Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-06
HASTE TOO GREAT.
Legislators Are Inclined to Sacri-
fee Quality to Speed.
BOSTON AND MAINE DEBATE
Men Who Fought for Their Con-
victions Against Big Odds.
Another Commission Proposed in Which
Farmers Are Interested-Hearings for
the Coming Week-Taking of the
Nashua River.
(special Dispatch to the spy.l

Boston, March 5.-Under the Joint
rules Of the legislature of 1898, there are
but three more legislative days in which
the JOINT standing committees of the
session have to finish up the work be-
fore them and prepare the way for
morning sessions. In the effort to clear
committee dockets before this date
there has been the widest scramble dur
ing the past ten days that has ever been
witnessed in the halls of legislation in
the old Bay State. From 40 to rs mat
ters have been considered daily by from
16 to "a joint committees in session. To
those members who are in sympathy
with the movement to "get through be-
fore June l." the spectacle has been
pleasing; to those who have been wont
to have care as to the kind and char
acter Of the work OF a legislative ses-
sion, the scene has been ridiculous.
In spite, of the strain to round up the
committee work before the Second
Wednesday in March," there are sew
eral committees whose members have
been Obliged to ask for more time and
the orders to this end have been adopt-
submitted to the slave-driving course
that has been adopted. Although many
of the leaders have voiced their protests
IN the smoking and reading rooms,
with the simple exception of the sen
ator from EsseX-Mr. George-not a
man mas had th6~ courage to speak
right out in meeting" although many
Of them have endorsed the ringing pro-
test made by the senator from Haver-
n ofh low r Iii
efforts that the order allowing the
roads and bridges committee to sit dur
ing the sessions of the legislature. was
rescinded in the senate, and Monday
the house will have an opportunity to
show its spirit of independence, for the
question of concurrence on resembling
this order will come up for considera-
ton.
1t is evident that many matters as
signed to committees have received
scant consideration, as result of the
orders" issued to get all matters re-
ported by the second Wednesday in
March. 1t was only the other day that
certain committeeman, in reply to a
query as to his committees adverse ac-
ton on a petition explained that the
committee didn't have time to consider
the petition and clear its docket by the
9Th of March, and consequently reported
leave to withdraw
1t looks now as if the reaction had
set in. The more conservative mem
berS of both branches are coming to the
conclusion that it is about time to begin
to do things thoroughly The evil effects
Of rushing were demonstrated last year
with great force, when an attempt was
made to shut off debate on the ele-
waited railroad bill by moving the pre-
V1ouS question. There was a revolt at
this, and the time for revolt at similar
methods in different form this year is
nearly ripe.
The evils of haste in 1896 when the
Massachusetts pipe line gas bill was be-
fore the house and senate, have come
rs legacy for this and perhaps future
legislatures, for it is evident that cor
rective legislation is necessary in this
direction. if in no other.
Although the fight on the Boston and
Maine leasing bill was one-sided one.
IT was interesting, nevertheless. 1t was
claimed by the friends of the bill that
there were 1866 members of the house
who were ready to vote for the bill as
reported by the railroad committee. and
TO reject all amendments except those
that were accepted by the house chair
man Of the committee. This was a
formidable array of strength, but there
were three members of the house who
had the courage to follow their conyic-
tons in the face of it, They were
Representative Parsons of Greenfield.
Representative Myers of Cambridge.
and Representative Jones of Melrose.
The men who were standing in the
preach, to prevent, as they termed it. am
invasion of the public policy as an
nounced in the anti-stock watering leg
isiation of 1894, were insisting that the
present bill, which they declared was an
exception, and perhaps one justified by
the conditions, should be so amended
as to completely guard the interests of
the public, when the company took ad-
vantage Of its powers to purchase stock
OF leased and operated roads 1t was
with this purpose that Mr. Pearsons, on
the first day of the debate, offered an
amendment that all issues of stock by
the Boston and Maine, made for the
purpose of providing the means for the
purchase of stock in leased or operated
roads, should be with the approval of
the railroad commissioners who should
first satisfy themselves that the public
was to lose nothing in the rates of fares,
or the accommodations by the road
This amendment was not acceptable to
the friends of the bill. and was rejected
On the second day of the debate, when
the advocates of the bill were confident
of a speedy third reading for their
measure, Mr.. Myers of Cambridge made
a magnificent fight for the adoption of
an amendment to provide that all issues
of stock, for the purpose aforesaid,
should be with the approval of the rail-
road commissioners "ass consistent with
the public interest" The member from
Cambridge had taken the railroad men
by surprise, and by his argument un-
doubtedly won many of those pledged
TO the bill unchanged, to mis- side of the
battle. Then the managers of the mea-
sure pleaded for time and pending the