Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-17
From the State House.

BosToN, Thursday, March 16, 1871.
The only matter of interest before the com
mittees this morning was the question of requir-
ing conformity of text books in the schools of
the commonwealth. Messrs. j, P. G. Windship,
of Brighton, and Rev. NJ Sewall, chaplain of
the house, advocated the proposed measure, and
Messrs. A. P. Marble superintendent of schools
in Worcester, Mr.. Harrington, superintendent of
the schools in New Bedford, and Mr.. Phipps, of
the board of education, opposed the measure.
The committee on education had previously
made report, inexpedient to legislate on the
subject, which was recommitted to them. The
committee again reported this afternoon, mex
pedient to legislate.
Only two petitions were presented to-day
one in the senate for state aid, and one in the
house for the re-enactment of the prohibitory
law.
In the senate no new business, except the Pc
titon referred to, was presented. The orders OF
the day were gone through without much dis
cussiOn. The bills concerning the Worcester
Choral Union, and the Lancaster railroad
company were ordered to third reading. The
bill authorizing the city of Boston to pay 10
Charles Burrll the sum of S40, DOCTOR services in
obtaining credits on the quota of the city in the
| late war, was laid on the table, A large nun.
Der Of bills and resolves were ordered to be en-.
| crossed, among which were the following: Bills
for supplying the city of Fall River with pure
water; to incorporate the Sherborn and South
Natick railroad company; providing for the use
of a check list in the election of the officers of
fire districts; resolves in favor of disabled sol
diers who have served in Massachusetts regi
ments, in favor of the DanverS savings bank
Timothy Murphy, the town of Dana, Margaret
K Dearborn, John Peck, the House of the Angel
Guardian, and Melia Walton.
| Mr.. Bird of Norfolk moved reconsideration
of the rejection of the resolve for the amend.
ment of the constitution, and the motion was
placed in the orders of the day for Friday.
In the house the choice of preacher of the
election sermon for 1872 took place at p O'Clock
by special assignment, and the result was that
| Rev. W. H. HI. Murray was chosen, he receiving
ninety of the one hundred and seventy-eighI
votes cast Rev. George H. Vibbert, of Rock
port, received the next highest number of votes,
seventeen; two persons received seven votes
each, and twenty-six other persons received
from one to four votes each.
The committee on the judiciary reported that
the bill to authorize the appointment of super
intendents of highways ought not to pass.
An order was passed instructing the commit
tee on the judiciary to consider the eXpediency
of amending section %, of chap. 165, of the gen
eral statute concerning night walkers.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Harris, of
Charlestown, in addition to an act concerning
streets and highways. 1t provides that when
any real estate shall be liable to assessments on
account of the benefit or advantage it has re-
ceyed by the laying out, widening, extending,
discontinuing, grading, or altering of any street
or highway, such assessment shall be made in
the city of Boston by the board of street COM
missioners thereof, and in every other CITY by
the mayor and aldermen thereof, and in each
town by the seectmen thereof. 1t also provides
that where parties feel aggrieVed they may ap-
ply for jury TO the superior court and said
court shall try the case in the same manner as
other civil causes are there tried. Referred to
the committee on the Judiciary.
The bill for the annexation of Charlestown
and Somerville to Boston was further discussed.
Mr.. Bowman, of Somerville, spoke in favor of
the bill, and Mr.. Bailey, of Charlestown, against
the same. Both speeches were of considerable
length, and at their close the house adjourned.
motion was made to reconsider the vote where
by the house ordered the vote to be taken on the
matter at three O'Clock tomorrow, and 81 gen.
tlemen voted in favor of the motion, and 81 in
the negative. The speaker said that quorum
had not voted, but before another vote was
taken, on motion Of Mr.. Fuller the house adj
journed.