Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-01-19
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

THURSDAY, Jan. 10.
SENATE.-A large number of orders of no.
tice were passed.
A bill was reported, increasing, by $780,
900, the capital stock of the Douglass Axe
Co., and resolve for the appointment of
Commissioner to the Exposition of Universal
Industry, at Paris, in May next, without ex-
pense TO the State.
Among the petitions were several relating to
Constitutional amendments, the reading of the
Protestant scriptures III schools, trial by jury,
opening converts to public examination, sc.
Also, for new town in Norfolk county, to be
called Norfolk.
Orders were adopted for inquiring relative
to laws securing just measure to purchasers
of wood and coal compelling railroad COM
panies to forward freehts within two days af-
ter it is left at their freight houses and for a
general act to establish Gas Companies.
Personal Liberty BW.-Mr. Hall, of Ply
mouth, by unanimous consent, introduced
bill to prevent and punish fraudulent arrests,
which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, on his motion
Adjourned
HoUsE.-Several petitions were presented,
the principal of which were those of Franklin
Greene, Jr., and others, for bank at Jamai-
ca Plains; of Sarah Ward, of Worcester, for
chise for women of Edwin Forbush, and
others, of Ashland. for Incorporation as the
Forbush Sewing Machine Company; of the
Mayor Of Worcester, for the repeal of the act
establishing a fire department, and that the
City Council have its direction.
A great number of orders of enquiry were
presented-none of which involved matter of
serious public interest.
An order to enquire into the expediency of
allowing Savings Banks to take, in security,
real estate out OF the Common wealth, was re-
jectod.
After a good deal Of discussion in relation
to the manner of voting for U. S. Senator,
next Tuesday, it was finally agreed to vote
by the secret ballot in sealed envelope. a
rather spicy debate, and an lnhnity of de-
feated amendments, and motions to dispose
of the subject s.mmarily, preceded the final
decision.
There was no other business of importance
transacted up to the hour of adjournment
PHoroGRAPHIc CoUNTERFE1TING-A Gin
cinnati gentlemen writes to the N. Y. Trt-
boOte, describes the results of some expert
ments which have been made in that city by
Mr. Fontayne, a dagueueotypist, relative to
the art of Photographic counterfeitiug. The
counterfeit notes, he says, manufactured in
tnLs lnahlcrs lar SulpaSS III the perIecClOn OF
their details anything of the kind which has
ever been done by the old method of engrav-
ing, Every line and every specll is accurately
copied, so that when the photographs are taken
upon the proper bank note paper, they defy
detection, either by the unaided eye or by the
microscope. A number of bills copied in this
way by Mr.. Fontayne. were presented at va
rious banks III the city of Cincinnati, and in
every case they were pronounced, after care
full inspection, to be genuine.
By this newly discovered system of photo
graphy, all kinds Of ordinary writing or print
ing may be copied-checks, notes, autographs
or letters. The only safeguard to the public
in respect to bank bills seems to lie in the fact
that bright red, blue or green colors cannot
be initiated by the Photographic process, and
that bills which are partially printed in these
colors are consequently secure from the posi-
blity Of counterfeitng. Bills counterfeited
by the Photographic method may always be
detected by wetting them with solution of
corrosive submate or of hydriodate of potas-
sium-the liquid Immediately turning the
Photographic picture white. This test, how
ever, would prove but poor safeguard to the
public generally,