Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-13
A SHORT SESSION.
That of the Senate Lasted But
Eighteen Minutes.
Committee for investigating Massachu-
sets Benefit Life Associations Affairs
After Its Pay-Requisition for Reed.
Especial Dispatch to the spy.)

Boston, Jan. 12.-There was another
short session of the legislature today,
and after adjournment more committee
organizations. A communication was
received from the special commission ap-
pointed to investigate the affairs Of the
Massachusetts Benefit Life Association,
to the effect that there is no money in
the treasury of that corporation with
which to meet the bill for their services,
a matter of more than $5OOO The sug-
gestion is made that the bill be paid
by the state
There was large number of commit
tee meetings held at the close of the
legislative sessions. Clerks were elected
as follows: Education, Morse of MARI
boro; election laws, Saunders of Boston:
federal relations, Smith of Tisbury;
mercantile affairs, Kelley of Boston;
labor, Donahue of Fall River; drainage,
Severance OF Lynn; counties, Mackin of
HinSda1e; probate and insolvency,
Batchelder of Boston; taxation, Wild
den OF Waltham; roads and bridges,
Allen OF Shrewsbury; fisheries and
game, Smith of Gloucester; house Judi
ciary. Attwill of Lynn prisons, Wood
OF Woburn; public service, Ramsay of
Lowell,
IN THE SENATE.
The session of the senate was called at
l o'clock, and adjourned at 1 IS o'clock.
The committee OIL water supply was
given leave to travel within the COM
monwealth, and that on public charita-
bic institutions to travel both within
without fofa 20
ford, Conn.
MI. Roe of Worcester introduced the
petition of the trustees of Phillips Acad-
envy, Andover, for authority to confer
degrees in divinity.
Mr.. Soule of Bristol put in a. bill to
appropriate a sum not exceeding $50 900.
to be expended under the direction of
the chief Of the district police, for the
purchase of a steamer for enforcing the
laws of the commonwealth. and an
thofizing the chief to sell the steamer
Ocean Gem.
IN THE HOUSE.
"A message was received in the house
from the governor transmitting a COM
munication from Henry W. Bragg,
chairman of the commission appointed
TO investigate the affairs of the Massa-
cnusetts Benefit Life Association. to the
erect that the bill for services by the
members of the commission had been
presented to the receivers of the asso-
clatlon, who had replied that there were
no FUNDS of the association with which
TO meet this bill, as practically all the
FUNDS in their hands consist of the
emergency fund, which by law, must be
applied to payment of death losses ex-
cluslyely. Attention is called to the
ract that the state must pay the bill, if
paid at all, and that the legislature of
1897 did nothing to his end. The commits
sioners suggest that the attention of the
legislature should be called to the mat
ter by the governor, as they can hardly
be expected to appear as petitioners.
The matter was referred to the joint
committee on ways and means.
Mr.. Estes of Brockton provoked the
first disagreement of the session by
moving a reconsideration of yesterdays
vote, whereby the petition from citizens
Of Maiden for legislation provided by
city charter, perpetual prohibition in
Maiden, was taken from last years files
and referred to the committee on cities.
Mr. Estes wanted the petition referred
to the liquor law committee The recon-
sideration prevailed SO to GA. The petit
ton was then referred to the liquor law
committee
Petitions were received from James
M. Olmstead for legislation relative to
the dissolution of attachments in re-
ownership proceedings.
A communication was received
through the auditor from Clerk Wells of
the state board Of lunacy and charity,
calling attention to deficit of $5168.97
in the appropriations for 1897 for the
support of INDECENT and neglected child
rem, and $S14.51 for the appropriation for
the support Of pauper infants.
The report of the special commission
appointed to investigate the subject of
state charities and charitable institu-
lions was taken from last years files and
referred to the committee on public
charitable institutions.
The committee on ways and means re-
ported "a bills making the regular APP
preparations for the different depart
mentS of the state government. The bills
were read once and placed in the orders
of day for tomorrow. The appropria-
tons includes 100000 for the Massachu-
sets school fund, $4,000 for the estab-
lshment Of textile school at New Bed
ford; $4,000 for free scholarships at the
Worcester Polytechnic Institute; $34, 900
for the maintenance of the board of rail-
road, commissioners; $1S,S00 for the saw
ings bank commissioners; Sal, 900 for the
attorney generals department; $40, 400
for the executive department; $17,700 for
the auditors department; $4,000 for the
removal of wrecks and other obstacles
from tide waters; $4,000 for the gas and
electric light commissioners; $2S, 450 for
the bureau Of statistics Of labor; $54,500
for the nautical training school; $521O
for annuities to soldiers and others; $780,
900 fer the State Firemen's Association;
$4,000 for premiums on securities pur-
chased for the Massachusetts school
fund; $4,000 for a new addition to the
Worcester lunatic hospital; $500 for the
state pension agent; 1857, 100 for the COM
pensation and travel Of members and
officers Of the legislature; $4,000 for the
inspection of animals and provisions;
500 600 for the Massachusetts Institute OF
nublic records; $11,S 800 for the board of
arbitration and Cancellation; 1921, 800 for
the judiciary $500 for the general sup
erintendent of prisons