Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-06
From the State House.

From the State House
Better Progress ia the kHOnse-9tate aid
for Amherst - Railroad Crossings at
Grade.
BosToN, April 3, 1872.
The severe discipline which the members of
the house undoubtedly imposed upon themselves
on Fast day had an excellent effect, for they dis
posed this afternoon of about fifty bills, resolves
and reports, OF nearly half the matters in the
orders Of the day Only two reports Of COM
mittees were received, so that the amount Of
business before the house is sensbly dimin.
ished by this remarkable effort. As four
fifths of these matters were passed without
debate the tremendous power Of self-restraint
put forth in this body, superaboundng as it
does with the genius of oratory is hardly con-
ceivable.
Among the matters thus advanced was the
resolve to authorize the sale of the state arsenal,
the bin for the prevention of fires in cities and
towns, the bill in relation to the support of
paupers in newly incorporated towns, the bill
to supply Waltham with pure water, and that
to provide Lynn with an additional supply.
The first matter debated was the bill to incor-
porate the Fitchburg real estate and building
association, Mr.. Thompson, of Gloucester,
made a short and pithy speech against such
corporations.
and the house summarily voted it down. Thus
another senate bill is added 10 the very consid-
cradle heap under the table. The bill to unite
Haverhill and Bradford went through, with a
friendly amendment. The bill to amend chap
ter 124 of the general Statutes in relation to the
Imprisonment of poor debtors, brought out the
story of unfortunate john Dennis, who though
he has LAID in the county Jail long enough to
satisfy the intention of the law, must lay there
forever, unless this bill passes, because our asute
supreme court so CONSTITUTES the law. There was
no opposition, of course, to the bill and although
amended it was not materially changed, and
John Dennis is likely to get on the right side of
the bars before he dies
There was a good deal of talk over the bill in
relation to coroners in Suffolk county which
county is now favored with thirty of them, some
of them Of doubtful character. Quite number
Of petty local affairs are involved in this matter.
One of the speech-makers on this bill was that
patriotic citizen of the club" Mr.. George A
Shaw, the effect Of whose eloquence upon the
house has inspired doggered bard to write
"Who killed the quorum?
|, says George Shaw,
With my little jaw
killed the quorum p
Your Worcester bills relating to Lake Quin-
sigamond driveway or boulevard, aud the re-
moyal Of the Old South church from the com.
mon were advanced one stage IN the house. The
latter bill, which was clearly explained by Mr..
Cogswell, who reported it, is very carefully
drawn, and fully protect the rights Of the parish
while granting to the city the power of removal,
was on motion OF Mr.. Torrcy amended, so that
any money remaining after the pew owners are
compensated shall be used for parish purposes,
Mr.. Barnard desired to append an amendment
making two-thirds vote Of the citizens neces-
sary to render the act valid, but MIR. Potter aud
Others objected, and by a large vote the house
rejected the two-thrds amendment and adopted
the bin The expected bill giving 100000 to
Amherst college was reported in the house to-day,
and was sent to the committee on finance The
house adopted an order referring the tax
commissioners report On the valuation Of the
state for the apportionment of taxes to Joint
special committee of three senators and seven
members of the house The committee was moi
appointed, An order was also adopted, on mo
ton Of Mr. TOwne, for the state board of health
to consider the subject Of sewerage in cities and
towns and report to the next general court.
The senate had discussion on the question OIL
railroad crossings at grade, which came up OF
the consideration of the bill to amend The
charter Of The Holyoke and Belchertown
railroad company. The bill authorizes til,
company to cross the Connecticut river at grade
Mr.. Frost, who regards crossing at grade as
little better than a device for thinning out the
human race, pounced upon the offensive proyi-
sion Yehemently, and he was sustained by the
calm and sarcastic Mr.. TOrrey The railroad
committee was on the other side, however, and
the senate voted II to IA not to strike out the
section in question. The bill was then laid on
the table, and probably will not come up again
until next Tuesday, to which time the adverse
report of the railway committee ON
the order relative to railway crossings az
grade was especially assigned. The petitioners
for the incorporation of the Massachusetts,
abattoir association seem TO be disposed, not
outstanding their defeat before the committee
on mercantile affairs, to try to get the favor Of
the legislature, and the matter was to-day
specially assigned for Monday next Ben. Dean
who represented one of the Boston districts in
the senate Of $50, believe, conducts the case Of
the petitioner with all his native suayity.
This morning the railway committee listened
to the closing arguments in the case between
those eminenty fraternal corporations, the East
ern and Boston and Maine railroad companies