Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-02-15
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURES.
SENATE.

MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE.
SATURDAY, Feb. 10.
| SENATE.
| Mr.. Bonney, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported that the House bill con-
corning the equalization of taxes ought not
to pass. Also, that the House bill relating to
| the estates of deceased paupers ought to pass.
| Read a second time.
! Mr.. Stone from the Committee on Probate
and Chancery, introduced a bill for the con-
| solidation Of the Courts of Probate and Chan
Gerry, in the Commonwealth.
The FIRST sectionoi the act provides that the off e of
Jadge Of Probate and the Office OF Jui tire Court Of
insolvency. as they are established by law in each
Of the respective counties Of the Commonwealth be here
by abolished and that there shall be ia ach County Of
the Commonweat tn suitable person. learned in the law
appointed and qualified in the prescribed BY the
consttuttn to be the Judge of Probate Of wills and for
granting letters of administration, and be he Judge
of the Court of Insolvency, FIR such County, who shall
be called the Judge of Probate and Insolvency and as
VACANCIES occur, the shall be filed the
prescribed in the constitution for appointing aud
suning Judicial officers.
The fourth section that at the annual election in
November, 1853 and at the annual election in November
OF every fifth year thereafter the legal voters of the
several cities and in each county shall choose by
ballot for their respective countless Register Probate
aCd Insolvency, who shall Register of Probate and
insolvency within and for The County for which he sha
be chosen The registers of Probate and insolvency
eecttU Snail he and shall hOld their offices
spectiyely from the first Wednesday of January next
following said annual election in November.
The sixth section provdea that the Judge of Probate
and Insolvency each of the several counties Of suffolk,
Mddlesex, Worcester, Essex, and Norfolk may appoint
suitable person Register Pro
bate and Insolvency in his respective county, who sha
hold his Office for the of three years from his ap
pointnent subject be removed by the Judge.
qh9 salary the Judge of Probate and Insov ncy
Suffolk county is 6xet at S3OoO that Of Midlesex at
$1,000; Essex $500; Worcester $lS00 Norfolk $1i00.
The register u probate and insolvency Suffolk is to
receive s30e0 assist $780, egi ter Mdd lese
$500 asst tant 900; r4gilter in Worcester $500,
sistaut $1,000; egise in Essex $780, assistant $500
register in Norfolk $1,000 assistant 5000
The motion to reconsider the vote whereby
the bill relating to the competency Of wit
nesses was rejected, came up III order. Tues
day next, at 3 IL ocl0ck z NJ. was assigned
for taking the question. Mr.. SAWYER of Mid
dlesex briefly advocated the principles of the
bill, and was followed on the same side by
Mr.. Prince Of Essex. Mr.. Branning of Berk-
shire opposed the bill, tine debate on which
was pending when our report closed
HOUSE.
Ordered, That the Judiciary Committee
consider the expediency of enactiug a law to
provide for the taking of dispositions to be
used in the trial Of indictments in this Com
monwealth.
That the same committee consider the ex-
pediency Of so amending the law concerning
the fees Of witnesses in the police and JUS
tees courts as to allow them the same COM
pensation us witnesses now are entitled to re-
ceive in the higher courts, for the same
amount of attendance.
That the Railway Committee consider the
expediency of amending the second section
of the two hundred and fortieth chapter of
the acts of 1857, so that the returns of rail-
road corporations shall be made to the Both
of September annually.
That the Committee on Mercantile Affairs
| inquire into the expediency of so amending
the 9Sth chapter OF the acts of 1913, which
relate to the more equal assessment of taxes
as shall make it incumbent upon officers of
insurance companies to make returns to the
assessors of cities and towns of the number
of bank shares held by them, as security for
stock or Otherwise.
| That the Auditor be requested TO furnish a
statement of the sums paid to the several
County Treasures during the last three
years, under the acts of lS4l, chapter seventy
four, on account of the costs of criminal pro-
seeutions.
That the Judiciary Committee consider the
expediency of so amending chapter 305 of the
acts of 1867, relating to parties being witness
es in proceedings in courts of justice, as to
prohibit husbands and wives being witnesses
for or against each other in any proceeding in
which either is party.
That the Banking Committee consider the
expediency of providing by law that banks
shall not be allowed to charge exchange on
notes, discounted by them, made payable
within this commonwealth.
That the Committee on Probate and Chan =
Gerry consider the expediency of amending the
insolvent laws of this Committee, so as to
provide that no person shall take the benefit
of said laws who shall have absconded from
| the State to avoid the payment of his debts.
or who was not, at the time the debts from
| which he seeks to be discharged were con-
traeted an inhabitant of this Commonwealth.
The Committee on the Judiciary reported
upon an order Of inquiry as to the expedien-
ey of further legislation concerning the dis.
! charge of insolvent debtors, that the Judici-
airy Committee be discharged from the fur
Their consideration of the subject, and that
the matter be referred to the Probate and
Chancery Committee.
The Committee on Mercantile Affairs and
Insurance reported an act authorising Ed
mund I. Dana, Martha r. Allston, Sarah A.
Dana, proprietors Of wash lands in Cam
bridge, to erect dams and dykes to keep the
tide water of Charles River from their terri
tory.
The House refused to reconsider the vote
whereby the report of the Education Com
mittee had been accepted in regard to the
books to be used in schools also that of the
Judiciary Committee in relation to the lien Of
mechanics, and maintained its position upon
the police justice bill, defeating the PROPOSE
to reconsider the engrossment of the bill.
Various matters in the orders of the day
were advanced one stage, when the House
| adjourned.