Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-22
From the State House.

TUESDAY, March 81.
Two important hearings occurred this morn
ing, one on the alleged constablery corruptons,
and one the question of removing the railroad
tracks from the common and certain other
streets in Worcester. They will both be found
reported at length at the close of this letter.
The members who were not interested in these
and other committee hearings went ever TO Cam
bridge, by invitation of Prof. Agassiz, and visit
ed the Museum of Conn arative Zoology. The
antedeluvian negatherium, the collection of but
terfies, the genealogical department with its
nine hundred different mollusks, and the num-
berless attractions of this famous "bug muse
um" made an impression on the visitors. Prof.
Agassiz very earnestly stated what he wanted,
and as always, made an excellent impression
on his hearers, many of whom went away re-
solved to vote him the $4,000 which he thinks
absolutely necessary for the further develop
ment of this state institution.
The senate, to-day, in opposition to the house,
sustained the committee on towns in their re-
port against anneXing portion of Sheffield, in
Berkshire county, TO New Marlborough. The
vote was IL to Is. The following bills were
passed to be engrossed: TO increase the iuriSdic-
and OF the district court of Central Berkshire;
to incorporate The Morse institute of Natick;
and authorizing the Nashua and Lowell rail-
road corporation to increase its capital stock.
The only bill passed to be engrossed in the
house, was one TO incorporate the North Attic.
borough Odd Fellows hall association. The
bills TO incorporate the three northern Middle
sex railroad projects passed to-day, nOtwith-
standing the unanswerable arguments OF
Messrs. Sanford, Phillips and Others Of the rail
way committee, against such action. The
Nashua, Acton and Boston bill was first
passed by a vote of 80 to So, and, of
course, the other bills we're accepted also,
viz the Middlesex Central and the Tyngs-
borough and Brookline IN. H. The resolutions
in favor of the shipbuiders of the United States
came up by special assignment, and the ques-
tlon on passing them was taken without discus
sion. The amendment offered by Mr. Beard, of
Brookline, opposing policy which compelS
American merchants to send out of the country
to purchase ships built by foreign artizans, and
sail them under foreign ha9 was rejected, and
the resolutions were then adopted.
The committee on railways reported leave to
withdraw on the petition OF Charles Hammond,
and Others, for the removal of the Boston, Hart
ford and Erie railroad station in Medfeld; and
the committee on the judiciary reported inexpe-
dienr to legislate so as to prohibit minors from
attending plays in theatres and other similar
places of amusements unaccompanied by their
parents or guardians.
Among the petitions presented to-day were
those of A. L. Day aud others of Webster,
against the removal of Foster street station in
Worcester; of Henry +. Wing and 236 others of
Grafton, in aid of the officers of the Grafton and
Millbury railroad; of William B. Washburn
and IS Others against the petition for supplying
the town of Ashburnham with water; of sundry
persons for an eight hour laws and of William
B. Stone and 1856 Others of West BroOkfeld ask
ing that the word male may be stricken from the
StafUfps of the state whenever IL ia uSpd
suffrage.
THE CoNsTABLERY INVESTIGATION.
The investigation of the charges of corruption
made against the state police was begun in the
green room this morning. About half of the
session was taken up with arguments Of counsel.
Hon. z. Emory Aldrich and George A. Somerby,
Esq, appeared as counsel for the state police
force, and argued that the petitioners should be
Obliged TO present specification of charges, and
the names of the persons charged, in order that
the latter might he present to meet the witnesses
face to face and cross-examne them. motion
to this effect, however, was disallowed by the
committee, and the investigation proceeded
One woman who formerly kept rum shop in
West RoXbury, and two men who have been en-
gagged in the same business in Boston, one of
them still carrying it on, were examined, and
all Of them testified that they had given men,
bers of the state police sums varying from five
to ten dollars 10 prevent their being prosecuted.
But the two who have discontinued their bust
ness tesuned that they did so because of the
prosecutions which the officers instituted. The
examination will be continued every day as far
as possible until ii is finished.
THE WORCESTER RAILROAD HEARING.
The room of the committee on railways was
crowded with Worcester men, the hearing this
morning being on the petition OF the mayor and
aldermen of Worcester for the removal of the
railroad tracks from the common and Mechanic,
Front and Park streets IN that city. Messrs. I.
l.. Nelson aud George +. Very appeared in be-
half Of the city; Hon. Dwight Foster for citizens
Of Worcester, in favor OF the removal of the
tracks; Geo. 5. Hale, Esq, for the Boston and
Albany road; and Hon. Ivers Phillips for the
Boston, Barre and Gardner road. And in oppo-
sition to the removal of the tracks, Hon. p
Emory Aldrch appeared for the Worcester and
Nashua road, Hon. w. W. Rice for the Norwich
and Worcester road, and Geo. A. Torrey, ESQ.,,
forcitzens Of towns on the line of some of the
! roads. After some informal discussion as 10