The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-04
OUR BOSTON. LETTER.
SOMETHING OF THE DOINGS OF
THE LEGISLATURE.
Work Done and Undone- Regulations
Made and Lest - souvenir News
papers Lizzie Forden.

There Is one institution or aggregation In
Boston that for six months In year has
decidedlya local flavor, and that IL the
legislature. II is part OF the state ma
chinery, yet 1t is here so many months
that the Hub may well claim 1t a. Its own.
Beneath the gilded dome, TO use a well
worn expression, regulations are made
and often lost. Men, strong and tnfiu-
entail at home, become weak and power
less for good here To certain ex'
tent this is because men like water
find level, but In great measure success
or failure depends upon individual effort.
The man who looks upon term OF the
general court as a junket OF six months
duration generally has his junket, but
little else, when he goes back to his con-
stituants. He has proved failure as
legislator, for the reason that he has
leaned upon someone else for all
his information and facts He has
voted right or wrong as he has
had a good leader to follow. The man who
has worked long and hard has benefited
himself by gaining valuable information
and in most cases has added TO his repu-
tation as valuable citizen OF the common
wealth.
The great guiding star Of recent legis-
lative bodies In this state has been pro-
crastination. Nothing is done today that
can he put Off till tomorrow. The first of
every session you hear much about plans to
expedite business and learn from ambitious
leaders that April Is will find the business
completed but like New Years resolutions
such pledges are rot binding and the usual
time Is spent iA trying to transact the pub
lie business. This year was no exception
to the rule A committee had the matter
of shortening the session in hand and for
mulated plans looking to that end, but
May finds the solons still at work and a
good prospect of many weeks session
ahead.
To be sure much has been done, but
much still remains. IL Is fair to assume
that there will be turned out of the legis-
latiye mill about 450 epactments before
the gavel falls for the last time. This
number has not been approached at pres
ent, as up to the close of April but
26S bills had been signed by Governor
Russell. Ii is true that some have
not been acted upon by him, but they are not
so numerous as to indicate a speedy adjourn
ment. Another important factor to be
considered is the knowledge that most OF
the important legislation is yet to come.
The great questions that are likely to
cause debate are in chaotic condition,
and some of them will not come from the
committee for days.
xIx<.t IL. a a
down as certain that the endowment or
ders In this state are no more, They have
been legislated out of existence and the
reign of the ''supremes" is over. The bill
toexclude foreign concerns is also certain to
become law and the men who desire to
get rich in minute must move to some
othsr locality. Massachusetts has some
thing to rejoice over in the complete rout-
ing Of q curse to the over-confiding pub
lie.
The measure Of perhaps the most vital
interest to many members of the legisla-
ture Is in danger of being thrown out. II
Is the bill introduced by the committee on
federal relations to take 100 members to
the Worlds fair as representatives
of this commonwealth. The hitch in the
passage of this bill seems TO be that
the names of the committee are included
among the 100 chosen ones Whether this
Is regarded as selfishness that should be
reprimanded by an adverse vote, or
whether the members object to further
representation of Massachusetts,. than IL
will have In the persons of Governor
Russell and members of the council, is not
definitely known, although general opinion
inclines toward the former reason.
Inasmuch a. the state can issue loan.
instead of exchanging the bonds held by
the commonwealth in the Fitchburg rail-
road for preferred stock as a funding bill
proposes, it seems likely that the measure
will not pass. This probability is
emphasized by the fact that the bonds
will soon earn per cent interest, which
will put money in the state treasury. The
state agricultural college will probably
have to beg for another year, for the billto
appropriate $39,500 for its improvement
will not pass ON plea of poverty on the part
of the state.
After rousing sermon by a bright
young pastor and full face appeal pub
lished in one Of the papers, Attorney Gen.
eral Pillsbury whispers that Lizzie Bor-
den will be tried in June. 1t is hard to
tell IL the prospects of change from
prison to courtroom after another four
weeks imprisonment will in any measure
soothe the sorrow of the past eight
months. That part of the constitution
which says that a prisoner shall have a
speedy trial, should have an amendment
saying except In cases where a daug hter
is charged with the murder of parents"
Then the accused can be lawfully detained
In jail while the prosecution hunts up
convicting evidence.
When the Enterprise became the school
ship of the commonwealth, lots of folks