Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-07

SuHlCleHI Certainly W 1uuuCe tIe III
yestment of the large amount Of private
capital needed for it's completion.
During these many years a cloud has
rested uTrsn all titles to real estate in
the vicinity Of the proposed route of the
canal l think it is time that this un-
certainty should end, and that the lelgis-
lature should recognize the improbable
ity of the construction of the work by
! private enterprise during the lifetime
| of the present generation
There can be no doubt, however, of
/ the value to tine coGnercia! interests of
the commonwealth of a canal across the
cape, and plan will be laid before your
honorable bodies for the use in its con-
struction of the labor of certain classes
of prisoners, under such conditions as
shall secure their humane treatment and
safe custody The application of prison
labor to public works of general utility
( is not an untried experiment, and merits
/ your careful consideration.
STATE HOUSE.
/ The work of preserving, restoring and
rendering practically freproof the So
called Bulfineh State House, provided
for by chapter 5S1, acts of 1896, for which
the sum of $37500 was therein appro-
priated, is substantially completed.
From this appropriation, for purposes
not originally intended to be included
therein there will have been expended
in furnishing the sum of about $4,000
and in rebuilding in granite the front ter
( race. and steps and in reconstructing the
terrace wall on Mt. Vernon street the
further sum of about $4,000. In spite
/ of these large additional expenditures, it
is expected that a substantial part of
the original appropriation will remain
unexpended. In my judgment, this
work, decreed by the legislature of 1895,
/ has fully justified itself, not only as an
! example Of wise economy, but also as
preserving for future generations an his
toric structure, valued by the people of
/ the commonwealth because of it's asso-
/ Citations and because Of it's architectural
/ interest.
! The governor and council are now oc-
cupying their former rooms in the west
erly portion Of the front, and the former
chamber of the house of representatives
affords spacious and dignihed quarters
for the senate. The old senate chamber
in all its original beauty Of form and
dimensions, remains at the disposal of
| the senate, and additional space has been
assigned to the speaker and to the clerk
of the house of representatives
1t is an interesting historical fact,
which your honorable bodies may deem
worthy of commemorative notice, that
the state government thus resumes the
occupancy of this stately building in the
month which marks the lapse of a cen
/ fury from Its first use as the State House
of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The quarters in memorial hall, pro-
vided for the temporary occupancy Of
the senate, having been released from
this use, work upon memorial hall will
now be continued as rapidly as due re-
gard to it's Importance and character viii
/ permit.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION AT
PARIS.
An act OF the congress of the United
States, approved July IS, 1887, contains
the following provisions:
4 "That the invitation of the republic Of
France to take part in an exposition of
works of art and the products of manu-
features and agriculture of all nations,
to be held in Paris, commencing the 18th
day of April and closing the 5th day of
November, 1900, is accepted; and the
governors of the several states and ter
ritories be, and are hereby, requested to
invite the people of their respective
states and territories to make a proper
representation of the productions of our
industry and of the natural resources Of
the country, and to take such further
measures as may be necessary in order
to secure to their respective states and
and territories the advantage to be de-
rived from this bene6cent undertaking"
In this great exposition, which will
without doubt be one of the memorable
events Of the closing year OF the 10Th CEN
fury, it seems proper that the common
wealth of Massachusetts should be rep
resented In a manner BETTING its ma
teria.l and industrial Importance, and I
ask you to make such provision to this
end as you may deem reasonable and
adequate.
UNIFORMITY OF LEGISLATION.
On many subjects the lack OF unifor-
nifty of legislation in the several states
causes little practical inconvenience, and
it is probable that any attempt to secure
such uniformity would prove futile, ow-
ing to the deepseated differences of
theory and experience which find express
sion in the legislation of states repre-
senting widely differing interests and
| conditions. But in a limited range Of
subjects, especially those concerning the
law merchant, it is the opinion of many
jurists of distinction that substantial
uniformity of legislation by the several
states is not only desirable but becomes
possible Of enactment, as the greater
certainty which would thence result in
business transactions, conducted be-
tween citizens of different states, is
more generally realized. A draft of a
proposed act on negotiable instruments
viii be submitted to you by the Massa-
chusetts board Of commissioners for the
promotion of uniformity of legislation,
which has been approved at a confer
enece of similar boards of commissioners
representing many of the states, and
which has already become the law in
several states through action of the log
islature.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House Of
Representatives,: We enter together up |
on the responsible and honorable duties !
which have been intrusted to our hands |
by the people of Massachusetts. Tbey
are a people who have learned from the |
past history of the commonwealth to de-
mand high standard Of capacity and in
tegrlty of those to whom they commit
their interests. May we show ourselves
not unworthy of their confidence. Nav
whatever legislation is enacted be for the |
common good of all. May the humblest |
and the most powerful petitioner alike
depend for Success unon the i11etine Of |