Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-03
From the State House.

In the senate this afternoon petitions were pre-
scented of the directors of the Monadnock railroad
company, and of Y. P Parkhurst and 103 others
for the extension of the Boston, Barre and Gardner
railroad. An order was adopted authorizing the
railway committee to report in print in relation t.
the above road on the bill recommitted to them
Reports were made that several bills ought to pass
and inexpedient to legisate on an order to author
ice the trustees of Methodist Episcopal churches Il
mortgage their property.
In the orders of the day bills to incorporate the
Boston and Richmond steamship company; to pro
vide for the further distribution of the income o
the Lexington ministerial fund; to amend an ac
for the protection of trout in Nye's pond in Sand
witch; to authorize the Central mutual fire insur
ance company to issue policies upon property out o.
the commonwealth; concerning the building anC
maintaining Florida bridge across the Deerfed
river; authorizing the sale of Captains island;
were ordered to a third reading.
The report of the committee of conference on the
bill to amend the act to establish the district cour
of northern Berkshire and the act to establish the
district court of southern Berkshire, recommending
the passage of the bill in new draft, and the bit
in relation to divorce and in relation to alien pas
sengers arriving IN regular lines of communication
were passed over In the orders of the day The bill
to change the name OF the Boston corn exchange
was engrossed. The report, reference to the next
general court OF the committee on railways, on the
petition of Il. X. Tinker and Others, and the report
leave to withdraw, of the committee on military
affairs, on the petition of Samuel Pope and Others
were accepted.
The bill to establish board of harbor and land
commissioners was rejected II to 8. Mr.. Bird ad.
vocated it on the ground of economy; but Mr.
Goodman, of Berkshire, thought that the change
would involve as great an expense as the present
boards, and that after all no advantage would be
gained by 1t.
Several reports were made in the honse, and the
special assignment for the day, the bill to incorpor
ate the Plymouth and Sandwich railroad, was
taken up before considering the orders of the day
Bills were reported making changes on the pilotage
provement OF navigation in South bay, recommend
ed by the harbor commissioners the other day
was reported by the harbor committee A long de
bate followed on the Plymouth and Sandwich rail-
road bill, in which Messrs. Cogswel of Yarmouth
and Sanford OF Taunton, opposed the bill, while
Messrs. Dayie of Plymouth, Colby of Newburyport
Bowman of Somerville, and Washburn of Boston
favored it. 1t was finally ordered to third read
ing, by large vote at five O'Clock.
The railway committee gave a hearing of more
than ordinary interest this forenoon it being the
bill authorizing the extension of the Boston, Barre
and Gardner railroad, though entirely confined to
the letter written by Mr. Appleton one OF the board
Of railroad commissioners, against the extension,
the senate last week. Fhe investigation did not
place Messrs. Towne and Appleton in particularly
enyiable or honorable situation.
written at the request of Mr.. Winchester, who in.
formed him that the railway committee desired his
opinion. As he had been summoned as a witness
before the committee on behalf of the opponents
and as he was called away before having an oppor-
tunlty to testify he no improbability that such
a request might have been made by the railway
committee. After the letter was written he sup
posed it at once delivered to the committee but
he had heard nothing about it until it was read by
Mr. Collins IN the senate. In answer toquestions by
Mr. Bird, Mr.. Sanford and Mr. Adams of the COM
mittpp. r. ADDlpfOn hn had
appointed railroad commissioner, he had, on sew
era occasions acted consulting engineer for rail-
road companies, but as an engineer only; aud that
he had taken fees therefor. He understood that the
law under which he was appointed prohibited his
being in the employ of any railroad company, but
he did not consider that 1t bebarred him from giving
an opinion as an engineer in particular cases. Mr..
Appleton was very closely and sharply questioned
as to his ideas of his duties a railroad commas
stoner, but his views as expressed above were not
changed.
Mr.. George C. Winchester, of Ashburnham, was
next called, and in answer to Mr.. Bird as to what
authority he had in applying to Mr. Appleton for
letter in the name of the railway committee he said
that he had done so by consent of Mr.. Sanford,
of the committee. His version of the affair
n substantially Tan as follows After the
been going on several days, Mr.. Sanford suddenly
announced that the hearing was closed. There was
considerable confusion in the room at the time but
the witness begged Mr.. Sanford to be allowed to
put in the testimony OF Mr.. Appleton and that Of
an engineer, which ne deemed very important and
MT. SANFORD replled: "Put In anything you de-
sire" In consequence of this he procured the let
ter from Mr.. Appleton and handed it to Mr.. Towne
of the committee supposng that it was to be shown
to the committee. From that time he had no
knowledge of the letter until it was read by Mr.
Collins in the senate, nor had he seen it,
Mr. Sanford then explained his recollection of
the affair. When he declared the hearing
closed, Mr.. Winchester was trying to show the i'm
porance of having certain statistics submitted re-
lating to the passenger traffic the stage between
Ashburnham and Ashburnham junction, and he
tMr. Sanford) informed him that he might produce
them in writing. Nothing was said about MIR. Ap-
peton, nor was his name mentioned as witness
Mr.. Adams of the committee said that his recolec-
ton of the matter was the same as Mr.. Sanford's
Mr.. Towne of the committee said that as his
name had been brought IN question, he felt called
upon to make statement Mr.. Winchester had
brought to him package of papers which he sup.
posed was for his private use, and were only
for reference when the Barre and
Gardner bill came up. He never opened the pack
age, and the letter of Mr.. Appleton's might have
been among its contents. After carrying the pack
age in his pocket for about week. he gave it to Mr.
Porter, one of the lobby.
Hon. Estes Howes said that when the matter was
before the senate he was informed by Mr.. Towne
that he had seen the, letter, and had afterwards
handed it back to Mr.. Winchester, and at the re-
quest of Mr., Towne, he had made such statement
to the senate.
After an announcement by Mr.. Towne that he
should have something further to say, the public
hearing was closed.