Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-20
From the State House.
THURSDAY, Jan. 10,

THE CATTLE DISEASE.
The contagious disease among cattle contin
ues to occupy the attention of members of tn
legislature to considerable extent In tn
senate, to-day, Mr.. Bird offered the followin;
order which was passed:
"Ordered, that the committee on agricultur,
inquire whether the disease referred to in tn
report of the commissioners on contagious dis
eases among cattle, as epizOOtiC dphthd, or foo
and mouth disease is Of such a contagious anC
viruent character as to require or justify specia
legislation TO check and eXterminate it; whethe
all known cases of such disease can b.
traced to contagion; Or whether it ha
in any cases sprung mp spontaneous
ly, and whether any sporadic cases havt
occurred; whether any evidence exists tina
the disease is communicated through the soil
with such certainty or probability that the com
monweath ought to assume the expenses of re
moving the soil in the cattle yards at Brighton
or elsewhere and if so, where the soil thus in
fccted can, on the theory of cOntagon, Will
safety be placed whether the disease has been
fatal, and, if so, In how many cases; whether
there is any evidence that the disease affects the
quality of beef as food, and generally to make
any inquiries which may throw light on the
question; whether the panic existing in the
community in relation to this disease has any
just foundation, and whether the disease is Of
so dangerous character as to neceSState the
interference with the business and comfort OF
large classes of the people resulting from the
exercise of the extraordinary powers conferred
by law upon the cattle commissioners and the
selectmen of towns"
In the house, the resolve appropriating $4,000,
to be expended in supprcssing contagious dis
ease among cattle, came up in the orders of the
day for third reading. Mr. Adams, of Quincy,
opposed its passage, claiming that the disease
was subsiding, and there was no necessity for
the state TO take any further action in regard to
it. Messrs. Hutchinson, of Sutton, and Cogs-
well, of Yarmouth, spoke in favor of the resolve,
and it was then ordered to third reading by
nearly unanimous vote.
THE STATE POLICE.
The bill making appropriations for the main
tenance of the government during the present
year, came up in the orders of the day in the
house, and discussion arose on the section APP
propriating $4,000 for the compensation and
expenses of the state police. On motion of Mr..
futile, of Boston, the amount was reduced TO
S1O5,5OO by vote of O6 to r. Mr.. Fitzgerald
of Boston, then moved TO strike out the whole
paragraph appropriating money for the ex-
penses of the state police, but his motion was
lost by vote of 60 to 109.
THE ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE.
A motion was made to increase the appropria-
tons for the adjutant generals Office, but the
motion was lost, and the whole resolve was
passed to third reading.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Mr.. Vibbert, of Rockport, introduced re-
solve, providing for an amendment of the con-
stituton to secure the elective franchise aud the
right to hold office to women in his common
wealth, and it was referred to the committee on
constitutional amendments. The amendment
proposed is as follows:
"The word male is hereby stricken from the
third article of the amendments Of the conStitu-
ton. Hereafter, women of the commonwealth
shall have the right of voting at elections and
shall be eligible to Office upon the same terms,
conditions and qualifications, and subject to the
same restrictions and disabilities, as male citi-
zens of this commonwealth now are, and no
Others"
THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
The following orders were passed in the house
That the committee on intoxicating liquors con-
slider the eXpediency of amending section Al, of
chapter AIS of the acts of 1869, concerning the
liability of persons unlawfully furnishing liquor
That the standing committee on the judiciary
consider the eXpediency of amending sections
8, 7, and u of chapter II ofthe general statutes
so that taxes shall he assessed on the first day
of April instead of the first day Of May in each
year.
BILLS WERE INTRODUCED
On leave: To authorize actions against the COM
mOnwealth, concerning requirements of phys-
clans prescriptions by city and town agents from
every person who asserts that he requires intOX-
icating liquors for medical purposes, and provid-
ing that no sentence OF solitary Imprisonment
in the state prison, or in any of the jails or
houses of correction in the state shall be passed
RAILROAD MATTERS.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr., on behalf of 1.-THE
railroad commissioners, presented for the con-
sideration of the railway committee a bill for
the better regulation of rates and charges on
freight, and also imposing penalty on common
carriers for transporting dangerous or explosive
compounds The hearing on these matters and
also on one concerning free railroad passes was
assigned to one week from tomorrow. hear
ing was then given on the petition of Hon. Josiah
Quincy that the railroads terminating in the city
of Boston may be required to run cheap trains
for the accommodation of the working classes,
and Mr.. Quincy presented an able argument in
its favor. The hearing on the subject was then
adjourned for one month to allow Mr.. Quincy
time to prepare a bill
CONTESTED SEATS.
The house committee on contested elections
met TO consider the petitions of Messrs. Ord
way, Maynard, and Mayo, of ward five in
Boston, who contested the seat of Messrs. Wood
bury, Regan, and Murphy. The counsel Tor the
petitioners appeared and presented list of the
charges Of fraud which they propose to PROVE
as required by the committee. MIR. Woodbury.
said the charges were criminal against the in
spector and wardens, and they ought to be pres
ent when the hearing took place. The hearing
was therefore postponed to Wednesday next, at
1OA.