Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-27
A UNIQUE BILL.
One of Bunco Man Reeds Vic
tins Desires Legislation.
Mr. Wood Thinks That $4,000 of the
Forfeited Bail Money Should Be
q Paid to Him.
Special Dispatch to the spy)

Nr~~~--NAA~NN~ VI
counties Of the state legislature. 1t con-
Germs the bail money forfeited by John
Reed, arrested as a bunco steerer, which
he forfeited when he shook the dust of
Massachusetts from his fleeing feet, and
started back to New Jersey intending to
take a European trip.
The bill Is based on the petition Of
Martin Wood of Plymouth, the victim
of Reed. and in it Wood asks that the
county pay over to him the $4,000 which
Reed forfeited in skipping. The commit
tee has not yet assigned a hearing on
4 the measure The $4500 is just the sum
Wood lost. There is one peculiar cir
cumstance connected with the loss of
the money by Wood, which is the fact
that after he was victimiZed by Reed,
Wood received a letter from an alleged
detective in New York assuring him
that he knew the swindler, and IL Wood
would send him $500 he would capture
him and get the money back.
8 With a confidence in human nature
which no misfortunes were eveidently
capable Of destroying, Wood wrote i'm
mediately to the alleged detective, en-
closing the $500, expecting in few days
to see the color of his original cash. He
is still looking for the $4,000 as well as
the $500, as he has up to this time had
no news from his detective friend.
Some members of the committee are
inclined to look upon Mr., Wood as too
credulous to have the charge Of any
considerable sums of money
The committee on ways and means
had the annual appropriation for the
fire marshars department before it for
consideration yesterday. The fire mar
shall was before the committee. and Sem
ator George of Haverhill was before the
committee as a member of the senate
committee on ways and means The fire
marshal was asked a number of ques-
lions regarding the needs and expenses
of his office both by the house members
and by Senator George. The matter was
put over for action at some later date.
IN THE SENATE.
The order of Senator Flynn of Essex
for an investigation by the committee
on labor of the reductions of wages in
the cotton mills of the commonwealth
was third in the calendar Senator r.
win of Hampshire moved that it be put
over
There was considerable opposition to
a postponement. The debate on the
matter was ended by the adoption Of
motion to postpone until Friday.
Senator Hodgl1ins of Middlesex had
taken from the files the bill for forest
survey of the state.
The senate adjourned at 1.25 O'Clock
p. m.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Frederick of Methuen presented
the petition of John Fl. George and 9TH
ers for legislation to prevent the grant
ing of licenses to milk dealers, until
satisfactory evidence of a healthy sup
ply of milk has first been given.
Mr.. Pickard of Newton presented the
petition of the Massachusetts Single
Tax League for an amendment to the
constitution relative to the taxation of
land, giving local option to cities and
towns on the question of raising taxes
for local purposes by means of the sin
gle tax on land values.
The commissioners in charge of the
Massachusetts school fund submitted
their annual report to the house, giving
the amount of the fund on Dec. 81, 1891, as
SG70, 548.14. OF this amount all but
$67 1854 is invested.
Mr.. Frederick Of Methuen presented
the petition of Frank Buckminster for
the protection of owners Of cattle.
Mr.. Calender of Boston presented the
petition of Chief Wade of the district
ufacture and sale of clothing in UNI
healthy places.
Mr.. Kenefeck Of Palmer presented the
petition of Bishop Thomas D. Beaver
of Springfield for legislation for cor
poration sole for the bishop of that do
cese
Mr.. Whipple of Brockton present.
eed the petition of ex-Mavor Williamson
and others, including many of the lead
ing clergymen of the city, asking for a
repeal of the law relative To the trans
portation Of liquors in no-lcense cities
:. and towns.
The petition of the water committee
of the town of Huntington, for the es-
tablishment Of the Huntington fire dis
trict, was received and referred.
The petition of John p. Gates and
others for the Incorporation of the Mas
sachusetts Canal Company, was re-
ceived from the secretary's office and
referred to the committee on harbors
and public lands.
Mr.. Ramsdell of Lynn presented the
petition of William T. Worth and others
for anti-cigaret legislation. One hun
dred dollar fines are the penalties inn
posed for each cigaret.
Mr.. Stebbins of Erving presented the
petition of E. H. Webster and others for
the Incorporation of the Mortified
Water Company.
Mr.. Hayes of Lowell presented his
own petition for legislation making it
embezzlement on the part of lawyer
to fail to pay money collected for a
client within 60 days of the time of
such collection
Mr.. Sullivan of Lawrence introduced
bill to prevent the use of anything
but transparent window glass in fac
tories
The committee on insurance reported
bill, authorizing the examiner in insu-