Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-04-21
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

OF Lancaster, Tor the confirmation of the title
to real estate; of c. S. Hastings and others,
in aid of petition of Agricultural Railroad
Company.
Bills, &C., Repoyted-Resolves on petition of
William Gieenleaf, to pay over certain trust
funds. Resolve concerning the artificial pro.
pagation of fish. Act in addition 10 an act 10
incorporate the proprietors of the City Hotel
in relating to the clause which
forblds the sale of liquor on pain of repeal of
charter; changing the name to Bay State
House, and increasing capital to $3.50, 600.
Sharp Practice of the Cicrk-lhe order Of
tered yesterday for the monthly auditing of
the accounts for indexing the House Journals,
&C., came up, and Mr.. Devereux took the
floor, and commenced speech on the impor-
lance OF the work referred, giving history
OF the progress of the resolve, sc, After
hghtIng shy of the question of the Clerks
conduct, lie at length approached it. He said
II was no uncommon thing for language in a
legislative act to be ambiguous. He under
stood that the gentleman who proposed the
amendment (Mr. Brooks) was dissatisfied
with the manner in which it was inserted in
the resolve. That gentleman did not send his
amendment to the Chair, and if it was in
serted IN an inaccurate and slovenly manner,
1t was Itself to blame, as much as the Clerk
for the resolve was read to the House, and no
notice was taken of the blunder. Mr.. d,
went on at considerable length.
Mr.. G. Hale replied. He said he did not
agree to Mr.. Devereux's memory relating to
the amendment referred to. He went on to
give his recollection as to the facts of the
case. He stated in the clearest terms the
proposition made by Mr.. Brooks, and the cir
cumstances under which it was made, Gas re-
lated in an article in another place. The re-
solve soas not read to the House as amended.
He said be thought due regard to the digni-
ty OF the House demanded that the bill should
be repealed, and he referred to the action of
Congress repeating bill with which clerk
in that body had tempered. That is the way
Congress indicated its dignity. MIR. Hale
said he had been Informed that the Governor
refused to sign the resolve until the clerk had
made certificate that the $4,000 would pro.
badly cover the whole expense of the resolve.
lie went on to reply to various points made
by Mr.. Deyereux. and then to oppose the pas
sage of the order, as being worthless and in
adequate to the purpose If any action is
necessary, it must be in shape of Resolve.
He moved to refer the order to the Finance
Committee.
Mr.. Devereux clustered loudly in reply,
and undertook to divert attention from the
Clerk by attacking Mr.. Hale. He confessed
the statement in relation to Gov. Gardner's
refusal to sign the resolve until Haskell had
certified that in his opinion the work would
not cost more than $4,000. This act of Has
kell, Devereux cited as evidence of his hon
esty in the matter.
Mr.. Hale corrected statement of Mr.
Deyereux in relation to his Cdr Hale 81 agen-
cy in the passage of resolve relating to the
printing of the proceedings of the Convention
of 1888.
Mr.. Sever of Boston made statement of
what he knew about the matter, derived from
conversation with the Auditor. He hoped
| that there would be no more discussion on
the subject, but that supplementary resolve
| would be passed.
Mr. Brooks of Worcester who proposed
the amendment to the resolve, called attention
to the terms of the resolve as it stood. and
made statement of his agency in the matter
He also said he could not find any record of
the passage of the resolve in the journal of the
House.
Mr.. Hale desired to speak again, but Mr..
Morrill, of Fall River, objected to his speak
ing again. Mr.. Robinson of Charestown
moved that he have leave to SPEAK This mo-
ton was agreed to. He urged ahat the order
should go to the Finance Committee, After
some further debate, it was thought best TO
lay the order on the table,
Mr. Littleield of Foxbo1o', then presented
resolve, that the limitation of $4,000 in the
original resolve, be held to apply to the cata
logues, as well as the indexes.
Mr.. I4ittletield volunteered his very yalua-
BILE opinion that the House was to blame. and
nobody else, for the change made in the re.
solve by the clerk.
Mr. Hale moved that the resolve be referred
to the Committee on Finance. Mr. LitteReld
hoped it would be considered now under a
suspension of the rules.
debate then ensued on this question be.
tween Messrs. Hale and Lttlefeld. The
House refused to suspend the rules, 76 yeas,
81 nays.
Mr.. Fletcher of Lowell, went for the re.
solve, blunder and all. He went for assert
ing the dignity of the House by adhering to
it, and by repudiatipg all blame upon the
clerk. Mr. Weeks Of Lowell, agreed with
Mr.. Fletcher, and moved to lay the resolve
on the table. Rejected-l4 to 90.
After some further absurd proceedings, the
resolve was referred to the Finance Commit
tse. The order of Mr. Briggs was then taken
from the table, and referred to the same com
mittee.
Passed to be Eagrossed.-Bill to incorporate
the Ladies' Charitable Association at Haver.
hill /; to incorporate the Eliot City Mission
Society Of Roxbury; Resolve on the petition
of Lewis Aiken; in favor of the town of