Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-16

lance coulu aBoIu 10 carry II cheap, While the
shorter and poorer lines could afford TO carry it
cheap, also, because their own motive power
would be so much cheapened. Joseph H.
Walker, ESD, made foreible address TO the
committee in further presentation OF these and
other points. The sympathies of the committee
fer the petitioners was very plainly shown, but
they seemed to agree with Commissioner Adams,
who was present, that it was a very difficult
subject to handle under a general law.
The Highland railway bill occupied the
time Of the senate and of a numerous party of
interested people to-day. The debate on the bill
was led off by Gen Whitney of Brookline, who
aimed hot shot at the supposed secret influences
which were being used to defeat the bill The
other speakers folowedjmuch after the general
course of the debate on the general railway bill,
except that Mr.. Long, the chairman of the COM
mittee on horse railways, was this time among
the earnest supporters. Messrs TarboX and
Torrey also made good speeches, aud the latter
scared the Highland people good deal by
moving to lay on the table, motion which was
adopted by vote OF II to II. The excise given
was that one of the senators who wished to
speak on it was sick, but the Highland people
think this may be a ruse TO kill their bill The
senate voted to-day TO instruct the committee
on horse railways to report general law, and
it is reported that an attempt will be made to
get provision in that law giving the control of
the exigency and the streets to somebody be-
sides the mayor and aldermen. So Mr.. Moody
Merrill and his fellow petitioners and lobby
lists are not at all easy in mind.
Other business transacted in the senate
was of little importance. The military COM
mittee reported that $4,000 instead of $4,000
should he appropriated to purchase a state camp
ground; that 1t will cost S15,50O to erect the
necessary buildings, while there would be real
ized from the sale of the state arsenal $50, 500,
one half of which amount will thus go into the
treasury.
The house gave itself up to the proposed
amendment to the liquor law, which was dis
cussed yesterday until adjournment. The voting
was very close, the yeas and nays beihg called
four times. The bill, it will be recolected is
aimed against har-rooms and stand-up drinking
places, where is decided by popular vote to allow
malt liquors to be sold The words of amendment
were mot to be drunk on the premises" The
ulSNuooiul udluly tui upOu luS OpCtdliOu vi
the bill which would be decided by the meaning
Of the word premises" 1t was clearly shown
by Mr. Anderson of Lowell and others, how the
law could be made entirely nugatory by a little
arrangement between ndlord and tenant
The debate was allowed to run on until half
past three. Mr.. Hobbs of Uxbridge said that
the "whole loaf'-which he would prefer-had
been denied the prohibitionists by the liquor
committee, and they must put up with the half
loaf He also characterized Mr. QlnCy's amend.
ment as a mule which was sent in to
kick the lie out of the bill, and urged
the house to give that animal a wide berth.
Mr.. Whitfield of Fairhaven had written speech,
which must have reminded his auditors of The
memorable effort of the member from "Cran-
berry Centre" After him came Col. Loring Of
Fitcbburg, who is about the ablest advocate the
bill has had in the house; Anderson of Lowell,
Brown of Adams, and Cogswel of Yarmouth,
who made terse and explicit statement of his
reasons for supporting the amendments-all 10
favor of the bill. Mr. Faxon of Quincy, who
enjoys the reputation Of being conspicuous
prohbtionist, again "put his foot in it" to bor-
row a well known expression, by rising to ex-
plain how it was that he formerly speculated in
wbiskey. He believes that the man who repent
ed and discontinued the vile business is to be
commended. Some of the members think he
could afford to be honest after getting rich on
the speculation. But as this happened few
years ago, Mr. FaXon thinks it small business
to bring it up now His explanation was re-
ceiyed with great laughter.
Several other short speeches were made on
both sides of the question. The yeas and nays
were first called, to verify a vote on an unim
portant verbal amendment which the chairman
of the liquor committee made to his own bill.
The amendment was to further explain the
words "drunk on the premises" which some
waggish lawyer said would be construed by the
courts to refer to the drinker instead of the ale
The amendment was adopted--1O6 to 1903.
The next vote related entirely to cider Mr..
Quincy withdrew his amendment offered yester-
day and substituted another, a very simple one.
1t simply proposed to add the word cider in the
clause where ale, lager beer and malt liquors are
enumerated majority of the prohbtionists
fell very readily into the trap laid for them, and
have gone on record as especially friendly
to cider, liquor which it is well known con-
tains a much larger proportion of alcohol than
lager beer. This amendment was consequently
lOSt-ninety-two to one hundred and thirteen. A
gentleman from Cape Cod moved to refer the
whole question to the next general court The
yeas and nays were demanded on this evasiye
way of killing the bill, aud the house, by vote
of 90 TO 116, decided not to shrk the dsagreeable
subject in this way. The next vote was on the
bill ITSELF resulting in a tie-103 to 103-and the
bill was lost One result of this tie vote is that
No reconsideration can be made The temper
ance men hope to accomplish something by
legislation in another direction The most prac-
tcal legislation, however, is likely to be pro-
posed by the committee on commissionerships,
the chairman OF which, Mr.. Ely has elaborated
a plan which commends itself to those who have
given it attention.
For novelty couple of bills were introduced
on leave in the house this afternoon, one of
which provides an appropriation of S25O0 for
the aid of discharged female prisoners. A bill
was reported to provide for the distribution of
the school fund. The railway committee has
given the Boston truckmen and merchants who
wanted to force the railroad companies to keen
their stations open for the reception of freight
till later hours, leave to withdraw, and several
other of the corporate beggars for state aid have
also been sent empty banded away.
Maj. Jones, chief constable OF the common
wealth, is dangerously i'll of pneumonia His
physician considers him to be IN a very critical
condition,