Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-13
OUR LEGISLATORS.
Some Knotty Questions for Their
Wise Action.
Concerning Savings. Banks, the Gypsy
Moth and Interest on Unpaid
axes.

Boston, Feb. 12.-The discussion in the
house Thursday over the question Of the
obligation Of the commonwealth, in
cases of injury sustained while respond
ing to call from the state, civic or
military, demonstrates the fact that the
house is ready to debate matters of
small or large Importance, and that the
discussion period of the session is on.
All Of the committees are hard at work
and for the next six weeks it will be
the steady and somewhat arduous toll
of the committee room, relieved in a
small degree in the afternoon, by ses-
sions of the two branches and plenty of
debate.
The Smith resolve, which was the
subject of the debate Thursday, is to
figure again in the house discussions
1t was substituted Thursday for the ad-
verse report of the committee on ways
and means, but Friday on coming up
for another reading, was assigned for
special debate, to Feb. 25. Then the
battle will be fought out in earnest 1t
is hardly probable that the resolve will
survive the combined opposition of the
Judiciary and ways and means mem
bers, and hence the general opinion that
Mr.. Mills, who accomplished its substi-
tuition Thursday, has achieved all the
glory there Is for him in this measure.
Although there seems to be fairly good
argument in favor of the petitioner, the
hard fact remains that the town where
in he responded to the policeman's call
for help, and was thereby injured, is re-
sponsible for maintaining the peace
within it's own limits, and should pay
the petitioner out of it's own treasury. if
his case is a good one.
The annual skirmish between the leg
islature and the board of savings bank
commissioners has begun. Following a
custom of the past ten years, the saw
ings bank commissioners included
in their annual report rec
ommendation for legislation to
prevent savings banks Of the com
monwealth from occupying rooms used
by or adjoining those of national banks
or trust companies. AS usual, the com
mittee on banks and banking reported
the bill to the legislature. Just as reg
ularly as the bill has been reported
there has been a quiet and determined
and heretofore successful fight against
its favorable consideration. The bill was
opposed Thursday in the house, and
successfully. Although there was less
than a quorum of the house present.
the majority against advancing the
measure was decisive. The banks and
banking committee sought refuge from
immediate disaster by forcing an ad-
journment on the question of mo quo
rum" Friday the further considera-
ton of the bill was postponed until Tues
day.
In spite of the opposition to this pro
posed legislation, there is reasonably
good argument for something of this
kind. The legislation was suggested by
the savings bank commissioners some
ten years ago, and on account of the col
lapse of a savings institution in Fall
River whose precarious financial condi-
ton was concealed from the bank com
missioners through it's close association
with national bank whose rooms it
shared. Except for the close and friend
ly relations between the state and the
national bank, the weakness Of the for
mer might have been discovered by the
state commissioners in season to pre-
vent its complete collapse. To prevent
repetition of this nature, the Iegisla-
tion already referred to was suggested
blythe commissioners. But the Influence
of the bank men has prevailed against
any change The argument in opposi-
ton has been that a large majority Of
the savings banks in the smaller towns
of the commonwealth have been able
to incorporate and do business through
the very fact that office expenses have
been shared with a national bank or a
trust company. And thus far the legis-
lature has taken it's logic from the
banks.
There is apparently little chance for
the legislation suggested by the bank
but there does seem to
be prospect for legislation that will
prevent savings bank officials or mem
bers of the boards of investment from
holding certain offices of national banks |
or of safe deposit, loan or trust COM
panies A bill to this end has been intro !
duced by Senator Soule of New Bed |
ford. It will undoubtedly receive the
favorable consideration of the banks and |
banking committee and has a fair pros
pect of final enactment by the legisla- |
ture. The aim of the bill is to prevent
the close association of the investment
boards and executive officers of the
different banks. 1t will undoubtedly ac-
complish the end sought for by the saw
ings bank commissioners, without fore
ing the savings banks in the smaller