Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-07
B0STON'S AFFAIRS.
Are They Forced Too Much On
the State Legislatures?
Farmers PerpIexsd by Bills in their Behalf
They Must Accept Much Legislation
Willy Nlly.
Especial Correspondence of the spvl

Especial Correspondence of the Spy.)
Boston, Feb. GA recent symposium
by one Of the Boston Sunday papers, ON
the question as to whether Boston re-
ceived too much attention at the hands
Of the Massachusetts, legislature, was not
i'll timed, as subsequent events seem to
demonstrate. or the members of the
legislature whose opinions were asked
was Mr.. Jones of Melrose, house chair
man Of the committee on metropolitan
affairs, who answered the question in
the negative. -Four members were Of the
general opinion that there was too much
legislation of a distinctly Boston char
acter at the state house, and that many
Of these matters should be considered
in the Boston city council. Two of the
members, who expressed their opinions
on this question, were Mr.. Kenefck of
Palmer and Mr.. Parsons of Greenfield.
Both Of them are recognized as among
the ADLER members Of the lower branch
of the legislature.
There are at the present time number
less bills before the legislature, whose
single aim is the reorganization Of the
Boston city council. Ordinarily there is
a great sufficiency of this kind Of legis-
lation introduced every year at Capitol
hill, but this session there was an ad-
ditional excuse for more of this business,
the deadlock in the Boston board of al
dermen, where six members Of each of
the two great parties had been elected.
This deadlock has been remedied through
a compromise, in which the republicans
of the board seem to have the best of it.
Before the situation was relieved, how
ever, there mad been introduced at least
half a dozen bills by members Of the
house, whereby the accident of a dead
lock in future years was to be prevent
ed. The majority Of these reform meas
ures are hastily and tmperfectly drawn,
and few, If any Of them, will receive
very serious consideration on the part
of the legislature. One bill, by the way,
provided for the election Of an odd
numbered board of aldermen, while the
membership of the common council was
fixed at so. 1t evidently didn't enter
into the mind of the gentlemen who in
troduced that measure of reform, that
the possibility of a deadlock in the com
mon council was just as good as that
of deadlock in the upper branch of
the city council. But this is the form in
which the bill went in.
Besides the various measures that
aim at the reorganization Of the city
council, there are several other bills of
purely Boston character. Perhaps the
most important of the lot is the meas
ure to limit the height of buildings in
or near Copley square, Boston. Here is
a question that ought to be settled by
city ordinance, but the buildings depart
ment of the great metropolis isn't asked
for the desired relief On the other
hand, the friends and foes Of sky scrap
ers march directly to Beacon Hill and
there engage in their fierce conflict,
While the grangerS and countrymen
from the rural districts look on in
amazement and wonder how they ought
to vote on the question. 1t is doubtful
II the majority of the rural members
ever vote intelligently upon the great
mass OF business that emanates from
the Hub of the Universe. Indeed. 1t is
doubtful if the Boston members always
vote intelligently
The farmers of the state are claiming
tnelr snare of attention. The considera-
tlon Of most of the business concerning
the agricultural interests of the state is
not OF their own seeking. but as long as
the Legislators are asked etos frame and
amend laws relative to agriculture, and
to make appropriations of vital interest
to the grangers, they are to have their
say.
1t has been some time since the ques-
ton Of tuberculosis occupied the atten-
y.
1895, the obnoxious law providing for a
general inspection Of the cattle Of the
state, and their compulsory testing with
tuberculin, was amended. With the re-
lief thus afforded, the farmers have Of
fered no objections, but rather have lent
their assistance to the efforts of the
scientists who are working to improve
the conditions of the herds of the state.
But this year there appear bills to re-
OIL To- e
tive to the payment of compensation for
condemned cattle, and another one that
provides, instead of full compensation
to the cattle owner who loses his stock,
but half compensation.
Naturally farmers are in arms again,
and before there is any amendment to
the law, there will be a struggle not I'M
like the memorable battle of the session
of 1895. The question of compensation is
complicated and perplexing one. There
have been abuses of this section Of the
law, as there are of every statute
framed with the idea Of assisting those
who are ready to cooperate with the
commonwealth On measures for the pro-
motion Of the welfare of the general
public. But unless compensation is al
lowed, and perhaps full compensation,
the dairy interests of the state will sus-
tain a serious shock. 1t was demonstrate
ed during the hearings Of 1895, on this
general question, that unless the state
was willing to pay, and to pay generous
ly for the cattle taken in it's effort to
suppress tuberculosis, the dairy in
terest of Massachusetts could not sur
vive. And according to the general belief
of the most radical tuberculin men, this
proposition was well taken.
The board Of cattle commissioners
has asked for $150000, with which to
continue their work this year. This
amount is $4,000 less than the appro-
priation last year. 1t doesn't seem an
extravagant sum, compared with the APP
preparation Of last year and those of
1896 and 1895, which were 100000 each.
The commission, as now constituted, APP
pears to be working along more conser-
vative lines than the commission as
constituted in 1896. The commission has
al line, and wherever tuberculosis has
been banished from herd, measures
have been taken to prevent the recur-
renee of the disease among the cattle
that are left, and it is the general OPT
Mon, also, that the affairs of the board
have been economically managed, but at
the hearings during the past week, be-
fore the committee on agriculture on
the bill making an appropriation for the
work, there were several questions pro-
posed as to the necessity of spending
over $4,000, in order to use up the APP
Precipitation Of 100000, the amount of
last years appropriation. And in spite
of the prompt replies from the members
of the commission, the impression re- |
manned that the affairs and manage |
ment of the department used up a tidy |
sum from the state treasury.
Fri,. ffra an ncr inf11t COL