Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-14
From the State House.

BosToN, Monday, March 10, 1871.
Both branches of the Legislature held short
sessions to-day, and no business of special i'm
portance was transacted. In the senate an order
was adopted authorizing the committee on har-
bors to employ shorthand reporter and to re-
port the testimony on the subject of compensa-
ton for the displacement of tide-water in print;
and two reports of committees were made, as
follows: By the committee on the judiciary,
that the bill to repeal chapter 2OS acts of 1870,
concerning travel on Haverhil bridge, ought to
pass. By the committee on public charitable
institutions, resolves in favor of disabled sol
diers, a substitute for the resolves Npassed by
the house. The resolves, as reported, provide
for an appropriation of $4,000 to be expended
by the surgeon general; and for the repeal of
chapter 81 of the acts of last year. 1t also ap-
propriates $1,000 for the payment of debts of the
discharged soldiers home.
Additional petitions were presented in the
house in favor of the re-enactmeut of the pro-
hibitory law, and the following orders were
adopted THAT the committee on education con-
slider the expediency of so amending section 80,
chapter 3S, of the general statutes, as to pro-
vide that the school committee of any city may
appoint superintendent of schools. That
Thursday, March 16, at q o'clock, be specially
assigned for the choice of preacher of the next
electon'sermon. That the committee on insur-
ance inquire whether any further legal protec-
ton is required for the security of polcyholders
of life insurance policies in regard to the surren
der value of the same.
The following reports of committees were
made: A bill concerning the trustees of the per
manent peace fund, ratifying certain acts, and
authorizing the trustees to hold additional real
and personal property not exceeding $4,000 in
value; bill to increase the jurisdiction in civi
cases of certain police and municipal courts, an6
of the district court of central Berkshire.
The joint committee to whom was referred thu
subject of narrow gauge railroads, reported {
| bill to authorize the construction of such rail
| roads. The bill provides that any branch railroad
hereafter constructed in this state may adopt {
| gauge of three feet or the existing gauge of fou
feet eight and one-half inches, and no othe
gauges shall be used in the state. Any associa
ton of persons, the majority of whom shall b.
citizens of this commonwealth, and all 0
whom shall be citizens of the United
| States ERis authorized to locate, construct
maintain and operate within the limits o
duy IOMl III tHlS sbdtCJ ii bIdilGll IullIOdu VIII
a gauge of three feet, with suitable tracks, sta
| tionS and equipage, provided, that at meet nl
| of the legal voters of said town, two-thiTdS o
the voters shall authorize the construction of thu
| railroad. Upon recording articles OF association
| the association shall become body corporate
with all the rights, privileges, &C., affecting rail
road corporations. Any railroad corporation
now established may maintain as part of its
| railroad system one or more narrow gauge
branch roads, provided the county commission
ers of the county where the road is to be located
determine that the public convenience or neces
sity require it. The bill also makes provision
for the transfer of freight from the narrow gauge
| roads to existing roads.
The bill TO secure more equal apportionmen
of the state and county taxes upon cities anC
towns of the commonwealth was taken from TIN
table, the amendments proposed by Mr.. Kim
bail adopted, and the bill was then ordered tt
be engrossed. The bill as it stands is that thu
| tax commissioner shall be provided with returns
| of the assessors of the several cities and towns
and such Others as he may require, and from
| them he shall proceed to apportion the assess
ments upon each city and town, and shall report
to the next legislature within one week from the
| first Monday in January next.
The bill to amend the Both section of chapter
SO of the general statutes, in relation to the
maintenance of school houses by towns, was re-
jected, and motion to reconsider was placed in
the orders of the day for tomorrow
The bills to amend chapter 109 of the general
statutes relating TO the guardianship of minors
in addition to an act for supplying the city Of
Charlestown with pure water; in aid of Dukes
county academy; granting taxes to several
counties; concerning the Lancaster railroad
company; and to confirm the organization and
certain acts Of the Mount Pleasant association,
were severally ordered TO be engrossed.
In the senate the following bills were ordered
to be engrossed: To change the name of the
town of North Chelsea to change the name OF
the Winnismmet Congregational society in the
city of Chelsea; relating to the capital stock Of
cooperative associations; authorizing the issue
of arms 10 the Dean Academy.