Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-07
From the State House.


4
| Boston, May 9, 1872.
The star spangcd banner was promptly run
up the flag staff on either house at IL this morn
ing, Indicating that the great and general court
| is still here.
The attendance to day was full, and at quarter
| after five in the afternoon when an adjournment
was reached there were fewer absent members
| than usual.
| 1t appears that the Hoosac tunnel has cost
the state nearly thirteen million dollars This
appears in statement received to-day from the
auditor in answer TO an order of the house.
The auditors communication shows tine amount
of money which will have been expended on the
account of the HoOsac tunnel and Troy aud
Greenfield railroad provided it is completed
under the existing contract. The amount o
| scrip issued to the Troy and Greenfield railroad
| company while the work was under their contro
| was S97O,6SO. Since possession was taken by
| the state there had been expended up to Jan.
1872 including interest, less materials, etc Isold
| S7,0l4,S2l.O4, making the total cost to Jan. 1
1872 ST 1885,, sol o.. The balance to be paid the
| Shanlys is S3,116,5 62.45; the estimated cost
| Of the railroad from the western portal to
North Adams, s164 ,695.3S; the estimated cost
for engineering and other expenditures from
Jan. 1, 1872, to March l. 1874, so 900; esti-
mated interest on loans to same date, 81 100 900;
expenditures authorized by the present legisla.
tUre for graduation and protection of embank-
ments, 100000; estimated premium on and ex-
change paid and 70 be paid, 1925, 7s5, making a
total of So, 792, 238S7, from this should be de-
Quoted a portion of the Troy and Greenfield rail-
road sinking fund.- which has been created from
per ceDtage of the original loans to the COM
pany and other property which may be disposed
of after the completion of the tunnel.
There was another heavy fight over the bill
relating to the tax on insurance companies,
which was brought before the house again by
the committee on insurance. The bill was con-
sdered at once, and after discussion ordered to
be engrossed by yea and nay vote of 1O2 to Of.
During the recess, however, the opponents of
the bill prepared for last grand assault, which
was opened in the afternoon by motion TO re-
consider, followed up with a speech by Moses
Kimball. After vigorous fight the opposition
carried their point, and the bill was refused en-
grossment by yea and nay vote of SO to III.
The committee of conference on the Eastern
railroad bill reported in the senate that the
second section, authorizing the Eastern railroad
company TO widen its bridge structure over
Charles river by fifty feet and also authorizing
the Boston and Maine corporation to widen its
bridge, so as to compensate them for the land
which they viii lose under the bill. The senate
accepted the report, but strong objection was
made in the house to striking out the clause in
favor of the Maine road, and there was long
discussion. The report was finally accepted.
however
The bill to consolidate the Eastern and Bos.
ton and Maine railroads under the name of
the Boston and Portland railroad met with no
favor in the house, and by an almost unanimous
vote was referred to the next general court. The
house and senate still disagree about the sums
to be paid their assistant clerks. The senate
demands that its assistant, who is young man.
shall receive more than the house assistant. who
IS young iady-a fragrant Injustice which the
mouse VIII not tolerate. There was some eco.
nom'cal spread-eagleism developed in the house
when proposition was made to give the ser.
geant-at-arms, the clerks OF the senate and
house and the governors private secretary sam
in addition to the sum they now receive. ne.
| spite stout opposition the additional sum was
voted.
The senate took in the bill relating
to the state police commissioners kind
ly but amended it by a provision author.
izing the increase of the force at the
discretion of the governor to a number not ex-
ceeding one hundred In this the house con.
CURED, and rejected motion to reconsider. To
complete this curious turn in constablery leo
islation bill was introduced on leave in the sen.
ate and passed to be engrossed containing those
parts of the rejected police bill which authorized
the detail Of deputies as clerks in the constable's
office, and the appointment of special deputies,
and made some further appropriations. The
house came down on this with vim, refusing to
give it a second reading, and clnchng the action
by refusing at once to reconsider An attempt
was made TO introduce in the house a bill to al
low each of the state house watchmen $500, as
compensation for extra services as messengers,
Dut II was summary voted down.
10 the afternoon the senate had the customary
parting iormalities, and President Coolidge re-
sponded with his usual eloauence to the CON.
phlhehtary resolutions and speeches of his as.
socia'es' During recess a correspondence he.
tween senator Potter, on behalf of the senate
anu tne chaplain, was read, from which il ap-
peared tnat purse had been conveyed to the
reverend gentlemen with warm expressions If
esteem on the part Of the senate, and received
by Mr. Abbott with reciprocal feelings.
Both branches adjourned to 10 A. NJ. Tuesday
Such members Of the house as are anxious n
participate in mock session were informally
requested to be at the state house this evening
when those who are inclined TO be funny ar,
expected 70 do their level best.