Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-28
MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.
FRIDAY. Feb. %.
SENATE.

FRIDAY, FEB. 70.
SENATE.
After the preliminary business the orders OF
the day were taken up, and several bill pass
ed to third reading.
Passed to be EngrosSed.-Bill to modify the
act of 1854, granting aid to construct the HOO
sic Tunnel and House resolve concerning the
beauest by Isaac b. Woodbury. to the State OF
Massachusetts; and bill concerning the Chaun-
CIV Fire and Marine Insurance Company.
A communication was received from the Elk
ecutlve in answer to an order of Feb. "A, re-
speeding the purchase of the Hancock House
He expressed the opinion, that, in his own case.
the occupation of it, as the Executive Mansion,
would not increase his expenses, but, rather
would diminish them-and further he spoke
favorably of the purchase of the estate.
AT three O'Clock the special assignment-the
consideration of the resolve in relation to the
purchase of the Hancock House-was taken
up
Amendments were offered and rejected, and
the question was debated till the Senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE.
Petitions Presented and Reterred-Of w. A.
Houghton ct ais of Berlin, of j. II. Fits ct
ais. of Boxboro', Of Asa Daily ct ais. of Har-
ward, of Joseph Whitney ct ais. of Bolton, for
uniform measure of cans for the sale Of milk.
Reports of Commitees-Banks Bills to in
crease the capitals of the Columbia, Atlas, and
fremont Banks, in Boston, each S250,0O0; by
Mr.. Morton-Finance-tha the resolve on the
petition of John Hector be referred to the Com
mittee ON the subject of Indian Lands and
Rights. Accepted.
Mr.. Miller of Colerain, on leave, introduced
bill requiring that habitual liquor drinkers
shall not hold any Office or place Of trust in any
prison, house of correction, &C.; that they shall
not be constables, police officers, &C.
Reorganization oJfhe Judiciary.-Mr. Griffin,
of Maiden, from the Joint Special Committee
relative to delays in the administration of JUS
tice, submitted long report upon the general
subject referred to them, accompanied by bill.
The bill provides for a new court, to be called
the Superior Court" which shall have the
same powers and jurisdiction in all actions and
proceedings at law, whether civil or criminal,
as the Supreme Court, the Court of Common
Pleas, the Superior Court of the County Of
Suffolk, and the Municipal Court of the City
of Boston now have, except as otherwise pro-
vided. The Supreme Judicial Court remains,
as law court and court for equity jurisdic-
ton
The orders of the day were taken up, and
several bills passed to third reading.
The Senate bill, deducting from the time of
Imprisonment of meritorious conyicts, passed
to be engrossed.
The bill in relation to membership in the
Massachusetts, Medical Society was further de-
bated, and rejected, Sc to 81.
SATURDAY, Feb. 26.
SENATE.
Mr.. Parker, of Worcester, introduced bill
to assists the deserving youths in the State
reformatory schools. 1t provides for donations
by the State of sums of money not exceeding
500 in each instance to inmates of reforma-
tory schools, who by their good conduct shall
be deemed worthy of special encouragement,
the money to be expended in the education of
the pupils. Referred to the Committee on
Public Charitable Institutions.
Mr.. Hotchkiss, of Franklin, moved an
amendment, which provides that the internal
and external arrangements of the house shall
be kept as they are at present Adopted-15
to IA. After an extended debate, the resolve
passed to third reading-19 yeas to 16 nays.
YEAs-Messrs Atwood, Boynton, Conn, Dag
gett, Davis of Plymouth, Fabens, Fisher, French,
Hotchkiss, Knight, Norton, 0diorne Parker of Nor
folk, Phelps Rich, Sawin, Iilton, Walker, Williams
10.
NAYs-Messrs Bacon, Bagg Bigelow, Bowerman,
Branning Brooks, Cornell, Davis of Bristol Evans,
Goddard, Luce, Metcalf, 0sgood, Parker of Worces-
ABsENTEEs-Messrs Butler of NIiddlesex, Davis
of Essex, Field of Worcester Frost of Suffolk, Sim
mons ofPlymouth
AT the announcement of the vote there was
considerable applause among the spectators
HOUSE.
The bill to authorize banks to draw bills of
exchange outside of the United States was re-
jected.
The House refused to grant more capital to
the Webster, ATLAS, Columbian, and fremont
banks by vote of 81 to 49, g
The resolve granting State aid to Levi Bar
ker to contest the constitutionality of a Virgin
ia law, passed to be engrossed. Itwas opposed
by Mr. Gushing.