Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-10
From the State House.

Boston, Tuesday, May 9.
The house commenced with morning session at
ten O'Clock, and the small attendance at once in
duced members to change the time of meeting to
eleven O'Clock, which is about as early an hour as
quorum be expected. Whether the order
which went into effect to-day limiting all speeches
to ten minutes each, has had good effect in dis
patching business, is matter susceptible of doubt
but certainly during the morning hour of about
two and a half hours, there was more business dis
posed of than has been any day for several weeks
Some of the bills in the orders of the day gave rise
to humorous discussion, among which was one
to provide for the appointment of q commission for
the purpose Of testing water Wheels which was re-
jected, but will probably make its appearance on
the calendar of 1872. The bill for the preservation
of deer which had a narrow escape In the senate,
was subjected to ridicule when II came up for con-
sideration, many members regarding it of no prac-
teal benefit until after statements from some of the
members from the cape district that under the pro-
lection which had been granted fol. two or three
years past, the number of deer in the county of
Barnstable had largely increased and that If the
time was further extended the large tracts of woods
might vet abound with this noble and beautiful an
imal. Upon these representations the house was
inclined to treat the subject more seriously but the
bill had become so hampered with amendments that
even the speaker was somewhat embarrassed in his
attempt to state the precise nature Of the BILL and
in this mood motion by Mr.. Kimball, of Boston,
to refer it to the committee on parishes and relig-
ious societies, carried almost unanimously, and
the house thereupon took recess Upon re-assem-
bling for the afternoon session the reference was
reconsidered and after the bill had been restored to
its original shape 1t was ordered to third reading
by a vote OF SO to 36.
The railway committee reported leave to with
draw on the petition of c. l.. Wilder and Others for
a railroad from Lancaster to Leominster on the Pc
tition of Andrew Bigelow and others for railroad
ROltOu WOrppgtpr n
VIM. II. Brown and others for q railroad from
Pratt's Junction TO Princeton.
The committee on constitutional amendments,
who have had for some time under consideration
the several petitions and memorials in favor of
granting woman's suffrage reported leave to
withdraw through Mr.. Adams of Quincy and that
the contemplated amendment to the constitution is
ineXpedient. Mr.. Bird of the senate aud Mr. Baker
of the house dissent from the majority report and
recommend the passage of a resolve providing for
an amendment to the constitution, SO as to carry
out the prayers of the commissioners.
Orders were adopted instructing the judiciary
committee to consider the expediency of amending
laws of 1869, relating to the manufac
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors; and
instructing the same committee to report what egis
lation any is necessary to compel foreign express
companies doing business in this commonwealth to
furnish such information to the public shall
BILE service and attachment to be effectually made
in suits against them.
In the orders of the day the bills to abolish the
highway tax; relating to the payment of state aid
10 soldiers ana OF the
to authorize the construction of dams North
river in Plymouth county; to provide for establish
ing the boundary lines of the state prison ands to
change the name of the Dedham gas light company;
to incorporate the Union aQueduct company;
to incorporate the Plymouth and Sandwich rail-
road company and to authorize the construction OF
gauge railroads were ordered to be engross-
ed. The latter is the general law drawn up by Mr..
Parker of Lancaster, and was fully explained in a
recent number of the Spy.
The following reports were accepted: of the COM
mittee railways, leave to withdraw on the petit
ton of D. B. Wingate and others, for the removal
of the passenger station of the Boston and Albany
railroad in Natick; and of the committee on the
judiciary, inexpedient to legisate on order re-
lating to night walkers. The bill to regulate the
building of wharyes and other structures in tidal
waters was rejected by vote OF 81 to %, it having
been intimaed that it was the resurrection of the
Nahant wharf BILL which caused much contention
a few weeks since. The speaker announced Messrs.
Woodbury. of Boston, Baldwin of Worcester, and
Mulligan of Paxton, the committee the part of
the house to report on the probability of fixing
date for adjournment sine die.
In the Senate motion to specially assign the
ten hour bill which came in from the House, was
defeated and it therefore up in the orders of
the day for Wednesday. The harbor committee
reported a resolve, directing the board of harbor
commissioners to inquire into the feasibility of con-
structng tunnels under the Charles river and Fort
Point Channels consider what relief can be pro-
vided for the traffic across said river and channel
by system of improved bridges, the use of steam
in moving vessels and draws, or by other means,
and report to the general court with plans and
estimates.
Bills were introduced on leave to prevent the OBJ
struction Of highways by railway corporations and
to extend the time for constructing railroad from
Wellheet to Provincetown, which, under suspen.
sion of the rules, was ordered to be engrossed.
Mr.. Ihayer of Worcester offered bill to amend
an act to unite the passenger stations of the West
ern railroad company and the Stockbridge and
Pittsheld railroad company, which the senate re-
fused to receive, and it was referred to the next
general court. The divorce bill to abolish the nisi
provision ordered to be engrossed, without de-
bate, but motion to reconsider comes up for con-
sideratiOn on Wednesday.