Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-02

state, when said cattle have been tested
at the time of sale and pronounced
healthy; to reduce the compensation for
tuberculous cattle from full to half val
ue; to provide additional regulations
for the sale of milk.
Ought not to pass was reported by
the committee on harbors and public
lands on the bill for the restoration of
Green Harbor in the town of Marsh
field.
The committee en- ways and means
reported a resolve appropriating $1,000
for the purpose of defraying in part the
expenses of the national farmers con-
gress, to be held in Boston in 1899.
Mr.. Parker of Holden had motion
ument resolutions 20 congress for a ma
uonal appropriation for the extermina-
ton Of the gypsy moth.
Mr.. Davis of Amesbury introduced
bill for inspecting by the poor officers
of towns, at least once in four months,
the places where the "farmed OUT poor
are kept
The rules were suspended for the ad-
mission of the petitions for legislation to
prevent the giving of trading stamps
or coupons as inducements for trade;
for the appointment of commission to
investigate the agricultural organiza-
uons and interests Of the state.
The house reconsidered, en- motion of
Mr.. Estey of Boston, the vote Of Mon
day, whereby the bin that municipal
authorities may license lunch wagons,
was refused engrossment.
Mr.. Howard of Clinton and Mr.. Row
ell of Lowell opposed reconsideration,
but it was favored by Mr.. Hayes Of
Lowell, Mr.. Apsey of Cambridge, Mr..
Washburn of Worcester, Mr.. Myers Of
Cambridge, and Mr.. Dubuque of Fall
River. After reconsideration had been
ordered, the bill was put over till to-
morrow.
The discussion on the Boston and
Maine bill, which came for it's third
reading at 3.20, was opened by Mr.. Par
sons of Greenfield, who offered an
amendment to prevent the purchase of
stock in leased or operated roads until
after the railroad commissioners had de-
termined that such purchase would not
affect rates to the public or accommo-
dations and service for the same
Mr.. Parsons then went on to question
the propriety Of the proposed legsla-
tion, which, he claimed was a radical
departure from the settled policy of the
state relative to it's railroads He at
tackled the additional capitalization, to
which the Boston and Maine would be
forced to resort in order to buy shares
OF stock in roads whose stock was SELL
ing higher than its own, and which was
nothing more nor less than stock water
ing.
In conclusion, Mr.. Parsons hoped that
the bill would be barred out of the
house, but If it was to be considered
favorably, the amendment proposed
Should be adopted.
Mr.. Poor Of Andover, for the railroad
committee, came to the defense of the
bill, claiming that the menace to the
Boston and Maine system was the ag
gregation of fixed changes and expenses
which, when paid last year, left but a
mere $35, 900 to the good for the original
corporation Had not the Boston and
Maine management, with consummate
foresight, in 1898, when the financial
crash had paralyzed business, reduced
dividends from to 6 per cent, the ac-
tual menace to the system might have
been seen with disastrous force. Mr..
Poor then went on to dispute the pres
ence of any stock watering powers in
the bill. This point had been most thor
| to the bill forced to admit there was
nothing there to allow such practice.
| Regarding the amendment by Mr.. Par
| sons Mr.. Poor quoted from the last re-
| port of the railroad commissioners to
show that while railroad capitalization
! of the state had more than doubled in
| the past 25 years, the rates for freight
and passenger traffic had fallen 10 and
| 80 per cent respectively. Therefore, he
saw no argument for the amendment,
| and hoped that it would be rejected
| At this point the house adjourned.