Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-24
From the State House.
Debate on the General RaiIrOnd Bill
Soldiers Testimonials Again-asenernI
Business.
BOsIoN, Jan. %, 1872.

BosToN, Jan. %, 1872.
The general railroad BILL soldiers testmo-
mails and state charities have afforded the two
branches of the legislature abundant subject for
debate to-day. In the senate the railroad law
was vigorously and fully discussed, and the de.
bate was prolonged until five o'clock.
The house adjourned shortly before four
o'clock, and large number of the members
fiocked into the senate chamber to hear the dis
cusson. The bill was taken up by special as
Segment at quarter past two o'clock, and the
question on ordering it TO a third reading was
at once put. The president decided the vote to
be in the affirmative, when doubt was raised
and the yeas and nays were ordered to solve
the doubt. BY general consent the debate was
then opened. Mr.. Wallace, of Pepperell, raised
the objection that the bill provided no tribunal
to decide the eXigenry OF a new road, except
the company organized to buildit He objected
to allowing selcctmen to fix the route of the
road in conjunction with the directors of the
road. He thought Il committee of the people
would be more proper. Mr., Wright, of Read
ing, offered an amendment to section six. TO
prevent the embarrassment of surveyors in the
discharge of their duties in connection with a
road, and also an amendment striking out sec.
ton II, and substituting for it provision al
lowing connecting roads and towns on the lines
of roads located under the bill, to subscribe for
the stock.
Mr.. Wakefield of Dedham, the chairman of
the Judiciary committee, said that the bill
failed to afford proper provisions for the com
pensation of private parties whose property was
taken.
MIR. Tarbox of Lawrence followed with an
earnest and telling speech in favor of the bill.
The bill was not what every member would de-
sire, but he claimed that it was the best prac-
ticable measure; that private rights were to be
protected better than ever before that the legis-
iature could not prevent all possible mischief;
and that the corporations themselves were the
best Judges of the exgency for new road.
Mr.. Coe offered an amendment of no great
Importance to section eight, and Mr.. Torrey of
Fltchburg criticised the bill and offered an
amendment to prevent new railroads
from crossing highways at grade, and
another amendment to prevent existing cor
porations from guaranteeing or endorsing the
bonds of any new road. Mr.. Whitney Of Brook.
line stated, in a somewhat captious tone, certain
objections to the bill, and asked Mr.. Hale to ex-
plain his bill Mr. Hale then took the door and
spoke with great force for an hour. He said, in
reply to Mr.. Wakefield, that such provisions
were not needed We have got along since 1881
without them, and a general law does not re-
quire their aid any more than when special
charters were granted. All the present laws
which have been piled up for the protection of
private property remain in force He did not
think it necessary TO strengthen the seventeenth
section in the way suggested by Mr. Torrey,
but did not object to inserting the words
guarantee and endorse in that section.
But as the senator was understood TO be opposed
to the bill in any event, he did not think it nee.
essary TO insert the words. Mr. TORY said he
didn't know where Mr.. Hale got his information.
He only said that he should be against the Bill
unless this failure to restrain one railroad from
guaranteeing another was remedied. Mr. Hale
also held short coloquy with Mr.. Whitney,
and proceeded to defend the bill. He replied to
the suggestion of Mr.. Tory that railroads ought
MOI 10 DC prevented from crossing highways at
grade, that il was hardly fair to compel corpo-
rahons to build at such a DISADVANTAGE. He
next replied at length and with great force m
the objections of Mr. Whitney He declared
that there was no need of so much extra nro.
lection for private property, nor was there
any need for a tribunal to decide whether
a railroad would be for the public
convenience. Railroads were always
convenience and il was absurd to dispute il
Technically the passage Of this act was the ad.
judcaiion upon the question of the necessity of
railroads. Men could get along without any
sort Of roads, but it was plain that railroad
was required the moment men were ready TO
come forward and subscribe for il. He boped
the amendments would not be pressed upon this
bill, but be referred TO the railroad committee.
where they would be incorporated in a general
law, in order that they might apply to existing
corporations as we'll He pictured the Difficult.
ties under which railroads were projected at
present.
When Mr.. Hale sat down, Messrs. Richardson
Of Lowell Frost of Chelsea, and Torrey OF
Ftchburg offered amendments, the latter being
tina, no railroad should build a line within eight
miles Of any other road without special act
from the legislature. An attempt was made to
/ postpone the discussion until tomorrow, but the
senate showed a desire to proceed at once to
vote upon the amendments, and they were voted
down US rapidly as possible.