Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-25
From the State House.


bOsIONg hOhua1J Apii H.
But limited amount of business was done in the
senate to-day. An order was passed. instructing
the committee on the Judiciary to consider the ex-
pediency of amending the law providing for the
punishment of simple larceny, committed in the
city of Boston. The committee on probate and
chancery reported in the senate that the bill re.
lating to suits against executors and administrators
ought to pass and, under suspension of the rules,
1t was ordered to be engrossed; then sent down
to the house, and there also ordered to be en-
crossed, under suspension of the rtAes The bills
to incorporate the Ashburnham railroad company,
and to authorize the county commissioners of Bris
toll county to remodel rebuild the Jail at Taunton
were severally ordered to be engrossed.
The house went quite through with the orders of
the day, postponing the matters of inebriate asy-
lums, aid to the Washingtonian home, and some 9TH
ermatters, owing to the absence Of members inter-
ested. The resolve establishing a normal school at
Worcester passed to its third reading; and the
bills providing for more frequent changes in the
state board of education; incorporating the Ply
mouth county railroad company; doing away with
sherif7s juries in fixing land damages in Worces-
ter; and providing for railroad police for the bet
ter protection of Travellers ordered to be en-
crossed The bill last mentioned was debated at
length by Messrs Adams, of Quincy, Kimball and
ODER, of Boston, Anderson, of Lowell and Thomp-
son, of Gloucester the last mentioned being the
only opposing speaker. He made a spicy,
vigorous and humorous speech, setting
forth the infringement of personal liberty
that proposed by the bill. The advocates of the
bill argued that travelling rowdies needed the
wholesome restraint that was proposed in the bill
and the house passed it's to "a. The bill making
new provisions in the laws relating to the adoption
of children, which was reported by Mr.. Tarbox,
was also passed to be engrossed without much dis
cgssion, debate having spent itself yesterday. The
of no nffh o nrOhnf 10 ourf
granting leave to persons to adopt child shall be
made without the written consent of the surviving
parent or guardian, if the child Is fodrteen
except in cases where the parent is unknown, in
sane or in prison, mas neglected to provide for the
clild when the visiting agent of the board of state
charities shall give his written consent In case
both parents are dead the agent of the board of
state charities, the guardian or next of kin may
give such consent. In case where a living parent
cannot be found the court has Jurisdiction. The
bill further provides for change of name, inherit
ance of property, an appeal to the supreme court,
and the repeal of previous laws on the subject
There was some opposition to the bill incurporat-
ing the Worcester real estate and building company
growing out of an indspOsition to encourage great
land companies. Mr.. Sanford of Taunton opposed
such legislation on general principles and preju
dical to the rights OF persons of limited capital
Mr.. Mulligan stated that the incorporators were
respected citizens Of worcester and desired
and sale of the Jail and hospital lands
when the same came into market. Mr.. Gates of
Worcester favored recommittal of the matter,
motion to which effect was made and carried. The
bill relating to the salary of the judge of the muuic
pal court of Worcester was taken from the table
and placed in the orders of the day for tomorrow.
The committee on railways were instructed to con-
slider the expedlency of amending or repeating the
fourth section of the 325th chapter of the acts of
1870 authorizing railroad corporations 10 guarantee
bonds, &C of connecting railroad companies. Bills
were introduced on leave in relation to the returns
of shareholders in corporations providing that the
name of each shareholder and the number of shares
standing in mis- name shall hereafter be omitted
from certificates made and filed under the thirty
third section of chapter 224 of the acts of 1906
lat1ng TO the settlement of estates by administra-
tors and guardians; to empower probate courts to
authorize guardians of minors to mortgage the real
estate of their wards in certain cases.
The following reports of committees were made:
In the senate-Leave to withdraw on the petition
of A. Watson, Dr. of Washington D. c.. III relation
TO the testing of his plan of storm signals by the
army and navy departments the bill to authorize
the town of LenoX to take land, with the building
thereon, for town hall, in new draft; that the
Dill to regulate the practice or pharmacy in Boston
ought to pass, with amendments; bill to provide
for the punishment of common night-walkers. In
the house-That the bill in addition to act con-
corning sewers and drains in the city of Worcester
ought to pass; that the senate bill to legal |
ize the acts and doings of the annual |
meeting Of the town of Southwick ought not
to pass; that the resolve in relation to the normal
school house at Bridgewater ought to pass ineXpe-
lient on the resolve providing for an amendment |
10 the constitution to fix the compensation of menu
1ers of the legislature; ineXpedent on the matter
If placing copy ofthe lectures and reports edu-
alton by Hon Horace Mann, in public Libraries of
ng to tine appointments ofguardians ought to pass;
nd in favor of bill the object of when is to allow
he commonwealth to secure possession of certain
ats sold TO the Boston, Hartford and Erie railroad
y the state, and also to purchase of the Boston
wharf company certain lands adjoining which it is
proposed snail be improved by the board of harbor
commissioners with the approval of the governor
nd council. This scheme will require an appro-
rlation of two millions of dollars.
The committee on state police met again this
orenoon and Hon. 2. Emory Aldrich, who appear
d as counsel for Major Jones, and Officer Hair, of
" forester, made an able and convincing opening
rgument in their defence. Hon. George 2. Sanger, |
hen examined and he testified to the yigor and
idelity with which the liquor laws had been ex-
scuted by the state force after which Major Jones
was put upon the stand and his examination occu-
pied the remainder of the morning session, and also
session held by the committee in the afternoon.
rhe committee have obtained permission of the leg
allure to sit during the regular of that body
As the senate has not taken any further action |
against witnesses who refuse to testify it is
missed that it has not much faith in the constitu-
ionaity of the extraordinary act passed by the leg
stature to meet anticipated troubles at the investi
ration.
Mr.. Towne, of Fitchburg, thinks that great in
ustice has been done to him in the criticisms that
lave been made on his course concerning the |
Gardner and Winchendon railroad extension. He |
kinks the proprietors of the road will find it for
heir interest to join the Cheshire railroad at Ash.
Jurnham, rather than at Wnchendon. He finds |
imiar reasons for opposing the extension to those
which led him TO speak and vote against the |
Ounstable and Acton project He claims that his
chester simply accidental the letter being in
'luded in batch of papers handed to him by the |
after at the close OF the committee hearing and
handed back with the rest.