Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-06
THE LEGISLATURE.
Both Branches Organized With
the Usual Ceremonies.
WORCESTER MEN ON HAND.
Everything Moved Auspiciouslv
on the Opening Day.
John l. Bates Elected Speaker of tn,
House-George E. Smith Chosen Presi-
dent of the Senate.
Special Dispatch to the spy1

Boston, Jan. 5-The legislative wheels
or Massachusetts are again in motion
The great and general court was organ.
lied in both branches today amid the
usual ceremonies attendant upon the
occasion that prepares the way for the
inauguration of the chief executive OF
the commonwealth Everything went
along today as smoothly as clockwork
The presiding officers of both branches
were elected by unanimous votes, as
We're the clerks of the senate and the
house. President Smith of the senate
and Speaker Bates of the house in theil
speeches accepting the duties of their
offices, counseled dispatch in the trans
action of the business of the session. and
suggested several new ideas. The senate
met in its new chamber, the old house
chamber in the Bulfinch front having
been remodeled and fitted for the sena-
tors.
All of the Worcester delegation in both
branches were on hand promptly and
were qualified to serve the state in their
respective branches Representative
Washburn of Worcester comes back to
the house after an admirable record a
year ago, and is looked upon as one of
the leaders of the majority of the lower
branch. The house will lose it's first
lIlCIlpEI III d lew udyS, the
Of Francis G. Lowell of Boston to the
United States circuit court bench max
ing vacancy that will probably be
filled by special election.
IN THE SENATE.
The senate met at II o'clock in its new
chamber in the Bulfinch front. Clerk
Coolidge raped the senate to order, and
called Hon J. c. Bennett of Lynn, the
senior member-elect, to the chair.
On motion of Mr.. Roberts of Suffolk,
he, with Mr.. Crane of Worcester and
Davis of Suffolk were appointed to noti-
fy the governor and council that a
quorum was present, and ready to be
qualified
Soon his excellency and the council
came in and the oath was administered,
the members repeating it in concert,
after which each member signed copy
of the oath he had taken. The governor,
before leaving the room, congratulated
the members on meeting for the first
time in the beautiful Bulfinch chamber,
and expressed the hope that the present
session would be pleasant to themselves
and profitable to the state.
Senators Irwin Putnam and Rourke
were appointed committee to. receive,
sort and count votes for president. They
soon reported that SO votes had been
cast for George E. Smith of Middlesex.
President Smith was escorted to the
desk by Messrs. Farley of Franklin and
Gallivan of Suffolk, and addressed the
senate as follows:
PRESIDENT SMITHS SPEECH.
Fellow senators-I thank you very
sincerely for the honor you have con-
ferred upon me in selecting me as your
agent and presiding officer for this cur
rent year, and for the very friendly and
courteous manner in which the nomtTa-
ton of yesterday and the election of to-
day has been conducted by you 1t VIII
be my constant endeavor to act justly
and impartially and thereby to Win your
confidence and friendship.
1.-THE senate meets today for the first
time in this beautiful and historic cham
her. Here for nearly hundred years
met annually the popular branch of our
legislature and considered and deter
mined matters Of great Importance 10
the people of Massachusetts. For nearly
a century the noblest, ableSt, ana the
most eloquent of all her sons have, from
time to time, here served and honored
the commonwealth. 1t is now refur-
nished and the senate will shortly pegln
the second century of the occupation OF
this renowned chamber. The instance Is
without parallel. We, the senator's
are peculiarly favored in being mem
hers of this historic body, during THIS
marked year.
'scur esteemed friend. who was elect
ed one wear ago to this honorable once,
on taking the chair asked his associates
for their 'forbearance and unselhsn 70,
operation. He had then occupied ana
honored the office for year, was es-
teemed and loved by his fellow-senators'
ay,d was familiar with the rules and pro-
ceedings How much more imperative
II is that / now bespeak for myself, upon
assuming these untried duties, your
sforhearance and unselfish cooperation
7 confidently expect and rely upon IL;
.There are various comments upon the
conduct of legislative business. Long
SESSIONS are frequently criticised. 1t Is
So,, the nersonal Interest and advantage
If each member Of this legislature to
ydiourn in March instead of June. Nc
ne needs to remind you, however
nat 1t is your bounded duty to patient
IL fairly and fully hear every person whe
oatitions for legislation, even IT we re,
main here until August. II llas se It1dsa
10 me that hearings OF committees
hight be shortened by avoiding repetl-
ions and cumulative testimony on GER
tain matters. and especially by holding
PETITIONERS strictly to the time adver-
tised for hearings. Committees can mas
ten business without injustice TO any, II
they say firmly to every person Aou
must present yOuA case al 49, N-N -
signed
IA much more pressing and important
subject is The nature and extent OF the
appropriations and the authority TO APP
prooriate which this legislature viii
vote. We have passed through long
period of great business distress. Large
demands have been and are being made
on the commonwealth and all its munic-
ipalities: investments have shrunk anc
disappeared altogether; labor has beer
poorly remunerated or unemployed; the
public debts have grown larger, and the
people are less able to bear the increas-
ing burden Of interest and taxes This
is especially true Of the metropolitan
district. We shah merit the gratitude
of this people if we scrutinize carefully
every dollar asked for and appropriated
and limit appropriations TO the neces'
saries.
Another matter of universal public
Importance is the revision of our laws
of taxation. The able report OF the com
mlssioners will tighten our labors ane
aid at arriving at a just conclusion.
"You will, / know, give all these sub
jects and many others. your careful
consideration. Again allow rue to thanh
you for the election to this office and t.
pledge you and the commonwealth my
best services and the exercise of my bes
Judgment in the performance of its du
ties
Messrs. Towle of Suffolk, Parsons o.
Middlesex and Flynn of Essex, collected
the votes for clerk. and reported tina