Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-16
From the State House.
a Committee of Conference Ordered on
the General EsniIroad EsIII-''Ehe Beer
CIause'' in the Senate-EsesiGnnttOm of
Hsr. SGurtcVanI of Leicester.

BOSTON, req. 10, lStZ.
When the general railroad bill came up in the
senate to-day, Mr.. Thayer of Berkshire moved
that the senate recede from its non-con-
currence in the house amendments to the bill, TO
strike cut section seven, and strike out section
nine and substitute another therefor. Mr.. Tar
box of Lawrence, who seconded the motion,
said that the bill as it came from the house was
as fair compromise as could be expected Mr.
Richardson of Lowell, of course, opposed that
view of the question, and the member from
Hampden, Mr.. Noble moved TO lay the bill on
the table, and ask the opinion of the supreme
court on its constitutonality. This motion was
lost, and Mr.. Thayer's motion was voted down,
16 to 81. A conference committee was ordered,
and the president appointed Messrs. Wakefield
of Dedham, Richardson of Lowell, and Car
penter of FoXboro, all of whom are
railroad men and all in favor of the Wakefield
section, to which the house objects. On the
passage of the bill TO abolish the "beer clause"
to be engrossed this afternoon, ansattempt was
made to substitute resolve to the effect that no
legislation on the subject is necessary. Mr.,
Humphrey said the integrity of the republican
taken upon the question at the present time.
The bill was then recommitted instead of being
eugrossed, and will be still further tinkered.
The bill to abolish the state almshouses at
Bridgewater and DIonson was passed to third
reading, and the bill to extend the time within
which the Worcester and Nashua railroad COM
pany may take land was passed to be engrossed.
Thp n 1icb fl,a l,ctr 80
was reported from the judiciary committee in a
new draft. Mr.. Thayer of North Adams intro.
duced a bill TO authorize the consolidation OF
the Hartford and New Haven and New
York and New Haven railroad companies. The
same subject was brought before the house but
in different manner, by Mr.. Newton of Boston
who secured the passage of an order directing
the committee on railways TO inquire whether
the Hartford and New Haven and the New Lon
don and Northern roads have been sold OF
leased, and if so, by what authority. The order
gives the committee power TO send for persons
and papers, and the subject is likely to attract
considerable attention and possibly to afford ar
opportunity for some activity on the part of the
lobby-members. The bill offered by Mr.. Wins.
low of Newton, with reference to the compensa.
ton of the state liquor commissioner and as.
saver, was taken from the table and recon-
mitted to the committee on the liquor law,
in spite of the protests of some members
| Of the committee on state commissionerships,
who thought the bill might as well be ground
up in a cider mill. The liquor committee were
instructed by the house to find out whether
agents who have received and sold forfeited
liquors have paid over the proceeds to the COM
missioner as the law provides.
Orders were passed calling for a convention o
the two branches, on Wednesday, to elect STATE
directors of the Albany road, directing the com
mittee on education to consider the expedency
of allowing towns to establish half-time schools
and directing the committee on prisons TO con
slider whether a portion of the earnings of til,
conyicts of the state prison may not be SCI
apart for them or their families.
E3The Lawrence contested election case excitet
some debate in the house this afternoon. Mr.
Bailey of Charlestown attempted to have hi
minority report calling for a new election
adopted, but was somewhat vexed, after maxim:
a long speech, by the reading of letter from
the proper official at Lawrence by Mr.. Bigeloy
of Marlborough, who signed the majority report
to the effect that Mr.. Murphy, the sitting mem
Der, was fairly entitled to his seat.
Mr.. Sinclair, of Winchendon, also defended
the majority report in favor OF the sitting mem
Der, after which the house voted by strong ma
jority, to allow Mr., Murphy TO remain, and to
| let the contestant, Mr.. Davis, withdraw A let
| ter was received from Mr. Sturfevant, of Leices
ter, resgning his seat, and new election was
ordered. There were number of woman suE
frage petitions, to-day, among which was the
protest Of Abby Kelley Foster, Sarah E. Wall
and others, of Worcester, against the existing
monopoly of the suffrage by the men, The
committee on towns reported an act to establish
| the boundary line between Mendon and Belling
ham, and the Judiciary ommttee reported in
favor of allowing the county commissioners Of
Franklin county to reconstruct their cour
house. Bills were Introduced to abolish the of
fee Of the state liquor commissioner, and by
Mr.. Hobbs, of Uxbridge, to establish the seconC
district court of southern Worcester, to hav,
jurisdiction over the towns Of Uxbridge, Black
stone, Douglas, Sutton, North5ridge and Upton
The bill to incorporate the Holliston saving
bank was passed to be engrosscd.