New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-28
POLITICAL.
MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.
Boston, June 25-The Massachusetts Legis-
lature adjourned Thursday last after session of 10
days This and the session of last year are che longest In
the history of the State. Several attempts no doubt
well-meant and sincere, made to shorten the
sion but what appears TO have been the general inca
pacity of the members rendered the prompt transaction
OF business Impossible. while the difficulty was enhanced
by pretty steady succession OF disageements between
the House Senate and to this it must he added that
neither body seemed to have any fixed or determinate
opinions and both constantly engaged in the work
of reconsideration and amendment II must he admitted
however that many of the questions which came before
the General Court exceedingly difficult of adjust
men and might well have bothered the most dexterous
But the most curious feature Of this session the
number OF laws and resolves which proposed and
which IN the end after consuming great deal Of time
well as OF money, came finally Ia nothing. There was
Nays and much ingenuity I'm amendments, the NOR
taity among the bills was predestinate and steady.
the Constitution Of the state II proposed in the
first place to shorten sessions by fixing the salaries of
heard Of again in its original FORM When it got back
the House II had been transmogrifed into an amend
ent lengthening the Of Senators three years
and OF Representatives 10 two years. and in this shape
the resolve met its fate at the hands OF the
House. The same i'll fortune overlook amendment
abOishing the payment Of taxes as suffrage quaca
ton The amendment aboishlng the ability to read and
write qualification, carried in both branches
and goes the next General Court An amendment pro
hbng the loaning OF the credit Of the state to any
divdua corporation. once carried in the Senate
but was ultimately rejected. A proposition 10 abolish
the State Board Of Health much debated and
failure Another 10 abolish the Office OF Surpeon
era likewise fell through. SO did proposition to abOl-
ish the Harbor and Land Commissions 80 did bill 10
create Commissioner OF Lunacy SO did blllfor new
valuation OF the estates OF the Commonwealth SO did
b to Increase the salaries Of the Judges OF the Supreme
and superior Courts. SO did bill abolshng
the trustee process SO did bill providing for
the appointment OF an officer in each
Police Court to charge OF minors and women so did
bill for the establishment Of religious equality IN char
liable institutions. So did bill after immense debate)
granting fresh state aid to the Hartford and Erie Railway
So did great batch Of bills for railways so did
proposition for the enactment Of general railway law
So did bill abOlishing the State police. so did bll
providing that nobody should work more than ten hours
day So did bill establishing eight hours as the limit
of a legal days work 80 did bin annexing Charles
other outlying territories Boston. 30 did bill regu-
latinR the dispensing of medicines. So did bill amend
ing the naturalization process. so did Dlu requiring
gas companies in Boston 10 sell gas at hhed ana UNI
form rate
This is indeed rather doOrOus catalogue OF failures
reminding one of the babys epitaph: what was De
gun for, To he done for" The extraordinary
OF opinion exhibited by Senators and Repre-
sentatves shows that they were mere tyros IN me bus
ness which they undeTtOok-a work III which SKIN can
only secured by long practice and observation and
yet IL Will he that the sensible proposition h
engthening the terms Of the members was voted down.
az II the Art of Enactment one which "a man by
some mysterious process nstantaneously acquired the
moment he received majority OF the votes OF us ie
Iow-otzens. The proportion OF old ana experienced
members in The Massachusetts, Legislature has been ne
coming lcss and less for several ycarsa loss Tor winch
the very longest session will hardly compensate