Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-17
From the State House.


Dut SESSIONS estcfusty HnIeFestluS
Committee Acarings-HOmans Suffrage.
BosToN, Feb. 16, 1872.
The sessions of both branches were quite
| short and uninteresting to day. In the senate,
MIR. Richardson, of Lowell, asked to be excused
| from serving on the conference committee on
the general railway bill, and Mr. Torrey, oil
| Fitchburg, was appointed in his place. A bill
was introduced by the latter senator to incor-
porate Henry A. Goodrich and Others as the
| Fitchburg real estate and building association,
with a capital of from 100000 TO 5000, 600. Mr.
Thayer, of Worcester, from the committee on
charitable institutions, reported the bill to abol-
fish the school ship in a new draft, and he also
introduced bill TO incorporate the
trustees of the Memorial hospital" in
Worcester. The supplementary appropria-
ton bill was engrossed with an amend
ment cutting down the appropriation of General
divers department, the bureau of statistics and
labor from $1,000 to $4,000. An order was adopt
ed drectiugthe committee on railways to consid-
er the eXpedency of regulating by law the hours
when freight may be received at the railroad sta
tons in this city. Among the petitions was a
Il
sets eye and ear infrmary, and a prayer for re-
endorsement from one of Mr.. Stones contrac-
tors, the Messrs Pond & Duncklee, who fur
nished the heating apparatus at the state house.
The principal feature of the session in the
house was the reception of whole bundle OF
reports from the finance committee, some OF
which were unfayorable to the several petitions
AMI orders referred. The committee on banks
and banking reported leave 10 wIndraw'' on
the petition for a savings bank in West Boyls-
| ton. Leave 10 withdraw was also given to the
Chester people who would like to be set Off into
new town called Hampden. The committee
on probate and chancely reported bill TO re-
quire county commissioners to furnish rooms
for the probate judges in the several towns
where the courts are held Messrs. Phillips
Of Salem, Cogswell of Yarmouth, and Barker
OF Pittsfield, were appointed upon the confer
ence committee, upon the general railroad bill
Among the subjects referred to various commit
tees for consideration were the dog law, business
| agencies, mileage and compensation of coroners'
| iuries, and the divorce laws. The bill to au-
thorize selectmen of towns to appoint superin-
tendents of roads was rejected as a needless in-
novaton upon the good old system of highway
surveyors.
The legislature seems to be no further adj
vaDced in business than in times past; in fact,
doubt if it is so near final adjournment as
was the legislature of 1871, at this time last
year. There is lack of men, who, by their
superior address, experience and ability, are
able to give direction to the business and pre-
vent tedious and Ihoughtess talk which is digni-
fed by the term debates One who has had
large experience at the state house said yesterday
that what the present house lacked most was
the presence of man who would keep close
watch Of new business introduced, and criticize
sharply, not only the construction but the
said he, as John Milton Earle of Wor-
cester, whose past services in the leg
stature he remembers. A close watch
of proceedings of a critic of this
sort would prevent the introduction of
many foolish orders and bills, because of the
debate he would provoke by obccting. Last
year Charles R. Train, John Quincy Adams and
John L. Sanford were relied upon to keep a
sharp eye on legislation, and they proved them
able men in this body now are Messrs. Sanford
and Kimball. The former in the speakers
chair has not the opportunity to make himself
felt in debate. But Moses Kimball is power.
and his long experience makes him an invalua-
BILE legislator.
There is some comment at the state house
about the unhandsome treatment of ex-Gov.
Clafin, by the ruling powers of the Boston and
Albany railroad at the recent annual meeting of
that corporation 1t appears that his name was
quietly dropped from the Idirectorship, to the
surprise Of all his friends when they read the
report next day. 1t is understood that the rea
son given is that the ex-governor is not one of
the large stockholders. Nobody denies that he
is shrewd, practical, sound business man and
good director. The legislature may deem it
proper to return him to the board where he has
served SO long. The election of three directors
on the part of the state will take place next
wednesday, and among the names prominently
mentioned in this correction are those of Gov.
Claim, Hon. ). N. Crosby Of the western part
of the state, and Col. /. N. Ross of Holden.
Ii we may judge from the evidence brought
before the railway committee this morning. the
railroads and merchants of this city are sufTer-
ing from first class sHindle, which has been
depressing their interests for five wears. and
which will probably be summarily and soon
abated. Geo B. Upton, Henry S. Russell and
other gentlemen Of wealth and character. are ne.
titioners for an act Of incorporation as the Union
freight railway company, TO run tracks in the
streets of Boston, connecting all the raiIIoad
lines with the principal wharyes of the city. The
object Of the petition is TO Dust what is known
as the Marginal freight railway company.
which was chartered in 1867 for the same pur.
poses, but which has utterly failed to meet the
wants of the city. About half mile of track
was constructed in 1868, but no business to
speak of has ever been performed, ard the
ti"chs extending from the Fitchburg station
'uiousu Commercial street TO Constitution
wharf are simply an cncumbrance 10 travel.
ineIear nine stockholders in all, but the affairs
VI 'ne coulpany are managed by Edward Crane
VINO mas probably glorhed the business ruture
OF this city more, and hndered lis bps,nos. ~.
velopment moro, than any other one man rho
total cost Of the tracks aud all may have hao,,
ABOUT seventy-hve thousand dollars, and the en-.
niolt Of the company, presented to-day, shows
that $4,000 have been paid for agencies. saI
aries &C.," and the company is charged with
sTS5OOO due a certain National transDortation
company, besides a considerable additional
liability. Upon looking up this company. il ia
found to be nearly all owned by Crane. aud rhe
purpose for which Crane, president of The Mar
ginal freight railway bound himself and his
asgOciafaa IN nay Crana NJ tLn Natt..,.t -.