Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-22
From the State House.

DOslONy may ~
The Worcester track removal and union passen-
ger station bill, and the bill establishing normal
school in Worcester received their final stamp of
approval to-day, and have been passed to engross-
ment inboth branches The house, it will be noted,
differs widely from the lobby-ridden senate on the
Boston, Barre and Gardner railroad bill. With but
half dozen noes, the bill granting the extension
was passed by sweeping vote. If the senate de-
sres to continue the outrageous opposition let those
senators who choose to do take the disgraceful
sponsibility. The house almost unanimously de-
cides not to entertain such scheme Of opposition
as has found support in the other branch.
I'm the senate, the motion to reconsider the vote
whereby the bill to authorize the construction of
narrow gauge railroads was rejected prevailed and
after debate the bill was again rejected by vote of
fifteen yeas to sixteen nays. The governor trans
torney general, with letter from Rev. George Il.
Ellis, the chairman of the committee appointed by
the Massachusetts historical society to represent It
in the existing controversy between the society and
the commonwealth concerning the Hutchinson pa
pers, and recommends that the attorney general be
authorized to adjust the controversy these terms
namely: That the society will surrender to the
commonwealth all the documents called Hutehin-
son papers received by the society from Secretary
Bradford, the same to be identified by an arbitra-
ton mutually selected, in case they cannot be other
wise agreed upon.
After considerable debate the senate, by vote of
Is yeas 10 nays, IaTk quilted 10 MS
seat and accepted the minority report, giving the
petitioner leave to Withdraw. subsequent mo-
ton to reconsider was placed in the orders of the
day for Monday. The Judiciary committee reported
that the supreme court had no right to admit Major
Henry Emery to bail after the order of imprison-
ment by the senate as the statute expressly denied
the right of the court SO to do. The committee
further express the opinion that there no inten
ton on tho part of the court to encroach upon the
principles or prerogatives of the senate.
In the house an order was adopted for an inquiry
into the effect of the treaty of Washington upon the
interests of Massachusetts, especially upon the fish
cries, and report upon some legislation.
The judiciary committee reported against any
legislation the question as to whether the chief
constable his deputies violated the privileges of
the general court. The matter had reference to the
seizure of the liquors of John Smith and others.
The committee on the Boston, Hartford and Erie
railroad submitted a report upon SO much of the
governors address as was referred to It, They
found the Berdell bonds held by the state TO
amount to 100000 of the $40 600 of such bonds
issued, and that their present value is 81 900 0O0
The whole property of the corporation is holden
under the conditions of the mortgage for the pay
ment of the twenty millions of bonds. The report
gives the result of the recent meeting of the bond
holders and stated that the two per cent
voted at that meeting had already been procured
on about S2ODOOOO Of the bonds with good prospect
of large increase. With the required amount
subscribed tits believed that possession for fore
closure can be at once accomplished, and within
years the entire property be distributed to the
holders of the bonds, ana thus secure them some
thing for their investment instead of allowing the
estate to be ittered away in litigation wasted by
shape of loan, having lien upon the property nd
repayable with interest by the trustees from the
tate. The committee therefore submitted resolve
authorizing the governor and council to do as they
think proper in the matter, and to expend if neces
sary So 000 provided the other bondhOlders act in
like manner. The report and resolve were placed
In the orders of the day.
Among the bills passed to be engrossed were the
following: To authorize the city of Worcester to
establish city hospitals to protect the clam banks
of Dartmouth from marauders; to amend the act
relating to the state visiting agency and juvenile
offenders; and to grant charter for the new city
When the bill from the senate relating to the
Boston, Barre and Gardner railroad was reached
there unmistakable signs of the temper of the
house on this question. Mr.. Mulligan of Paxton,
offered an amendment the effect Of which was to
grant the extension of the road to WinchendOn as
recommended by the committee railroads. Mr..
Towne assumed that there had been an agreement
with the friends of the road not to attempt in the
house to get anything more than the senate had
granted, VIZ the right to change the name and addi
tional time to finish certain sections. AS 1t was
well known that there was no agreement or under
standing whatever between the friends and oppo-
nents of the extension at the time the motion to
reconsider was made in the senate with reference
to what should be in the house, this assumption
fell upon nnsy9mpatthizing ears The house
the matter. Mr.. Kellogg of Pittsfed,
suggested that 1t was out of order to allude to
what was done in the senate, and that all the house
had to do to decide all questions on their
merits, without reference to what might have been
done in the senate or elsewhere. He knew no rea-
son why tine road should not be allowed to be ex-
tended from Gardner to Winchendon, and hoped
the house would pass the bill granting that right
The previous question was ordered, and by an al
most unanimous vote the amendment granting the
extension was adopted, and the bill ordered to a
third reading. So earnest was the house in the
matter that a large majority desired to have the
rules suspended so that the bill could be engrossed
at once; but this requires unanimous consent which
was not obtained. The bill will be passed on Mon
day, and will go back to the senate That certain
senators will do everything in their power to per-
suade other senators to continue to hold out
against justice and public sentiment, is to be ex-
pected The yeas and nays on this question will be
looked for with interest.