Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-01-25
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURES.


SENATE.
Weights and HeqSves.-On motion of Mr.,
Earle of Worcester, it was ordered that the
Committee on Mercantile Affairs and Insur-
ance inquire into the expedieney of adopting
a uniform system Of weights and measures
graduated on the decimal principle and also
the expedlency OF memorializiug Congress in
favor Of national system of the same kind,
and OF such measures shall be necessary to
secure the concurrence IF other nations in the
establishment Of such uniform system through
out the civilized world.
On motion of Mr.. FELTON, Of Worcester. it
was ordered that the Committee on the Judi
ciary consider the expedieney Of abolishing
the office of Crier of the Courts, and of i'm
posing his duties on the sheriffs.
AT II IL o'clock, the special assignment,
the election of Segeant-at-Arms, was taken
up. The result was as follows:
Whole number of votes .......,,.,.......33
Necessary to 2 choice ...............,.,,.....
benjamin Stevens of Boston. ..............,. 0
Joseph White of Lowell had........ ........24
and was elected.
Mr.. Esty of Middlesex, from the Joint
standing Committee on Railways and Canals,
to which was referred the petition Of the New
York and Boston Railroad Company, praying
for an extension Of the time for locating and
constructing their road, reported that as the
petitioners have not strictly complied with the
provisions of the section referred to, your
committee report that they have leave to with
draw.
Mr.. Swift of Barnstabe, moved to recon-
init, with instructions that the petitioners be
heard
prolonged discussion ensued, when Mr..
Reed Of Bristol, moved to amend the moi,on
OF MrSwift, by adding, ''the law having been
substantially complied with" The amend
ment was accepted, and the motion of Mr..
Swift, as amended, was carried, and the re-
port recommitted to the committee.
The bill to authorize the Springfield Fire
and Marine Insurance Company to incr ease
its investments in real esate-the only thing
in the orders Of the day-was read third
time and ordered to be engrossed.
HOUSE
Petitions Presented and Referred-For the
removal of Judge Luring for separate terms
of the court of common pleas for Norfolk Co.
for the trial OF criminal causes.
Several orders of inquiry were adopted, az
to amendments of existing provisions Of the
usury and other laws :; as to the salaries Of
certain officers the cost of the compilation
OF records; the amount OF money borrowed
oil banks IN the last ten years extra allow
ances made to the Secretary, Treasurer, and
other State officers within the last three wears;
and Of the probable value of lands owned by
the State.
The orders Of the day were then taken up,
the first matter being the report (inexpedienD
OF the Committee on the Judiciary, on the
order relative to the qualification of witnesses.
Bill offered as substitute by Mr.. Rantoul of
Beverly.l
The substitute was adopted, and the bill
passed to a second reading.
The salary bill was taken up, the question
being on its eDgrossment
Mr.. Marble of Seekonk, moved to strike
out the fourth section, which is as follows:
SEC a. No periodicals, publications, or boos s. other
than those printed for the the Legislature shah
hereafter be ordered FIR members al the charge Of the
Com nonwealth.
The amendment passed-S6 to "a, and un-
der the previous question, the bill as amend
ed was engrossed.
Tuesday next, at II o'clock, was assigned
tor the choice of Sergeant-at-Arms.