Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-08
Adjournment of the Legislature.
scenes Compliments and Com
grntuIations-A Poem and n Prescnta-

BosToN, May I, 1872

by which the governor can appointian indefinite
| number of justices to try such cases The
friends of this bill in the house were forced to
accept it as amended, knowing that a failure to
| agree to-day would leave the matter just where
| it has been-wth the judges of probate. Many
thoughtful persons who think too many boys
are brought before the courts, now would gladly
have the matter so left. The house backed ig-
ANONYMOUSLY out of its amendment to the Boston
and Lowell railroad depot and bridge BILL and
that corporation retains its position as the only
railroad in the state which is not amcnable to
the general railroad laws.
Thepommittee of conference on the bill to FIX
the salaries of the assistant-clerks of the two
branches, reported that the senate amendment
giving the assistant in the senate 5000, and the
assistant in the house only $3.50, ought TO he
adopted; and it was adopted, although the sole
reason heard was that MIR. Hosmer is an CAS-
sstant clerk, and Miss Robinson ouly an assist
ant to the clerk" The most obstinate case was
that of the bill to increase the salaries of the
watchmen of the state house. The senate tackled
on an amendment increasing the salaries of the
extra clerks in the office of the secretary of
oihtCs tut uOuSC TUT sClldlO ll-
sisted and asked for committee of conference,
but the house refused that, and late in the day
the senate receded and passed the bill to be en-
crossed. The senate originated separate re-
solve to gain the object of the defeated amend
| ment, but the house killed it; upon which the
senate killed the watchmen's resolve on its
passage to he enacted.
Speaker Sanford was complimented by the
house to-day, in a way that must have been
gratiing to him. Col. A. j. Wright of Boston
being in the chair, Mr.. Bacon Of Lawrence Of
fered the following resolution:
| "Resoved, that the thanks of the house be ten
dered to Hon. John E. Sanford for the impartiaty,
energy and high judicial ability manifested in the
discharge of his duties as speaker which have con-
| tributed so much to the dispatch of business and
| the early termination of this session. And the
| house congratulate the honorable speaker on the
success which has attended his services in the i'm
1 pOrtant and trying position he has adorned and
assure him that the members will ever personally
cherish grateful remembrances of the courtesy and
Kindness shown by him in their personal and official
relations during the session, and that their best
wishes and kindly interest for his prosperity and
| happiness will follow him in the future"
MeSsrs. Corliss and Thompson, the democratic
| representatives from Gloucester, were especially
hearty and emphatic in their endorsement of
the resolution. Mr.. Kimball of Boston compli-
mented the speaker for the singular clearness of
his decisions. Mr.. Ely of Newton said the house
of " was an unusually good one, and the best
man in it for speaker was the one who had been
placed in that position. Messrs. Cogswell of
Yarmouth and Towne of Fitchburg said that
Mr. Sanford had honored the commonwealth
| more than it had honored him, and predicted
vet higher honOrs for the speaker. Messrs.
| Brown of Adams, Hoyt of Athol and others fol-
| lowed in like.complimentary strain. The reso-
luton was adopted by unanimous rising vote
Mr. Sanford who had occupied scat on the
| floor while the resolution was discussed, now
took the speakers chair, and modesty gave
uttcrance to the gratitude he felt for the honor
| which had been so cordially bestowed and said
| that to the unfailing kindness, courtesy and
support of the house he was greatly indebted.
| He said:
ut is not for us to pass Judgment on our own
acts. may at least bear witness to your fidelity
You entered upon your duties with earnest pur-
pose to reduce the length of legislative session. 1t
gives me pleasure and pride to congratulate you on
| your success. We close to-day with a session of
126 days, the shortest within the last nine years
Our records will show, If mistake not, that this
Is not due to the smaller amount of work in hand
Nor will any justly charge you with undue haste in
| leglslatlOn. L pear emphatic testimony TO the
laborious diligence OF committees and your faithful
| attendance on all the duties of the session. The
house OF representatives rarely If ever escapes the
criticism of large tendency to debate None will
refuse you the greater credit of patient and pers-
| tent work.
| a tendency in the present legislation toward the
shorter and wiser method of Legislation by general
laws, is to be regarded with much favor RI call it
a wiser, as well as shorter method because be-
lieYe you viii agree with me that the wisdom of
the legislature is now so apt to fateT its justice
and consistency are never SO hard to defend the
strongholds of its virtue never so liable to as
sault from without and within, when it attempts
the ministerial duty of measuring out right and
privilege by special grants, private corporate
The general railroad law passed early the present
session, has alone relieved the committee reporting
1t and the legislature oftwenty-siX applications for
special enactments i need not suggest to those of
you familiar with past legislation, how much time
OF the session has been saved, and how much its
atmosphere has been purified by the absence of the
contests and influences to which such petitions
have heretofore given rise.
A general law for the construction of wharyes and
other Underwater structures passed the close of
the session, had it been in force at the beginning
would have saved another committee and the legis-
ature the consideration of score more of special
cases, entirely covered by its provisions Several
other statutes of similar character have been
passed. IL 49, perhaps to be regretted that time or
circumstances have not favored the passage of still
others. 1t may be hoped that future legislatures
will continue and perfect our work
trust 1t may be found that, under the conserya-
tive guidance of our legal committees we have alb
stained from needless and excessive changes of the
staining lRNs--an evil 0ften greater than the de-
fects sought TO be cured. | may mention another
departure, which, if impartially adhered to, will
command general and hearty aequiescence. | refer
10 the policy upon which you have steadily acted
that while the state fosters with liberal hand its
own institutions and appliances for the public well
iare the money of the people is not to be used IN
legislative donations to private charity or enter
| prise. By strict watcnfulness over the treasury
In this and other directions you have been able to
reduce the current state tax to figures reached only
once before since the beginning Of the war.
The sneaker in closino NJ
Robinson, the accomplished clerk, and expressed
the wish that the richest blessings of heaven
may attend those with whom he had been so
pleasantly associated this winter. The thanks
Of the house were voted to the clerk and on mo-
ton of Mr.. Kimball of Boston, the same com.
pliments were rendered to the chaplain
The chairman Of the committee on finance
brought in an appropriation bill in the after.
noon, to which he moved several amendments
to meet bills to the amount OF nearly $4,000 CON
tracted by the police commissioners without
authority OF law, and Of about $500 contracted
in the same manner by the bureau of statistics
OF labor, for printing, Decided objection was
made to paying the police bills, but Mr.. Kim
ball ofFitchburg explained that the bills were
contracted conscentiously, and that the ex-
pense was necessary to the proper transaction
Of the duties Of the office. The amendments
were adopted, with another providing s25OO for
the contingent expenses Of the police commits
sioners for the current year.
The item in the appropriation bill was $50.
600 for the memorial statues, wnich are 10 be
sent to the capitol at Washington, as gifts of
Massachusetts. The commission who are 10