Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-22
From the State House.
Chaplain CudwOrtE-The Woman Smf-
Grase Resolve EEejected-sIOw Progress
Of Business-GeneraI Butler Before IA
Committee.
BosroN. March 81 1879.

BOSTON, harcn Il, 1872
The subject of conversation which interested
everybody previous to the opening of the session
OF the house to-day was "What Will the chap
lain do about it" and the members scanned the
| newspaper comments in the smoking rooms and
speculated as TO how the chaplain would get out
of the very awkward fix in which he was left by
the proceedings of yesterday The hall was I'M
usually full when the speaker called to order
and many of the senators Aocked in to hear the
| chaplain open the proceedings. One gentleman
remarked that the graceful thing for the chap
lain to do would be to repeat simply the Lords
prayer. He did almost as well making a very
proper and appropriate supplicahon which every
body heard with pleasure.
The rude winds of March did not deter the
coming of the suffrage seekers again to-
day. | noticed that the gentIemen's
gallery was even fuller than the la
dies gallery which was full of fiuttering
ribbons and winsome faces as fashionable
church on wedding day. The debate on the
question, which extended over an hour, was not
especially interesting, although it brought out
some Of the best speaking talent in the house.
Mr.. Brown Of Adams paid the penalty of all
members who write their speeches. and failed to
get the ear of the house for his "points" against
the enlranchisement of women. Mr.. Elv of
Newton put in an amendment providing that
the assessors of the cities and towns should can
Yass the homes of the state during the year,
find out the opinions Of the eligible women, and
report them to the next legislature. This was
very hastily adopted, and afterwards reconsid-
cred by tie vote, which the speaker decided in
the affirmative. Mr. Goldman of Boston at
tempted to substitute a bill allowing women
who desired the suffrage to register their
desire with the clerks OF the cities and
towns until the first of January. in
order that the sentiment of the women of the
state might appear. This was rejected also.
Mr.. Ely spoke against the resolve, also Mr..
Thompson, while Mr.. Palmer, of Boston, Mr..
Cogswell, and Others advocated it, The vote
against it was unexpectedly strong-seventy-
eight yeas 10 one hundred and thirty.sx
nays So the subject goes over another year.
Worcester did better for the bill than other cities,
four of your representatives voting yes and two
no. The vote of Worcester county was about
equally divided on the question
After the suffrage question was settled about
half the members remained to debate a resolve
offered by Mr.. Hoyt of Athol, to give the Wash
ingtonian home SG000 The committee on char
liable institutions, in accordance with its rule TO
recommend no grants to any private institution,
reported leave to withdraw on the original petit
ton for aid. The house supported the commit
ice in spite of some very warm appeals
| for the poor drunkard. A few re-
ports out of a long list in the orders
of the day were accepted, and the bills to
authorize the trustees OF the permanent peace
fund to hold additional estate in addition to an
act to incorporate the trustees OF the Worcester
memorial hospital, and to supply the town OF
Concord with water, were passed to be engrossed.
The house scarcely made beginning upon the
large amount Of business on hand. The railway
committee reported bills to authorize the
Hopkinton railroad company to mortgage
its road, and to allow the city of Springfield to
invest in the stock Of the Athol and Enfield rail-
road to the amount of It per cent of its yalua-
ton.
In response TO the petition Of the city of Bos-
ton Reinsurance committee has prepared very
strong bill providing that no wooden buildings
shall be erected within the city limits except
grain elevators and sheds on wharves for com.
mercial purposes, The bill fixes the thickness
Of the walls of all buildings to be erected, and
gives the city authorities complete control of all
building operations.
In the senate to-day the list of matters before
the legislature was swollen by a bill from the
committee on railways authorizing the New
London and Northern railroad company to
mortgage It's road and issue bonds. A resolve
from the committee on charitable institutions to
appropriate $4,000 more for the Westborough re-
form school, and bill introduced on leave by
Mr.. Long, of Charlestown, to provide that in
all future contracts for the labor OF convcts.
there shall be only one contracting party, that
is, that there shall be no more chances for cor.
porations TO bride warden. The senate en-
crossed the bills to incorporate the Dukes coun.
~ savings bank, and concerning the Hartford
and New Haven railroad company,