Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-06-05
Massachusetts Legislation.

Massachusetts, Legislation.
Various opinions seem to prevail among the
press of Massachusetts as to the benefits accru-
ing from the doings of THEN legislature, which
has just closed. 1t has been a remarkable leg
creditable reforms. The Boston Post alludes
TO its doings in the following commendatory
manner:
"The great merit Of the legislation Of this
session, is ii,at tins old monopoly policy has
been fairly broken into. Much Legislation
OF general character, legislation 100 Of the
highest portance, has been carried. We
point here as the measure first in importance
10 the GENERAL BANKING LAW. allowing the
formation of associations for the business of
banking from capitals of 100000 to 81 000.-
600, allowing capital To flow into this bus-
ness and out OF ii, as The laws of trade shall
dictate, subject only 10 the provisions OF law
as 10 corporations; in this respect free, but
IN this respect only, while in respect TO pa
per issues it is severely restrictive. Had
such law been in force in 1887, il would
have been impossible that the community
should have suffered as it did suffer from the
effect of deprecated paper, issued by dIshon-
est bankers. Next there is the general cor
Poraton act allowing associations for manu-
featuring purposes. TO be formed in capitals
from $4,000 to 100000. This will open
business TO men of such capital and will be
a rneck upon the mammoth corporations
tina; have multiplied To such fearful extent.
Another general law Irovldes for the change
of names, SO that now any person desiring
TO get his name changed, will not be obliged
10 apply 10 the general court 10 get il done.
Thus the way is clearly open Tor other legls
iaton of this sort.
While This new policy has heen introduced
there has been much long needed Legislation
as TO old iucorporarons. There have never
been seve-er measures passed in relation TO
them So that at last they are fairly under the
dominion law. There is whole code OF
legis atiou passed This session on this sub
jecl. Witness the bank commissioners law,
and various laws, to which we shall more
particularly aiude, applying exclusively to
corporations, aud making them as fully
amenable 10 la,c as individuals. These
cannot fail 10 be Of highly beneficial char
acier.
MOI has The legislature been unmindful Of
| personal liberty. AT last The secret ballot
law is fairly on the statute book, and The ex-
pertinent of free elections is TO be tried
Along with this is homestead exemption
| act, securing a home of five hundred dollars
in value from attachment. Then there is a
lien law, securing TO mechanics the amount
of their labor on buildings. Who, but stiff,
stern, narrow conservatives, who live and
have their being in the past, will say that
such measures as these, designed and devils
ed for the general good, are not of the right
sort ? They slow regard for The masses
of The state that we look for in vain in past
Legislation. They may not, in all the details
come up 10 the mark of what may be desira.
bic, vel they put upon The statute book prin-
ciples that will ripen into more perfect leg
lslation.
In matters pertaining to constitutional re-
form, important steps have also been taken.
1t is true that the amendment to the Consti-
tuition as 10 the representation was voted
down-he ,chole body Of the ,rhigs going
against them, with few free so;lers 10 make
a majority, ,ohis the democrats, almost to a
man, ,cere for them; but this has been relne-
died in part 10y law providing for call for
STATE CONVENTION, if The people shall de-
sire it. The reform work in tins respect is
thus placed in the hands of the people. In
addition, there has been passed the plurality
bill, under which the elections TO congress
have just taken place.
Such are some of The works Of this "Re-
form Legislature" We recur 10 them with
no small degree OF pleasure. II is no small
thing to have passed such body of laws
IL required no small amount OF labor, and of
efforl- to do it. We believe the people will
approve of these reforms