Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-03-03
session, it is certainly one point gained

Tn tuesday a resolve passed authorlZ-
ing survey for railway from Plymouth
to Wareham; also resolve authorizing
repairs on the building containing the
statue of Washington. Several bills pas
sed TO be engrossed, Of publick and pri-
vate nature. The bill for the further
protection Of the sepulchres of the dead,
which increases the present punishment
for robbing sepulchres, was indefinitely
postponed. At a previous stage this bill
was debated, and the second section which
provided for the delivery over for dissec-
ton of the dead bodies of such persons
who should not be claimed by their friends
within forty-hours, was stricken out. The
report c. the committee declaring the III
expediency Of abolishing imprisonment for
debt, and of revising the criminal code,
were accepted in concurrence with the
Senate. The bill on banks and banking
was againreceived from the Senate, who
had concurred in all the amendments
made by the House excepting two. The
House receded from those two amend
ments, and the bill therefore passes with
out further objection. The lottery bill
passed to be engrossed. This bill pro-
vides that no person shall exhibit any
sign, symbol, or other emblematick repre-
sentation of a lottery, 0. the dawing of a
lottery, or in any way indicating where
lottery tickets may be purchased or re-
ceived' &c. &c. under forfeiture OF not
more than SlGO for each offence-to be
prosecuted for either by the Common
wealth, or by any citizen in gun tam ac-.
ton. And if the offender refuses to pay
on conviction shall suffer imprisonment
for term not exceeding one year &c.
&c.
On Wednesday the bill for the relief
of poor debtors was rejected. This bill
had passed the Senate by large majority
after considerable discussion, in which
Mr.. Adam from Suffolk made an elaborate
speech in favour of the provisions of the
bill. The principal provision or rather
feature of this bill, as it is fashionable to
say, was that if a debtor arrested on ex-
ecution for debt, would give bond &c.
with condition to surrender himself in
ninety days, unless he should previously
pay the debt, he might Immediately 90 at
llarge-savlno to the debtor, VINO had Civ
en- such bond, the same right he now
possesses of taking the poor debtors
oath in thirty days after commitment Oh
execution. A bill was reported on the
petition of Jonathan Phillips and others
to incorporate the New England Asylum
for the Blind.
On Thursday the report of the Commit
tee on that part of the Governour's Mes
sage relating to, the Mass militia claim
was referred to the next General Court.
NO other business of general interest to
your readers was transacted on that day.
Many private bills however were finally
acted upon.
On Friday bill passed the House maxi
ing provision for what is called Lyceums.
by adding another section to the law reg
uating Social Libraries; the bill also re-
straining banks from taking excessive in
terest passed to be engrossed. This bill
had its origin from the circumstance of
some banks issuing notes to their custom
Iers bearing interest payable at future
day, whenever they have not had money
on hand to discount notes. These notes
are then sold in the market and the bor-
rover thus raises the money. The bill
in relation TO the several acts relating to
taxation was recommitted to the commit
tee on finance, so also the bill in addition
to the law defining the general duty and
power Of assessors. A motion to instruct
that committee to report State tan did
not pervaI.
On Saturday the House assembled
both in the morning and afternoon. Ma
ny private bills were acted upon and f.
nally disposed Of The principal ques-
ton arose. on the bill to tax all property
heretofore exempted from taxation, sheep,
machinery in cotton, wollen, and linen
manufactures, officers and students Of
colleges, and ofall other theological, med
ical and literary institutions, members of
the gospel, preceptors of academies, and
latin grammar school-mastars also tho In