The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-10
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE
TUESDAY,. Feb. 9.

! tors OF crates ACADEMY, was IeaO "a tlTnes ant
made the order of the day for tomorrow, ii
O'Clock.
MIR. Webb, from the committee appointed to
ascertain the candidates to fill the Senate board
occasioned by the resignation of Hon. Mr.. LIE
land of Norfolk District, reported that DAME
Kingsbury, Esq, had 1854 votes, and Hon.
VIM. Ellis 479, and they were the candidates
( Read and accepted.
| A Convention of the two Houses was then
agreed on, and Daniel Kingsbury, Esq, was
chosen.
HOUSE. Mr.. Lawton made the following
motion Ordered, That the committee on
amendments of the Constitution be instructed
to report an amendment thereto, providing for
the abolition of The Executive Council, and
making such disposition of the officer and du-
ties of Lieut.. Governor as they may deem ex-
! pedient Ordered to lie on the table.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the resolutions on the subject of amending
! the Constitution of this Commonwealth, and
| took up first the resolution proposingan amend
( ment thereto in relation to the commencement
of the political year, which having been con-
| sidcred, passed, yeas 357, nays 49,
The second amendment, providing for re-
ducton of the number of Representatives to
two hundred, by uniting small towns for the
choice of one or more, was then takenup. Mr..
explained the views by which the committee
were governed in making their report. ne
remarked that in this case members must do
that which their conscences dictated to be best
for the community at large and for pesterIty,
without regard to individual interest. IT, on
comparison of the present with tie proposed
system of representation, they rejected the lat
ter, he thought they ought to slew that the
present system is the best. The House now
nf m dc IF nd ,atf yvh nj A
constitutional number had not ben sent 600
members might have been returned This
number would be annually enhrgng by the
increase of population. No ole would think
OF now forming a constitution providing ter
QUO representatives he thought all would ad-
NIT that number too large 70 the despatch OF
business He adverted to the expenses OF the
House as now constituted, being about $1,000
day-about seventy thousand dollars year.
Ii the number were ENLARGED to 600, which
might be expected, the exp,nse would then be
100000. Two-thirds of this amount it was
proposed to save by this amendment, and the
business be done as well, as safely, and with as
much success, as at present and this he would
say without disparagenent to the present
House Mr.. Shaw then mentioned the num-
Der of representatives ahowsd by their respec-
tive Constitutions in the principal States, viz
Maine 100 to 200, New Hampshire 225, Rhode
Island 60, New York 1913, New Jersey SO, Penn,
sylvania 60 to 100, Delaware 81, Virginia, 20S,
(now reduced to 1867 South Carolina 1874,
Georgia-6 GO. Kentucky 100, Tennessee 40, Ohio
~, Indiana 100, Louisiana SO, Mississippi 100,
Missouri 100, and Alabama 100. Equality of
numbers ought, certainly, to be the basis of
representation and this could only be arrived
at by the district system, it not being desirable
to change the corporate character of the small
Ter towns. To secure one representative to
each town tho House must consist of at least
500 members
WEDNESDAY,, Feb. 3.
SENATE. Resolution from the House, pro.
posing an amendment to the Constitution of
this Commonwealth, in relation to the COM
mencement of the political year, was read and
committed
Resolve from the House appointing COM
mlttee TO inquire into the doings of the Brigh-
ton Bank, came up for concurrence. On mo-
ton of Mr. Burnell it was ordered to lie on the
table.
HOUSE. Mr.. w. w. Blake Of Boston submit
ted a Resolve for the appointment of COM
nlttee to inquire into the doings and present
state of the Brighton Bank Said Resolve was
read and passed. Messrs. W. w. Bike, Wyles,
and Parmenter, were appointed on said COM
mittee on the part of the House.
Mr.. Sallonstal, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported bill establishing salaries
for County Attornies. Also a bill concerning
Registers of Deeds and also bill providing
for the appointment of an additional Justice of
the Supreme Judicial Court
The House took up the Resolution proposing
an amendment TO the Constitution of this Com.
mOnwealth.
Mr.. l.. Shaw of Boston, continued his re.
marks in exposition of the views of the COM
mittee and the operation of the amendment
He had before stated the number of represen-
tatlves which might cOnstitutionally be elect
ed, at 600; he had since learned that at least
700 might now be returned that the CITY of
Boston might choose IS or so. The expense,
therefore, under the full operation of the pres
ent system, would be greater than what he had
before estimated it. He passed in review the
different plans which had been suggested for
accomplishing the object of the proposed
amendment, but the one submitted was consid-
cred on the whole to be The best Estimating
the population of the State at 100000 and as.
Stunning 200 as the number of members, then
5000 would be the number required to send
one. Towns not having this number of inhab.
itants wrui1 be Joined to other towns some.
what with reference to numbers, so that there
, should be no large fractions over while dis.
tricts might be formed with fraction less
this would be loft with the Legislature to ar
range by the census every ten years. He hop
ed the amendment would be considered with
candor and with disInterestedness by members
and that they would recoIlect that without
waving some scruples, the proposition could
not arrive at its first stage of progress to the
people.
Mr. Packard thought the proposed amend
ment involved three consderations-rights ex-
pense, and harmony. He wishsd to be inform
ed whether the expense Of Legislation was less
in those States which have smaller assemblies
than in this State, in order to know how far a
reduction Of members would have a favorable
effect.
Mr.. Arnold Of New Bedford, thought it yerv
important that this amendment should pass the
House. He adverted to the expenses of this
Legislature; he considered the House quite
too numerous for business, which would be bet
ter done by smaller body. He would even
have preferred that $50 members should have
been the maximum, instead of200.
Mr.. G. Blake Of Boston, remarked that he
voted for the first amendment, but it was IN OK.