Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-20
ACTION DEFE RRED.
The Prison Labor Bill Tabled in
the House.
Bill introduced to Prevent Party Designa-
tons on Ballots in Elections of City
and Town Officials.
Special Dispatch TO the spy.)

Special Dispatch to the Spy.)
Boston, Jan. 1.-THE bill making APP
preparations of $685., 900 for prison labor
was held up in the house this afternoon
by the opponents of that system of la
Dor. The ways and means committee
made hopeless fight against delay but
the opposition was too strong and pre-
vailed. Except for this incident, there
was little of moment in either branch,
although quite a number Of bills were
introduced.
An act to prevent the use of the name
OF political party, Of any designation,
against the name of any candidate for
city or a town office on ballots, was in
troduced in the house by Mr. lines of
Boston II provides that sat all cleo
tons of city and town officers hereafter
held, no designations shall be upon the
ballot against the Name of any candi-
date, except that to the name of each
candidate for city office shall be added
the name of the street on which the can
didate resides, with the street number,
if there is any: and to the name of each
candidate for the office of alderman-at-
large in city shall also be added the
number of the ward in which the candi-
date resides"
Mr.. lines saws: seThe bill is designed
to remove from the ballot all party des-
ignationS in local contests, and will be
a step toward on-partisanship in mu-
nicipal and town affairs. 1t will not in
telfere with the legal right which par
ties now possess to place upon the ballot
the men nominated in their party con-
vention or caucus, but it will compel
voters to Investigate more carefully the
PERSONAL qualifications of local candi-
dates. Candidates for local offices
should not be voted for because of their
ideas upon national and state Issues.
Even if it does not compel an investiga-
ton by the voter of the merits of the
individual candidate, it will require him
to at least know the names of his party
nominees"
A message was received from the gov
ernor, transmitting the annual report
of the commission for the promotion of
uniformity of legislation The commits
siners refer to the loss by death of one
of their number, Judge Edmund H.
Bennett, during the year.
The passage of the proposed general
act relating to negotiable instruments,
embodying the general and most re-
Gently accepted principles of the law
of bills of exchange, promissory notes
and checks, is recommended to the
Massachusetts legislature. The act has
already been passed in New York, Con-
necticut, Colorado and Florida.
The bill making an appropriation of
$685. 900 for carrying out the provisions
of the act relating to the employment
of labor in the prisons of the common
wealth, was taken up, after the first call
on the order of the day. The question
was on ordering to a third reading, but
immediate action was opposed by Mr.
Atwell of Lynn, who contended that the
bill should be held until the genera1
subject of prisons was considered
through the recommendation of the gov
ernor for convict labor in the construc-
ton of the Cape Cod canal. Mr.. Atwell
spoke of the competition by prison labor
as affecting the shoe industry of Lynn
and other cities.
Mr. Clarke of Wellesley, for the COM
mittee on ways and means, urged the
advancement of the measure. With Mr..
Kenefiek of Palmer another member of
the same committee, he contended that
the general subject had received a fair
and thorough discussion at the last ses-
sion of the legislature, and that the law
passed last year had settled the policy
of the state regarding this sort Of labor.
Mr.. Denham of New Bedford, speak
ing for the committee on prisons, stated
that the production of prison-made
goods had been reduced very materially
by last years legislation He urged that
the bill be ordered to a third reading.
Mr. Marden of Stoneham, Mr. Balloon
of Marlboro and Mr.. Nevin of Wey-
mouth joined in the movement for de-
lay which had taken form in motion
to lay on the table. This prevailed, 191
to As
Mr.. Clarke of Wellesley introduced a
resolve providing for the completion of
the survey and work on the boundary
line between New York and Massachu-
sets
Mr.. Mellen of Great harrington pre-
scented the petition of H. c. Jayner, that
women appointed as special commits
sioners shall have the same powers as
justices of the peace in the appointment
of appraisers on the estates of deceased
persons. ~
IN THE SENATE.
In the senate today Senator Williams
of Norfolk presented the resolution
adopted by the Massachusetts, Medical
Society," indorsing the suggestions con-
tanned in the special report of the COM
mission on the charitable and reforma-
tory institutions and interests of the
commonwealth.
is 1T USEFUL?