Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-12
From the State House.
Boston. Jan. II. ISL

BosToN, Jan. IL, 1871
The Legislature may now be said to have fairly
entered upon the business of the session. Large
numbers of petitions were presented today, rules
and orders were adopted in the senate, and
bill was reported by committee in the house.
Among the petitions in the senate, was one from
Mayor Shurtletf of Boston, in behalf of the city
council, asking for authority to take lands for
public parks; of the Worcester gas-light COM
pany for an increase of capital stock; of Josiah
Quincy, that the railroads terminating in Bos-
ton be required to run cheap trains for the bene-
fit of the working classes.
The petition of Josiah Quincy and others, for
incorporation as the Peoples cooperative bank,
was taken from the files of last year, and re-
ferred. The reports on the railroad sinking
funds and school fund were taken from the table
and also referred,
The rules and orders as reported by the com
mittee, with several verbal amendments, were
adopted.
A large number of petitions were presented in
the house, but most of them were of little interest
Among the list were two from the citizens of the
fifth Suffolk district, praying that Charles Levi
Woodbury., John J. Murphy and John W. Regain
be declared not entitled to their seats, because of
frauds practiced in their election. The presi-
dent of Dean academy asks that the name of
that institution be changed TO Dean college, and
that power be granted TO confer the usual col
lege degrees. Ex-Aayor Shurtlcff of Boston, in
behalf of the city council of 1870, petitions for
an amendment to the law providing for the es-
adjustment of board of street commissioners,
so as to require the action of the city council
within sixty days on all estimated expenditures
exceeding five thousand dollars. Two hundred
and seventy persons ask that new town may
be incorporated, TO be called Groton Junction,
formed from territory taken from the towns of
Groton, Shirley and Littleton. Geo. H. Phelps
and others ask to be incorporated as the Lee
and Hudson railroad company.
The committee on the judiciary acted very
promptly on one of the matters referred to them,
and reported bill to-day authorizing the board
of aldermen of Worcester to issue their warrant
for the election of mayor in place of James b.
Blake, deceased, and making it the duty Of said
board to issue their warrant for new election
in case any mayor elect shall die before entering
upon the duties of his office. The bill will
take its place in the orders of the day for tomor
row.
Orders were adopted, that the committee on
education consider the eXpeden Y of making
vocal music one of the regular branches of study
in the public schools of the commonwealth; and
that the committee on the judiciary consider the
eXpediency of providing by law that no member
of the city council of any city shall be interested
in any contract made with the city during his
official term.
Two orders that so much of the governors
address as refers 10 Intoxicating liquors, be re-
ferred to joint special committee; and that tie
committee on state police have power to send
for persons and papers, were laid over until to-
morrow
Estimates of appropriations needed for va
rious departments for the current year, were re-
ceived as follows.
State aims house at Monson. .............. $4,000
Sautcal schooI. zSO09