Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-18
GYPSY MOTH WAR.
The House Votes $4,000 for
Work of determination,
All Bills to Regulate Further the obser-
vance of Sunday Have Been Reported
Adversely Pensioning FRemen.
(speolal pIspatch q the spy.l

The bill making an appropriation for
this bothersome pest, of $4,000, addi-
tioual to the emergency appropriation
of $4,000 passed early in the year. was
passed to be engrossed in the house this
afternoon after lively debate. 1t was
the opinion of the majority that all of
the money asked for, or none of it,
should be appropriated and the former
position was the prevailing one.
In the senate there was lively tilt
between, Senator George of Haverhill
and the rest of the senate over the bill
for the pensioning of firemen. The sem
ator from Essex took exceptions to the
general idea of pensions, and during the
course of the debate had something I'M
complimentary to say about veteran
firemen. He was in hot water at once,
and the final result of the trouble was
the engrossment OF the bill.
The committee on probate and insolv-
ency Is one of the first committees TO
complete it's work. 1t reported its last
matters today. 1t has reported adverse
~ on all the bills to regulate further
the observance of the Lords day.
One of these was the bill of Senator
Gallivan of Boston to give unincorpo-
rated religious societies the right to hold
concerts on the Lords day. The pres
ent law allows incorporated religious So
cieties to do So A bill of Winslow of
Norwood. allowed only sacred concerts
on Sunday by Incorporated religious So
cieties. A bill of Mr.. Clarity of Boston
increased the fines for violations of the
Sunday laws All have been adversely
reported. Mr.. Horgan of Boston dis
sents from the report on the Gallivan
bill
This committee had 80 matters before
it, and is well pleased to get the last of
them out of the way.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Bennett Of Saugus secured a sus-
pension of the rules in order that the bill
appropriating S1S0,O0O for the extermin-
alton of the gypsy moth might be dis
charged from the orders of the day. AS
the bill was taking its third reading,
Mr.. Bennett made no sign of any inten-
ton to move special assignment, and
there was trouble at once.
Mr.: Hayes of Lowell objected to the
engrossment of the bill, and charged
that Mr.. Bennett had promised to move
an assignment to a special date. MI
Bennett denied any such promise, and
moved to assign to Monday next. After
little discussion the motion to assign
was withdrawn and the bill was before
the house for debate, the question being
on engrossment
Mr.. HAYES of Lowell offered an amend
ment. that the appropriation be liked at
S125. 900. He characterized the work as
a humbug to a large extent
Mr.. Bennett of Saugus contended that
the commission was honest and that
their work was most commendatory.
Unless the entire amount was approprl-
ated the legislature should entirely
abandon the work
Mr.. Boutwell, Of Maiden and Mr.. Waite
of Medford supported the bill, and ar
gued that unless the pest was confined
10 the territory already infested, the en-
tire commonwealth would be invaded
bv the most voracious insect known to
man, and the damage would be meal
culable.
amendment fixing the amount of the
appropriation at $150,000, believing tnat
this was all that the commonwealth
should spend this year.
Mr.. Dubuque of Fall River remarked
that it was significant that the pest IN
creased proportionately with the appro-
nriation. Mr.. Trow of Salem was
apainst anv large appropriation, believ-
ing that there was more or less num-
bug in the cry of danger. Mr.. Battles
IF Rrockton and Mr.. Bennett OF SauguS
Joined in the advocacy of the bill Mr..
Patton of Leom.nster made ringing
speech against any appropriation what
ever, claiming that the work by the
commission was ridiculous and farcial,
and, worst of all, fearfully expensive to
the people of Massachusetts,. If any
one would guarantee the determination
of the moth he would gladly appropriate
a round half million dollars.
Mr. Washburn of Worcester argued
for the serious consideration Of the bill.
After the work already prosecuted, there
was but one of two things to do-ap-
propriate the full amount or appropriate
nothing There was neither excuse nor
argument for any other action by the
legislature After an extended speech
In favor by Mr.. Hall of Everett the
previous question was moved by Mr.
Brooks of Athol Mr. Donahue of Fall
River, against, and Mr. Croker of
Bridgewater and Mr.. Howard of Clinton
in favor, were the closing speakers All
amendments were rejected, the original
amount standing, Sc to "A, and the bill
was then passed to be engrossed
Bills were reported by the committee
on the Judiciary, to fix the rate Of in
terest on mortgages to per cent, except
in cases where the rate is specifically
stated: by the committee ON banks and
banking, relative to withdrawing and
retiring shares of cooperative banks by
the committee on the judiciary, to pro-
vide an equitable process after judg-
ment in certain cases.
ported bill extending the time for the
construction and operation of the MARI
boro and Westboro street railway to
October l, 1899.
IN THE SENATE.
The committee on banks and banking
reported no legislation necessary on SO
much of the savings banks commission
erS report as relates to the sale of Sc
curities by cooperative banks. SEN
ators Whittlesey, Soule and Parsons,
with Representative Lewis, dissent.
Senator George of Essex had a breezy
time over a bill to authorize cities to
pension firemen which was discussed as
to its general features by Senators
Chamberlain Of Plymouth, Soule of Bris-
tol, Putnam of Middlesex and Roe Of
Worcester, in favor and Irwin of Berk-
shire Hampden in opposition. 1t was
finally engrossed.
A resolve for publication of the pro-
ceedings concentrating the centennial
of the Bulfinch state house was en-
crossed, as was bill to enlarge and
improve the water supply Of Hudson
and a resolve in favor of the Miles
Standish Monument Association.