Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-28
From the State House.
BosToN, Jan. 81, 1871.

BosToN, Jan. 27, 1871.
Both branches of the legislature held short
sessions to-day, and very little business was
done besides going through with the orders of
the day, and the subjects contained in these
were not of much public importance.
The resolve in relation to the Boston, Hartford
and Erie railroad company was in the orders of
the day of the senate and a call for information
was made by Mr.. Goodman, of Berkshire, who
expressed doubts about the expediency of spend
ing so much money for the proposed object Mr.
Wakefield, of Norfolk, of the committee urged
the necessity of authorizing the governor to take
measures for defending the interests of the state
against multitude of suits which were pending
and coming up constantly, otherwise the states
interest of $4,000, 900 might be lost. Mr.. Bird of
Norfolk agreed with the chairman of the COM
mittee that the governor should be en-
trusted with discretionary power in the matter,
and he had an amendment, which he proposed
to offer in the next stage of the bill, that the at
torney general be instructed to resist all liens,
mortgages, or other claims, which shall take
precedence of the existing mortgage. He did
not doubt that should the courts sustain the
Munson contract for the completion of the rail-
road, that it would put it beyond the reach of
the state for twenty years. The bill was then
ordered to third reading. Several other bills
in the orders of the day were passed to be en-
crossed.
In the house the bill in relation to evening
schools was amended, and then recommtted to
the committee on education with instructions to
report bill. All the other matters in the orders
of the day were advanced one stage.
Bills were introduced on leave in relation to the
registration of dogs in the city of Boston; and
Incorporating the trustees of the consumptiYes'
home in the city of Boston. An order was
Dngspd that the pOp1pOiftpa
slider the expediency of extending the time in
which to organize the Mutual life insurance COM
pany of Boston.
A motion was made to adjourn until Monday,
but the motion was lost by large vote.
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
The committee on elections continued its hear
ing on the contested seats of members of the
house for ward fivein Boston, and the testimony
for the petitioners was closed. The evidence of
fraud in the election has been given by one of
the U. S. supervisors, and several police officers
who were in the ward room when the ballots
were cast. The other side will open its case on
Wednesday next
The committee on towns had under considera-
ton the petition of large number of citizens of
Groton and Shirley, asking that portion of the
towns of Groton, Shirley, and Littlefeld, may
be set off and incorporated into a town, to be
known as Groton Junction. There was large
attendance of parties interested, and no oppOsi-
ton to the project except from the town of Lit
Teton. The new town asked for would contain
about three hundred voters, twelve or fifteen
manufactures, and six school houses.
The railway committee on railways gave,an adj
Journed hearing in relation to the order of Mr..
Baker of Beverly in regard to free passes toimem-
bers of the legislature, and the subject of pro-
hibitng the granting of free passes was also be-
fore the committee. Mr. Baker again testified
that he thought if the order was adopted by the
legislature it would relieve members from en-
barrassment in acting on railroad matters, for
they would be under no obligations to the sew
eral roads affected. Mr.. c. F. Choate, represent
ing the Old Colony and Boston and Maine
railroads, thought it would be a wise
measure for the Legislature to prohibit the
issuing of all free passes, not even giving them
to the directors of the roads. Mr.. Appleton, one
of the board of railroad engineers, was in favor
of the officers of the several railroads in the
state TO take some action in reference to free
passes. MIR. Adams, one of the railroad COM
missioners, stated that circulars in relation to
the subject under consideration had been sent to
the several railroads, but sufficient information
had not been received by the commissioners to
allow them to express an opinion on the subject.
The hearing, so far as it related to the entire
prohibition of free passes, was then declared
closed.
The joint special committee on state police
met and organized, and, after little informal
discussion, adjourned TO February 9Th, at 10l
O'Clock, when all questions relating to the state
police force will be considered.
The committee on Intoxicating liquors met in
the green room after the adjournment of the
legislature, to discuss the matters which had
been referred to them. Senator Halves occupied
the chair. The majority of the committee
seemed to be opposed to giving any more public
hearings than was absolutely necessary, not
wishing to go into the general subject of license
and prohibition. 1t was finally voted to consid-
er first the question of the repeal of chapters $3.50
and 800 Of the acts of 1870, and conjne the
hearings, for the present. to that one question.
The committee then adjourned to meet on Fri
day, Feb. Sd, at 8 10 O'Clock.