Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-15
A1AssACHUsErrs LEG1sLATURE.
MONDAY, Feb. 10.
AFEVlN IN
SENATE.

SENATE.
Petitions were presented of C. Cutter and 8
others of Warren, OF A. l.. Babcock and 90
Others of Shcrburne, of Henry Elwell and 80
others of Manchester, OF Albert Gould and III
Others of Leicester, of G. S. Beaman and lO3
others of Princeton, of John Clement and "a
others of Townsend, of Charles Il. Pool and 81
others, and A. A. Clifford and one other, of
Westport, severally praying for the removal of
the statue of Daniel Webster from the State
House grounds.
The bill to abolish the commission on the
Back Bay came up on its passage to a third
reading Mr. REED of Plymouth mir. Bailey
of Worcester in the char) opposed the passage
of the bill, thinking it better to place all the
lands of the commonwealth under the care OF
the Commissioners, than to transfer the Back
Bay lands into the charge OF the Land Agent.
Mr.. PATCH of MiddleseX took the opposite
view. Mr.. CLAFLIH of MiodesrX was oppos-
cd to placing the lands in charge Of single
man, and moved to recommit the resolve to the
committee, with instructions to report resolve
placing all the public lands of the common
wealth in the hands of land agency, to con-
sist OF two or more persons. Mr.. PARKER of
Worcester commented on the items of charges
of the Commissioners on the Back Bay for the
past year. and ridiculed the idea that a land
agent could not have done as well He said
if he was satisfied that the land agent would
be appointed to take charge OF these lands, he
should oppose the abolition Of the present com.
mission but he thought the Governor would
appoint proper person, and one who would
give satisfaction. He concluded by saving he
should vote for the resolve in its present form.
in order to hear the defence which one of the
Commissioners in the House might choose TO
make rs to the charges for services; and he al
luded to the commission, as to-day organized,
as beng Boston concern, and as the whole
state had an interest in the lands, he thought
there would be gain in even passing resolve
to abolish the present commission and having
new one appointed.
Mr. CLAFLIN's amendment was lost by
vote Of II to 10. An amendment, offered by
Mr.. LUCE of the Island District, that no sale
OF the Back Bay lands should be made, except
at public auction, and at the highest bidder
was adopted, and the resolve as amended was
passed to third reading by Il vote of 20 to 10.
The Committee on Probate and Chancery,
by Mr.. PARKER of Worcester, reported bill
legalizing the acts of Horace l. Hodges, Judge
OF Insolvency Tor the county of Hampshire,
IN Worcester county, during the vacancy of
the office i'll that county.
The Committee on the Judiciary, by Mr..
BAILEY of Fitchburg, reported that it was
ineXpedient to lesisate on the order to amend
the Constitution so that persons of foreign
birth who have resided here one year subse-
quent to their naturalization be allowed to
vote.
HOUSE.
The business before the House was not
important. Ira Grey and 81 others of Read.
ing petitioned for a law against slave-hunting.
Various orders of inquiry were adopted, one
OF contemplating an ornithological survey of
the state. a bill to change the time of the mu-
nicpal election in Fall River from March to
December was referred to the Committee of
the judiciary.
Mr.. Josiah Perham sent in a communica-
ton announcing that certain railroads had au-
thorlzed him to extend an invitation to the
legislatures of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mary
land, New Y ork, and Maine, to pass and re-
pass to Boston upon their roads free of
charge; and asking the Senate and House to
take such action as will authorize the Govern
or to invite the legislatures of said states to
participate in tile Inequalities of the state. at
some convenient time during the present
session. MIR. RICH Of Boston also introduced
the following resolve, which, with the com
muncation, was referred to the Committee ON
Federal Relations =
Resolved That we view with great pleasure and
satisfaction the recent social union at Cincinnati of
the members of the legislatures ofthe states of Ohio
kentucky, and Tennessee, as tending to establish
exist between the different states Of our national
Union, and we hereby tender cordial welcome to
te senators and representatives of any of our sister
states who may visit the capital Massachusetts dur
ing the present session of the Legislature.
The bill making appropriations for the main
| tehance OF the government during the current
year was amended, on motion of MIR. KniBALL
Of Boston, by filling the blank for the current
expenses of the Reform School at Westbor
ough, with the sum of $50, 500 and on mo-
ton OF Mr.. HALE of Boston, by striking ont
the appropriations for salaries of justices and
clerks of police courts, and for costs of crimi.
nal prosecutions. These items will be includ-
ed in subsequent bills, unless the law shall be
changed. The bill was then passed to be en-
crossed.
TUESDAY, Feb Ia.
HOUSE.
The House discussed the question of amend
ing the constitution by abolishing the council
A motion to indefinitely postpone it was lost,
% to l03. This indicates that majority, but
not two-thirds of the House, are in favor of
abolishing the council.
Some amusement was created bv the read.
ing OF letter from j. Perham to the egisla
ture OF Virginia, inviting them to visit Boston
during the present session of our legislature.