Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-17
CIVIL SERVICE,
A Bill From the City of Lowell
Causes Debate.
Hearing Relating to Milk Legislation Con-
tlnued Petition for incorporation of
Worcester Hibernian Building
Association.
Especial Dispatch to the spy.)


Boston, Feb. 16-The Boston and
Maine railroad bill was discussed in the
senate this afternoon and finally post
poned until tomorrow in order that
amendments offered by Senator Morse
might be printed. In the house there
was, little furry over a city of Lowell
bill involving the principles of civil serY-
ice reform.
There We're numerous hearings in the
morning Of interest to Worcester and
vicinity Agriculture was engaged with
proposed milk legislation. Mercantile
affairs heard Representative Mclaughlin
on the petition for the incorporation Of
the Worcester Hibernian Building As
snciation, and manufactures gave
hearing to Templeton people on bill
authorizing the establishments of cleo
trio lighting plants in one or more dis
tIicts of that town.
IN THE SENATE.
Leave to withdraw was reported by
the committee on agriculture on the pc
titon of Curtis & Co., for bill to pro-
tect orchards from peach yellows.
Ought to be adopted was reported
by federal relations, on Senator Roe's
resolution, referring to the presentation
of the frigate Constitution.
senator Morse of the cape asked Tor
information on the bill to authorize the
Boston and Maine railroad to purchase
and hold the shares of capital stock OF
lines leased or operated by IT,
Senator Harwood of Middlesex said
this was a bill of great interest to Bos-
ION. to the commonwealth and to New
England. .,,
Senator Morse asked if the bill was
not susceptible of stock watering. Sena-
Tor Harwood said the possibility was TOO
remote for consideration.
Senator Morse offered amendments
proyidipg for a public hearing after no.
tice hy the railroad commission, before
tho approyal of stock issues, and
also that the number of shares of Bos-
ton and Maine road issued shall not
exceed the number purchased. he
moved that the matter be lald over
that the amendments may be printed;
This argument prevailed and the Dill
was postponed.
IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Carlton of Haverhill presented the
petition Of merchants in Haverhill, for
legislation to prevent the giving Of
trading stamps or similar devices as
Inducements to trade The petition was
referred to the committee IN rules.
The house got its taste Of civil service
discussion this afternoon, wnen the bill
eXempting call firemen in Lowel with
three years service, from civil! service
examinations for appointment to the
permanent force, came up for its third
reading. Mr. Myers IF Cambridge
kindled the flames of discussion by NOV
l,;l laid 10 a
Bile, temporarily, until it was determined
whether 1t was advisable to frame a
general law.
Mr. Hayes of Lowell, chairman of the
committee on cities reporting the bill,
was amazed at the interference of the
member from Cambridge, After some
what impassioned narration OF the cir
cumstances and events leading to the
almost universal local demand for the
proposed legislation, Mr.. Hayes turned
on his tormentor with the charge that
he had opposed the bill eXempting vet
Grams of the war of the rebellion from
The provisions of civil service rules, for
the sole reason that the average age of
the veteran was Objectionable.
Mr.. Myers regretted that his harmless
motion should have occasioned such a
disturbance. He didn't relish arguments
Of the past but inasmuch as his friend
from Lowell had called the attention of
the house to his position on the veteran
exemption bill, he would say that he
was opposed to the measure as it Went
through on the ground of its unconsti-
tutionaIity. He was one of the u men
who vote to uphold the veto of the gov
ernor. whose prerogative had been eX-
ercised on the same ground. He desired
to call the attention of the house to the
decision Of the supreme court against
the law as unconstitutional, and that in
1896. when another bill was introduced
with proper amendments, he had given
it his support and vote.
Mr.. Hayes replied that proposed
rhange was not a subject for general
legislation Mr. Ramsay of Lowell ar
eued against postponement, The house
refused to table and ordered the bill to
be engrossed.