Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-28

more clearly define the jurisdiction and pow
ers OF county commissioners in relation to OBJ
sructions 10 turnpikes, highways, or town
ways, caused by the construction or opera
tons of railroads.
On motion of Mr.. MAGLATHLIN of Duxbu
ry, 1t was ordered that the committee on
finance consider the expediency OF levy ing
state tax upon the dividends of shares of rail-
roads, banks, and other like joint stock COM
panies, within the state, owned by non-resi.
dents.
On motion Of Mr.. CLEMENT of Lawrence, it
was ordered that the committee on the Judi.
ciary consider the eXpediency of so amending
section 70 OF chapter l65 Of the General Stat
utes, thai trial justices and Justices of police
courts may, at their discretion, impose short
Imprisonment in the county Jail or house of
correction, instead OF fine and costs, as pun.
lshmenl Tor the first offence OF DRUNKENNESS
Mr.. PARSONS OF Brookline asked leave to
introduce bill regulating the investments of
the several sinking funds, providing that the
treasurer of the commonwealth may borrow
from the commissioners of the several sinking
funds, created for the redemption OF Massachu-
sets state bonds, any money they may have
on hand belonging 10 said funds, as may be
necessary for the payment Of the ordinary de.
manuS on the treasury, and placing the invest
menis OF the sinking funds on a par with the
regulation by the law OF l85S-or, in short,
'making the state S own debtor" Leave
was granted, and the bill was referred 10 the
committee on finance.
Heading the Bible IN Public .SchooLs-The bill
concerning religious services in public schools
came up first in the orders of the day, on the
question OF ordering it to third reading. The
bill, as ordered 10 be engrossed in the senate
reads as follows =
mo scholar or teacher, who shall declare
that he has conscientious scruples against read
ing the Bible in the common English version,
shaiI De required 10 do 50, nor shall any scholar
lie required to read theretrom, whose parent
or guardian shall declare that he has conscien.
tions scruples against allowing HIM to do so
Mr. MURPHY of Worcester made an earn
est plea in behalf OF the Catholic portion of
the scholars in the state, and argued that h
true liberty Of conscience could never be Sc.
cured, SO long as scholars of all the prevalent
sects IN the state, were obliged TO read the
same tprotestant) version. Alter citing the
familiar instance OF tie Catholic scholar in
Grafton, he presented TO the Legislature the
claims OF the Catholic portion of the commu-
NIFTY, IN view OF their ready and noble re-
sponse to the late calls of the country.
Mt. GODDARD OF Barre, moved to amend
the bill by striking out in the first line, the
worIs.-sch0lar, or"
MIR. HOWE OF Marshlield thought ii was
unfortunate that this subject should have been
brought up at this critical juncture of our
affairs. lie thought the bill implied that the
Protestant Bible was not proper book to be
read IN our public schools, and entered into a
full vindicaton Of the Bible, dwelling partieu.
larly on the fact that the present rule is gener-
al and truly Catholic in its results, but that
the introduction oil the D5uay version would
be sectaran measure, inasmuch as it carried
WIN IL notes and comments, intoxicating the
strongest ROmlsh sentiments. He discla;med
the slightest motive of dISIespect to the Cath
olcs, and paid Il hearty tribute to the noble
part they had sustained in the war, but lie
could not regard it as an infringement on the
liberty OF conscience, for that Bible which is
SO universally read as the Protestant version,
10 De adopted IN our common school system.
Messrs. MANNING of Reading, and GIBBS of
New Bedford, spoke at considerable length.
in support OF the existing laws
Mr.. EATON of Boston, advocated the bill
under discussion, and called for the reading
OF the original petition ON which the bill
had been reported. Alter the reading of the
petition,
Mr.. DANIELS of Worcester said a few words
in explanation of it, aud vouching for the sig.
natures annexed.
Mr. HOWE cared not whether the signatures
ne muse OF one rank or Ofnce, or another;
whether they be eX-mayors or ex aldermen,
so long as they are men OF characteI-men
who, when it is necessary, know enough to
strike the blow, and strike it home. He
moved to specially assign the subject to
Thursday, at p O'Clock P. NJ. The motion
was lost
Mr.. Brown of Taunton moved to amend
the bill by striking cut all after The enacting
clause, and inserting the following
"Sec. l. The school committee shall never
direct any school books calculated to favor
the tenetS OF any particular sect of christians
to be purchased or used in any of the public
schools.
Sec. 2. The 9th section of the 38th chapter
OF the General Statutes is hereby repealed"
Mr.. BROWN, on supporting his motion, re-
capltulated previous enactments on the sub.
Ject. He thought that the inteligencn and
christian principle of the people was a sutfi
cient guaranty for the proper reading OF the
Bible in the public schools. He warmly ad
vocated striking from the statute book the dis.
graceful enactment which compelled the read
ing Of the Protestant version, and thus put the
matter on the old stand point, He could trust
to the discretion and intelligence of both the
teachers and school committees of the COM
monwealthr for the proper and respectful read
ing Of the Scriptures.
AT this point, on motion of Mr.. Parsons OF
Brookline, the bill was laid on the table and
the remaining orders of the day taken up