Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-10
From the State House.
Boston, Thursday, Feb. 8, 1871


Members of the legislature who are assigned
to the leading committees find enough to do in
investigating the matters that have been re.
ferred to them. Some OF them are in daily ses-
sion as early as half-past nine, and again at the
close of the regular afternoon session of the two
branches. Among the matters considered by
the railroad committee, to-day, was the petition
of Andrew Bigelow and others, for a charter for
a railroad from Bolton to Worcester, passing
through Boylston and Berlin, at the hearing of
which it appeared that the stakes set in the hos
pital land in Worcester for the supposed horse
railroad to Shrewsbury, had relation to the Boil
ton railroad project in question.
Hon. E. w. Morton appeared for the petition
ers, and large number of witnesses were called
from the several towns interested, who testified
to the inconvenience to which they were now
subjected, being dependent upon stage coaches
to reach the Boston and Albany and the Boston,
| Clinton and Fitchburg railroads. 1t was stated
that if the proposed road was built several yalu-
able water privileges would be developed, and
the tendency would be to induce parties to settle
| there, who otherwise could not be expected to
| come, if there was no railroad. The manulac-
| turers in the several towns desired the road, as
| they were compelled to cart their freight for
| several miles. Hons. Benjamin Dean and P.
| Emory Aldrich appeared for the Worcester and
| Nashua railroad, and Hon. z. H. Derby for the
| Fitchburg railroad, both in opposition, as they
| fear that should the charter be granted and
the road built it might be extended to Fitchburg.
The hearing on the Boston contested election
case reveals a loose state of affairs at some of
| the polls in that city, some of the inspectors and
| other ward officers acting after the New York
| fashion. The committee on towns have busy
| hearings, which are numerously attended. The
| committee on education gave a hearing to the
| Oar N cd with
the normal schools of the state.
| There was a lively railroad debate in the SEN
ate to-day, the bill relating to the better pro-
lection of travellers at railroad crossings, which
| the able committee on railroads recommended,
| and which the senate committee on the Judiciary,
| objected to for reasons that would commend
| themselves to railroad corporations, rather than
to the general public. Senator Stearns
| of Hampden county made brilliant
| and convincing speech sustaining the
| railway committee, in which his frequent sallies
at the expense of the legal profession caused
! some merriment The senate agreed with him
| and Mr.. Bird, who also made a sharp speech,
and refused TO reject the bill as recommended by
the judiciary gentlemen, so it will take its place
in the orders OF the day,
The educational and art matters already con-
sidered or to be considered by the house indicate
a state of progress in the old commonwealth,
A bill has already been framed to incorporate the
new college for women at Northampton, named
after Mrs. Smith of Hatfield, who has endowed
it with three hundred thousand dollars
A hearing is to be given on Monday on the
proposition to aid the museum of comparative
zoology, in which Prof. Agassiz is so deeply in
terested, and which Gov. Cafn so warmly
commended in his message. To-day Mr.. Bald
win, from the committee on education, reported
bill incorporating the Boston art club, with a
capital of one hundred thousand dollars 1t is
probable the recommendation of the governor
and board of education for a fifth normal school,
to be located in Worcester, will be favorably re-
ported upon.
Among the petitions presented to-day were the
following: OF the Worcester Mozart and Beetho-
ven choral union for an act OF incorporation; of
John Rhodes and others, to be incorporated as
the Millbury building and improvement compa-
ny; of Marvin Chaplin and others, that wild
pigeon may be taken at any time of the year;
OF John Carol and 203 others, for the annexa-
ton Of part of Sheffild to New Marlboro; of
j. W. Adams and others, to be incorporated as
the Boston base ball association, to hold prop
erty to the amount of $4,000; of Philip L.
Moen and Others, for an act of incorporation
for the Memorial hospital at Worcester.
Several reports of commit 3es were made,
among which was a bill to amend chapter AZ
of the General Statutes. in relation to trustee
process; a bill to change the time of holding the
criminal terms of the superior court Of the cOun-
~ of Berkshire; bill TO incorporate the North
Attleboro union building association; anda re-
solve to pay Edward S. Philbrick $1,000 for SER
vices rendered the state in relation to the Bos-
ton, Hartford and Erie railroad. Leave TO with
draw was reported on the petition to change the
| line between Pelham and Amherst
Bills were introduced on leave giving to the
alumni the power to elect trustees of Amherst
college, and to revive chapter 1874 of the acts of
1868.
In the house two orders were passed One,
that the committee on education consider the
expediency of appointing a commissioner to
digest, prepare and report plan for the intro
ductiOn into our system of public school in-
structon in the larger towns and cities of the
commonwealth of SO much Of those branches of
math mates, and natural philosophy, geome-
try, and geometrical design, the laws OF mechan-
les, and materials, and of chemistry, as are
essential to the requirement of practical skill in
the mechanic arts. The other, that a special
committee Of five from the house, with such as
the senate may join, be appointed a committee
to consider the subject of narrow guage rail-
| ways.
In the orders of the day the house resolution
| in relation to an international congress on the
subject of prison reform was adopted; the bills
| toincorporate the Brooklyn savings bank and to
revive the charter Of the Taunton street railway
company were ordered TO a third reading, and
the bill concerning notice to be given to poor
debtors was rejected.