Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-01
From the State House.

BOSTON, Tuesday, Jan, 81, 1871
The bill authorizing the county commissioners
of Worcester county to borrow money and re-
move the jail in Worcester was passed to be en-
crossed in the house, to-day. There was a sharp
debate on the state constablery appropriation in
the senate, and in the house there was an
equally lively debate on another matter. The
bill relating to public libraries and reading
rooms, providing that the statutes shall not be
construed to prevent cities or towns from open
ing them on Sunday if they wish TO do so, came
up in the orders of the day, and occasioned
lively debate. A motion by Mr.. Washburn, to
postpone action for one week, was opposed by
Messrs. Kellogg OF Pittsfield and Adams of
Quincy, on the ground that there was little work
before the house now, and consequently it
would be better TO let the debate go on now,
while there was time for it, The house agreed
with them. Rev. DIR. Putnam said the bill did
not require any city or town to open their libra
ries on Sunday, but gave them the authority
merely to do as they thought eXpedient He
hoped the moral question of the subject would
not be discussed in the house, but would be left
to the authorities who voted whether the libra
ries should be opeRed or not. The debate was
continued by Rev. Mr.. Vibbert of Rockport and
Mr., Tarbox of Lawrence in favor of the bill,
and Mr.. Tiuel of Weymouth, Rev. Mr. Rich
ardson of Sturbridge, and Mr.. Newell of Boston
against it. Without reaching vote the house
| adjourned.
Among the petitions presented to-day were the
| following: OF Jennie Collins and others, for in
corporation as the young women's apprentice
association, and for an appropriation OF $4,000 to
establish the same; of Samuel Horton and
| others, of Westfied for a savings bank in that
| town; of Archibald Taft and others, of Shef-
| field, that part of Sheffield be set off TO New
| Marlborough; of Charles E. Forbes and George
| W. Hubbard, that an act of incorporation may
be granted to the Smith college and Smith acad-
envy
The following orders were adopted: That the
committee on the state house consider the ex-
pediency oil reporting bill or resolve, requiring
| the removal of the panes of glass in the Doric
| hall, which are in front of the Washington
statue and batte-aags, or the doing of other acts
which will improve the view of the statue and
flags; that the committee on agriculture CON
| slider the eXpediency of amending section OF
chapter 304 of the acts of 1870, as to prohibit
the killing of black duck in the county of
Barnstabe, between the 18th day of April and
the 18th day of November in any year. that the
committee on roads and bridges inquire and
make report as to the expediency of further leg
islation in relation TO the removal of snow and
ice from sidewalks.
STATE POLICE.
Mr.. Crosby, of Hampshire, from the commit
tee on the treasury, made report in the senate
that the appropriation bill ought TO pass with an
| amendment, increasing the appropriation for
the state police to the original amount $780, 900,
| reported to the house, and the bill was consid-
| cred under SUSPENSION of the rules. In reply
to inquiries of Mr.. Munroe, of Norfolk, MIR.
| Crosby stated that the amount of last year was
| but 100000. Mr.. Munroe objected to increas-
| ing the state police force because it was practi-
| cally license board, in conflict with law, the
members of the force collecting fees for license.
| 1t was his belief that the state constables were
the best paid men in the state and responsible
TO no one. He thought if the state constable
was an efficient officer he would demand an in
vcstigation into the charges made against his
force. If he did not ask it the legislature should
| order it.
Mr. Stearns, OF Hampden, objected to increas-
! ing the appropriation, and he gave as one of the
| reasons, an account of the corrupt practice of
| members of the state police force in Hampden
county. The state constable's report, he said,
| was full of fraud and deluSon, and the state
| constable knew it when he made it,
Mr.. Bird, of Norfolk, thought if the charges
| made against the force were true, not dollar
| should be appropriated for its compensation
and an order of investigation, or for the abolish
| ing of the force should be passed. He moved
that the further reconsideration of the matter
be postponed until tomorrow, but that was lost
| by vote Of Is 10 16.
| Mr.. Willcomb, of Essex, said he understood
| that Major Jones was ready to meet any charges
which might be made against him. Mr. Good
| man, of Berkshire, opposed the increase of the
| appropriation. Mr.. Bird believed in the princi-
pie of the state police, and in the integrity of
| Major Jones.
The motion to amend was then carried by a
vote of 10 yeas to Is nays, and the bill as amend
| ed was ordered to a third reading
VOCAL CULTURE IN SCHOOLS.
Avery pleasing exhibition was given in the
| green room, this forenoon, in order to give the
members of the legislature an opportunity to
| witness the method of instruction in music pur-
| sued in the Boston public schools, with a view
| TO legislation on the subject. About one hun
| dred children, boys and girls, varying in age
from four to twelve years, were present, and the
exercises, in which they took part, were con-
| Quoted by Messrs. Mason and Holt, their in
structors. The method of instruction, beginning
with the youngest scholars, well illustrated,
| and the singing of the children gave much
| pleasure to those who heard them. bill has
been introduced in the house, which provides
that the first section of chapter 80, of the gen
eral statutes, shall be amended so that all towns
containing 5000 or more inhabitants shall be re-
quired to include the theory and practice of
music among the branches oflearning which are
by said section required to be taught in the pub
| lie schools.