Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-18
BOSTON AIDE MEN.
Deadlock Leads to Bill to In
crease the Board.
w. c. T. U. Asks for Repeal Of Law Rel
alive to Appointment Of Testamen-
tary Guardians-eills and Petitions.
0special Dispatch to The spy.)

Especial Dispatch to the Spy)
Boston, Jan. 17.-Bostons aldermanic
deadlock has resulted in a movement
for change in the composition Of that
branch of the city council A bill was
introduced in the house this afternoon
that proposes a board of thirteen mem
bers and the chairman to be elected by
popular vote. He Is a salaried officer of
the council to the extent of $4,000, and
has the appointment of one assistant or
clerk at q salary Of $780, This meas
ure was introduced this afternoon by
Representative lines Of Boston.
The w. c. 7. u, through its pres
ident, Mrs. Fessenden, has asked for
repeal of the law relative to the ap-
polntment of testamentary guardians.
Senator Roe of Worcester says that this
measure is introduced because taat or
ganization believes that the law dis
eliminates against women. They say
that while it permits women to appoint
guardians for their children by Will,
providing their husbands have died be-
fore the making Of the will, they have
no protection in case it is the husband
who is making the will. That Is, a man
may be very miserable man, who has
used up his wife's money, and she may
have had to support his children during
his lifetime, but there is permission in
the law for him to continue his unkind-
ness after death, by making Will
which puts the guardianship of his chill
dren in the hands of another, while the
mother is helpless.
IN THE SENATE.
Mrs. Susan S. Fessenden, president Of
the W. c. II. u, petitioned for the re-
peal Of section 5, chap. 1879, of the pub
lie statutes. relating to testamentary
guardians. This reads: A father, or
in case the father has died without eX-
ercising the power, a mother, may by
his or her last will in writing appoint
guardians for his or her children,
whether born at the time Of making the
| will or afterwards, to continue during
| the minority of the children, or for a
| less time. Such testamentary guard
| ians shall have the same powers and
perform the same duties, with regard to
| the person and estate of the ward, as
guardians appointed by the probate
court
Mr.. Holden of Suffolk put in the petit
| ton of the president of the MaSsachu-
setts Homeopathic Hospital, that that
corporation may be authorized to hold
property not exceeding s5,000,0OO.
Without debate, the senate concurred
|
Howland's petition for the construction
of a canal across Cape Cod by convict
labor, to the committee on harbors and
public lands and prisons, sitting jointly.
Adjourned at lbs.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Denham of New Bedford intro
duced a bill providing that auditors
making returns and certificates Of cor
poratons shall be sworn to the faithful
performance Of their duties by justice
Of the peace or other magistrate, in
stead of qualifying in person before the
commissioners of corporations.
Mr.. Boutwell, of Maiden presented a
petition for legislation for $500 court
house for the first district court Of east
ern Middlesex.
The committee on mercantile affairs
|, reported a bill for the incorporation of
: the Bennett Spawning Company of New
. Bedford, with a capital stock OF
81, 100000.
MIR. lines of Boston introduced bill
| to increase the number of aldermen in
the city of Boston to thirteen, and OF
the election of the additional member
as the chairman Of the board, by pop.
ular vote The chairman of the board
shall serve as acting mayor in the alb
member of all committees and chairman
of the committees on appropriations and
rules. The chairman of the board is
! to receive $4,000 as salary and have
the privilege Of the appoin tment and as
sistance of a $500 clerk. The chairman
is to report annually at the close of the
municipal year on the work of the
board during the year. The term Of Of
flee for the chairman, is one year.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL.
There are very few registered legisla-
tive counsel and agents at present on
| the books in the sergeant-at-arms Of
fee, although 1t is understood that the
governor has caused it to be known
| that if any way can be devised to more
| fully enforce the provisions of the lobby
| act, he would like to see it done.
| CASTOR & Snow are registered as leg
( islative counsel for the Hartford Steam
| Boiler Inspection and Insurance Com
pany and william H. Coolidge for the
| Boston and Maine Railroad, each on all
matters affecting the interests of the
companies named. The lawyers always
comply with the law at least as far as
| the registration and reports go.
Three legislative agents are on the reg
lister, and neither Is known to be a
member of the lobby, SO far as service
in former years is concerned. A. ]. De-
yer, its president, is registered as agent
Of the legislative board Of railroad en-
| gineers of Massachusetts on all ques-
| tons of train service. He is an en-
| gineer. Herbert L. Matthews is also
registered for this association. He is a
| fireman
Thomas j. Stokes, whose occupation
| is given as an exposition commission
err" is registered as agent of the
| trans Mississippi and international eX-
| position of Omaha, Neb., on the bin for
| a state commission to represent the
commonwealth at the exposition. This
| Ian L., not xrat f1ad