Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-29

charter of the city of New Bedford in relation
to highway surveyors, making the mayor and
aldermen of said city board of highway sur
veyors; ineXpedient to legisate so as to prOhib-
1t minors from attending at plays or perform.
ances ia theaters and other similar places of
amusement, unaccompanie by their parents or
guardians; in regard to amending section 4,
chapter II ofthe revised statutes so as to exempt
incomes derived from professions, trades or EN-
ployment. Notice was given of intention to
substitute bill providing that no tax shall
hereafter be assessed on an income derived
from profession, trade, or employment On
the petition Of the town Of Newton for an act
authorizing that town to choose board of
street commissioners; resolves to pay Joan
Baxter, James Thompson, and Matilda Frenchj
state aid. That the bill relating to 'dOmicil for
the purpose of taxation ought to pass in new
draft.
The bill concerning the sale of intoxicating
liquors was taken up, by special assignment, at
% O'Clock, and Mr.. Moore of Boston opened
the discussion with speech against the bill.
Experience had proved, he said, that the pro-
hibitory law could not be enforced, and he
favored the bill which was now upon the statute
books as one which met the wants of the ma
jority of the people, although he would favor
the extension of the right to sell to light wines
as well as to malt liquors. The reason of the
failure of the republican party in New Hamp-
shire was the agitation of the temperance ques-
ltOI anu Stitl1c IbSull NOuu IOllOW HRlldtiOl
in Massachusetts. MIR. Cogswell, of Salem,
said that although the license law was his first
choice, he thought it did not satisfy a large
class of the citizens Of the state, and could not
remain permanent law of the state The pro-
hibitory law, which it was proposed to rc-enact,
had been upon the statute books for twelve years,
from 1855 to 1857, and would have remained if
it had not been for the agitation caused by few
radical prohibitlonists. If the amendment pro-
Iiding for a state police force of only thirty
men, and the enforcement Of the law by local
authorities, should be adopted, he would vote
for the bill.
Mfr. Fitzgerald, of Boston, opposed the bill be-
fore the house, and all the amendments that had
been offered. He claimed that where the prin-
ciples of license and prohibition had been
brought into conflict, license had been victorious,
thus proving the sentiment Of the people in re-
gard to it.
Mr.. Tirrell, of Weymouth, thought tIat the
majority Of the people of the state would not be
in favor of the law proposed, but he claimed that
the members of the house, on moral questions,
should vote according to their own convictions.
The failure to pass prohibitory law would give
the control of the state at the next election to
the democratic party.
Mr.. Towne of Fitchburg offered an amend
ment, striking out all after the enacting clause,
and inserting the following Sections 1, and
8 of chapter 3S7 Of the acts Of 1869, are hereby
repealed"
Mr.. Adams of Quincy said it seemed to him
that the party in such an enormous majority as
the republican party in this state should be pre-
pared to maintain policy on some ground more
dignifed, more proper more statesmanlike than
such paltry talk as the house had listened to-,
the threat that if they didn't vote so-and-sO the
state would be thrown into the hands of that
great bugbear, the democratic party. All the
speakers on that side had acknowledged that
they were trucking and dickering after a few
votes, and this was all the principle of the
republican party in the matter of prohibition.
AT the close of Mr.. Adams remarks, the fur
ther consideration of the matter was postponed
to Thursday, at p o'clock.
The bill fixing the compensation Of members
of the legislature was next discussed. Mr.. Cogs-
WE'LL of Yarmouth offered an amendment, limit
ing the session to one hundred days, and the
pay of members of thelegislature to $500. Pend
ing a vote on the bill the house adjourned.