase of the right of the
proprietors of Charles River bridge was also
proposed, similar in substance to the one in
troduced and supported by Mr.. Makepeace
In the House. This was discussed after the
passage of the Warren bridge bill, on Fri
day afternoon. This morning it was indefi-
nitely postponed. The vote yesterday on
the passage of the Warren bridge bill to be
engrossed, was 10 in the affirmative and IL
in the negative. Mr.. Pope, the new Senator
from Barnstable, elected in the room of Mr..
Marston, who resigned on account of being
appointed Judge of Probate, voted in the
affirmative. Mr.. Marston, it is well known.
would have voted the other way. Mr.. Bow
man of our county, who was accidentally
selected as a candidate for the Senate by
the meeting at Worcester last spring, also
voted in the affirmative. I say accidentally,
because at that time it was generally known
that Mr.. B., who was member of the House,
voted for new bridge. TWAS because this
fact became generally known before April
meeting that he was not elected by the peo-
pie, but he was sent up as one of the candi-
dates, and was chosen by the convention of
both Houses. The four other Senators from
Worcester County. viz. Messrs. THf4s. Ken