Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-27
From the State House.
The Boston, ia Frc and Gardner Bill
Signed-A Talk About short Sessions
Ventilation.
BosTOS. Feb Dc 49,

BosToN, Feb 26, 1872
The governor has signed the bill giving the
Boston, Barre and Gardner railroad the right to
extend to Winchendon, and the friends of This
enterprise may now throw up their hats and
cheer ali along the line. For three years the
legislature has been appealed to for the right to
make this extension, but corrupt lobby and
rapacious corporations have succeeded until
now in thwarting this measure. The success
this year was significant. The people, through
the press, had become aware of the vicious con-
duct at the state house in 1870 and 1871, and
their representatives came up here this winter,
resolved to do justice. Not single word of op-
position was heard this year, in deed, and there
was great eagerness to grant the right. More
than this principally to do away as far as posi-
BILE with black-mailing and log-rolling schemes, a
general railroad law has been passed, the effect
of which will be to shield honest railroad schemes
from the blocks which were for two years thrown
in the way of the Gardner and Winchendon
extension. Colonel Ross of Holden is well
pleased with the final triumph; and he has a
right to rejoice, for no one did more efficient
and iudicious work for the success Of this en- ter
prise in the last and the present legislatures
than he.
Ihe senate proposition concerning the length
OF the session, which the house treated so caya
merry when it came 10 that body some days ago,
received Its quietus to-day. There was never a
corporaPs guard in that body in favor of such
legislative buncombe; the only fear has been
that the length of the session might be prolonged
| Inv
lerred to the judiciary committee, it will be re-
membered, while "eye and ear" of the house
reported 'inexpedent." Mr.. Hoyt offered as a
substitute bill to limit the sessions to one
hundred and twenty days, defending the same
IN vigorous speech. Mr.. Cogswell, of Var.
mouth, spoke at some length against the senate
Dill. He claimed that the fault of long sessions
rested in lgreat measure with the people, that
it was their mistake in not sending experienced
members back to do their business, that few OF
the committees had the permanent character
requisite for the prompt and careful transaction
| of business. He thought it was great abuse
that committees should devote their time to the
| hearing of worn out arguments on woman suf
| frage and other topics year after year. TWAS
an extraordinary spectacle to see committees
submitting TO such torture. He believed thai
there were inherent objections to a constitutional
amendment as a remedy to the evil Of long
sessions. The true remedy was a faithful pur
pose on the part of members to perform theil
duties, and that only could secure an early
adjournment. In this case he believed tho
legislature had the matter in their own hands
ana he thought all committees should be
compelled to report on or before the first day OF
April and that an adjournment could be had ON
the first day of May-nearly month earlier
than last year, aud making a session of onlvone
hundred working days. Mr.. Hoyts motion was
negatiyed almost unanimously, and the house
heartily concurred in the opinion, "iuexpedient
TO legislate"
1t is refreshing to find the house getting di.
rectly to business without the preliminary
reading Of countless petitions for every con
ceiyable form Of legislation. Committee reports
were also scarce to-day, and of orders there
were none to speak Of Another,appropriaton
bill was reported from the finance committee
making provision for numerous expenses of the
state departments, for printing, binding, &c.
The report Of the committee ON manufactures
that 1t was lnexpedent to legislate for the pro-