Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-03

One Of the most remarkable reports, doubt
less, that has been or will be presented to the
legislature, is that Of "the joint special commit
tee on state eommissionships officials, etc, and
on matters pertaining to am dimiuu ion of the
direct or indirect taxes of the people," as it
rather cumbrously styles itself. This title sug.
gests wide range of topics for discussion; but
il fails 10 give a clue to half the astonishing di-
versity Of matters which the committee has ill.,
yestigated TO its satisfaction, and in regard to
which It presents the result of its inquiries in
sfie Hsssne uf bills recommended to the legisla.
lure for immediate passage. If this committee
has not transcribed its province, and if that
province were wisely assigned, the other com
offices of the legislature were useless, for hard
" any subject has occupied the attention of the
general court at this session which the commit
tee on eic,-We designate 1t thus, by the most
important and comprehensive word in its title,
for the sake of brtvity-has not handled
Remarks and a bill on each of them
may be found IN its appropriate or inappropriate
place in the report. The sale of liquor, the in
spection Of fish, amendment Of the constitution,
the treatment Of state paupers, railroad fares
and freights, the annual appropriation bills, the
time of making reports Of departments and
boards, reorganization Of the adjutant generals
Office, the adulteraiion of food, the disposal OF
dead animals, all these and many other matters
have been considered, and twenty-four bills,
some OF them long and elaborate, all of the ma.
tufe oil general laws aud aiming at radical re-
ioIms ID various directions, have been reported
by this one committee. Recognizing the fact
that II had trespassed to some extent upon the
ground assigned to other committees tbe wrtor
Of the report declares that It's enterprisnp career
was modelled after the achievements Of Kilpat.
rick, Custar and Sheridan, who "did not hesitate
10 raid within the departments Of other com.
manders."
To investigate so many subjects and make
judicious recommendations on all Of them would
obviously require unusual versatility of mind
with large stores of previously acquired ipior.
nation or uncommon industry in collecting and
comparing facts. We cannot say that all Of the
work Of the committee is valuable. The same
amount Of labor confined TO a narrower field
would undoubtedly have been more useful. Tn,
order constituting the committee, even il tn,
most rigid construction be given it, offered ample
range, ana Judicious committee DESTROYS 10 dc
the best service to the state would have soagh
rather e restrict than to enlarge lis scope. But
NAT. Ely Of Newton, who seems to have directed
lne WORK Of the committee, had other views
A'An"uSh ne recognized the fact that to do the
WE assigned 70 il thoroughly would require
more time and labor than auy committee of N,
Legislature could command, he was moi con,on,
20 do part as thoroughly as possible ,ea,,,a,
the rest to other committees or fo,uro to.ls
laturesi be scratched over the whole gro,,od !,
hasiy, superhcial way, and even ran his ,hal
low funows here and there across the aelds :,
signed TO other cultiyaiors. By this means Il
stead VI presenting maturcd conclusions su,
ported By convincing array Of facts and arg
menis. the report contains only suggestions, d
destitute Of value, but without the weight whi,