Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-10

Ing the debtor to be guilty OF fraud until ne proves
himself innocent. These provisions are unjust,
and should be done away with though some
process should be provided whereby the lraudn-
lent debtor may be subject to examination regard
ing his property, and be compelled TO apply ii to
the payment Of his just debts.
To accomplish these purposes, the creditor
might be required TO make oath that he believes
the debtor TO haze property fraudulently conceal
ed, which he fails TO apply 10 the payment of his
debts, and TO have a summary hearing or trial on
this charge Immediately after the arrest on the
writ and before the commitment on execution.
If convicted, the debtor is Imprisoned, not for
debt, but for fraud and Imprisonment for debt,
so justly odious, is entirely abolished.
If a stalute be enacted, embodyng these pro-
visions, = might be well to place The business in
the hands of Commissioners, appointed for the
purpose, instead of leaving ii to the justices of
the quorum, who now conduct ii The number
of persons committed to Jail for debt, and in civil
suits for tort, in Suffolk County alone is seven or
eight hundred annually. In the large number of
arrests in suits for tort, much oppression exists,
and arrests for SANDER especially might be abol-
ished
Ia cases Of insolvency, wages for labor are now
preferred claims to the amount of twenty five
dollars Il the work is done within siAty-dve days
before Insolvency. The amount preferred should
be larger, and the time longer. If a merchant
fails for millions, his clerks and laborers take
dividend on their wages due above twenty FIVE
dollars. So do the operatives in a manufacturing
company. This is not only hard but unjust.
Business men, when they sell on credit, allow for
the risk. The chance OF loss enters into the cal
culation of the price to be charged. No such
idea influences the wages of labor. The bus
mess creditor would not feel the difference in his
dividends, nor object to the abOrers being paid in
fall, while it is matter Of vital importance to
the workman.
Frequent complaints are made regarding the
inethclency Of the mechanics lien law | would
suggest to your consideration the expedlency of
amending il SO to render it more effective in
Its working, in order that the laborer can avail
himself more readily of its adyantaga s, and at
The same time the rights Of contractors and build
ers be more clearly and surely secured
Within the past year frequent frauds bave been
committed by making over-issues of stock in cor.
p0rations. Eminent legal authorities appear to be
undecided in regard to the precise nature and de .
nomination Of the offence and in this uncertain
| tY offenders have escaped without punishment
/ To afix a suitable penalty TO such frauds, seems
/ 10 be un appropriate case for legislative action.
No law At presen, exists, giving holders Of bills
| Of insOvsnt banks a prior claim over their cred
itOrs. 1t is very desirable that our currency
| should be rendered safe as practicable 1t is
| the duty of a deposltor 10 ascertain the sovency
Of any bank which he entruss with his property ;
| bu! the bill-holder, often at distance, aborer
! or a female, trusts solely 10 the law for protcc-
ton. What the State permits as currency, they
confidently take, assured that the law will pro-
tect them in so doing, by just enactments. I
commend the question to your consideration.
While making these suggestions, it seems ne
cessarY to add That one great fault in modern lie
glsation is constant alteration and amendment
IN statute law. Even those whose province and
sole business 1t is to expound the law, can hardly
keep pace with the annual changes, while the
majority o! our citizens are necessarily in igno
rance OF, ald uncertainty as to, fundamental en-
actments which concern even their immediate
occupation No statutory change should be
made, that experience does not clearly demon.
slraie TO be necessary.
Turn with pleasure to the agricultural interest
OF the Commonwealth, an interest 90 intimately
connected with every Other and of such mpor
lance to them ALL that its prosperity is the Goun.
datIon OF the welfare and wealth Of every State.
As early as 1892, the Massachusetts Society for
the Promotion Of Agriculture, was founded. and
10 lis example and liberal donations 10 the county
societies, still exerls highly valuable influence.
The Society of Middlesex Husbandmen was es
tahlished in 1894, and others have since been
formed, TILL now, the bounty of the State is sup.
Piled to seventeen associations In 1852, the
State Board Of Agriculture was organized. The
Governor, Lieut. Governor and Secretary OF
State, are ex-0tficlo members; three persons are
appointed by the Governor and Council, and the
remainder of the Board consists of DELEGATES
mostly practical men, from the several county So
cielies.
In March last, the Trustees of the State Re-
form School transferred the management of the
State Farm, at Nestborough, to the Board of
Agriculture, and subsequently, the Legislature
appropriated the sum of six thousand dollars for
the purpose OF commencing the contemplated i'm
proyenenls. a detailed report of the operations
oflhe Board will soon be laid before Won
In the same sput of enlightened liberaIity
which has heretofore losered this imporant ART
and encouraged the people in its prosecution, YOU
will doubtless consider the subject, and l trust
such judlcious aid wall continue to be afforded
as WIN enable The Board to carry out the plans
they have already commenced. These NAV in,
cIude eventually the opportunity for portion of
our youth not only to obtain that practical knovyI-
edge OF agriculture which will qualify them for
the empoyments Of the garden and the field, but
also TO acquire the scientific principles and prac-
ice Indispensable to d successful pursuit of the
| higher branches of the art.
According to the returns in the census of 1850
the aggregate value of the farms, stock, imole-
ments and products in the Commonwealth. on the
first of June Of that year, was more than one hun
bred and forty millions ofdoars Ii is believed
that this sum, large il is, will be gradually in
creased by superior modes of culture
The skill and wisdom of the mechanic have
also kept pace with our progress in agriculture
HS active genius has devised, and his industry
constructed, numerous implements and machines
which supersede vast amount of human Toll
and gave 10 the products ofthe soil in many places
a new value. They also increase the worth of
our lands, and enable US to supply, in large de.
gree, the wants of those engaged in other occu-
patIons. Ofar her various branches of meeb,n-
lcal industry, Massachusetts, is Justly proud.
Under the fostering aid of the State bounty.
the military of the Commonwealth are in a pros.
porous condition. There are on file, IN the Al.
Jutant Generals Office, applications for about
thirty companies more than are authorized nv
law-unless, in accordance with recent oninion
Of the Attorney General, the present number NAV
be somewhat increased. Some judicious military
organization should exist in every Republic Cnr
the defence Of its liberties and rights. Exne-
Renee and prudence alike dictate this course
We need no standing army, with the germinal
seeds of an efficient volunteer militia in onr
midst. A standing army becomes the mere ma
chine Of the dominant authorities, while The VOL
unteer sOldlery unite the skill of tha tact;c;a %