Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-04
THE BILL KILLED.
Measure for Licensing Lunch
Wagons Met it's Doom.
FOR GAS INVESTIGATION.
Committee on Rules Favorable
to Mr.. Miller's Order,
Bill Exempting Worcester From Grade
Crossing Act Enacted in the House
Laundry Bill Rejected.
lspeeial Digpatch to the spyl

of Representative Miller Of Boston, for
an investigation of the gas situation in
Boston.
The vote was so close that had one
member not been absent, the decision
would have been tied, as it stood to 6
in favor. Mr.. Hayes of Lowell was the
absent member, and he was understood
to be opposed to the order. President
Smith Of the senate voted against the
order and Speaker Bates in favor.
Those who supported the order were
Speaker Bates and Representatives Par
sons, Myers, Kenefick, Stone, Jones and
Clarke. Those against 1t We're President
Smith and Senators Brigham, Holden,
Gallivan and Williams and Representa-
tive Mccarthy. All the senators voted
against the order, and one member of
the house.
When the committee met, Mr. Jones
of Melrose moved that the committee
report the order to the house in the
form in which it was presented, provid-
| ing for special committee of invests
| cation. This motion was supported by
Messrs. Parsons of Greenfield, Kenefick
of Palmer and Stone of Springfield.
Also by Col. Clarke, and some of the
other men who believed an investigation
was demanded by the facts which had
been brought out 1t was opposed by
Messrs. Holden and Mccarthy as use
less waste of time and effort on the
| part of the legislature.
Mr.. Jones of Melrose favored the
adoption of the order, and especially
supported the section calling for a
special committee He did not think the
gas commission would be as we'll able to
compel the attendance Of witnesses and
secure their testimony as legislative
committee, which could bring recalci-
trant witnesses before the bar of the
house.
The vote was then taken, showing
that the line of division was as near as
| it was possible to get and still carry the
measure. 1t was to 6. The members
Of the committee were spoken for by
Mr.. Gallivan, who said the oppo-
| nents of the order were not disposed to
dissent from the report, but would al
low the order to come in without any
formal dissent. 1t was stated afterward
that this concession did not mean that
| the opponents Of the order would not
oppose it when it came into their re-
spective branches Of the legislature, and
| it is said that strenuous fight will be
made to defeat its adoption.
1t was another busy day, from COM
mittee hearings, which numbered over
! 90 to the adjournment of both
branches. The attention Of the lower
branch was engrossed with the bill au-
thorizing the Boston and Maine to pur-
chase shares of stock of roads leased or
operated by 1t, which came up for the
engrossment stage, and the bill to Ii
cense lunch wagons.
The friends of the Boston and Maine
bill were taken unawares by the intro-
duction of an amendment ny Mr.. Myers
| of Cambridge, that all issues of stock
| by the road, for the purchase of shares
of other roads, should be in such
amounts as approved by the railroad
| commissioners as in conformity with the
interests of the pubic, The advocates
of the bill didn't know whether to OPP
pose the amendment or not, but offered
the argument that it was unnecessary,
and on the plea Of time for an exam
nation of the amendment, the bill went
over until tomorrow, pending the ques-
tion OF ordering to a third reading.
The bill to authorize municipal au-
thorities to license lunch carts, was
loaded with hostile amendments, and
then, after more or less debate, was
killed The same fate awaited the bill
to regulate the laundries Of the state.
The folly, of too much hurry in the ses-
sion was demonstrated in the senate
during the afternoon, by a motion from
Senator George that the order whereby
the committee,on roads and bridges was
given leave to sit during the sessions
of the two branches, be rescinded. The
committee is engaged in one
of it's most important hearings,
and the sessions have taken
the members Of both branches
away from their seats. The scheme
doesn't meet with much favor, and there
will be an attempt to reverse the action
whereby the privilege was granted the
other day.
The bill exempting Worcester from
the operation of the grade CROSSING act,
for another year, was enacted in the
house this afternoon.
IN THE SENATE.
The bill to exempt call flremen in Lo-
well from the operation of the civil SER
vice rules relative to examination be-
fore appointment to the permanent
force, was recalled from the hands of
the governor, on motion of Senator Put
nam of Middlesex. His excellency had
intimated his intention to veto it, unless
it was amended to apply only to those
who had been call firemen three years.
The committee on printing reported
bill appropriating $1700 for publishing
the proceedings commemorative of the
centennial of the Bulfinch front
The military affairs committee report
ed a resolve appropriating $35, 900 for
the soldiers home in Chelsea.
Leave to withdraw was reported on
James H. Mellen's proposition that Wor-
cester may maintain a municipal cleo
trio plant.
IN THE HOUSE.
The bill authorizing the Boston and
Maine railroad to purchase shares of
stock in roads operated or leased by it,
came up for its engrossment stage at
! 8. AS o'clock, after the house had refused
to adjourn.
Mr.. Myers of Cambridge offered an
amendment that the issue of stock for
the purposes of the bill shall be in such
amount as meets with the approval of
the railroad commissioners, as consist
ent with the public interest. In support
of the amendment, Mr.. Myers held that
according to the bill as drawn now, it
allowed the issue of stock in conformity
with the general law. and that the lang
uage of this was, "as was reasonably
requisite" for the purposes of the issue.
But there was chance for legal quib-
BILE, should the honest men in control of
the railroad ever lose their control. If
there was no evil intent in the bill, there
wa no objection to the amendment; if
there was, the legislature was acting
on statements of fact that the future
would not justify. 1t gave complete
protection to the people and guarded
any possible invasion of the policy of
the state as declared by the anti-stock
s25.5O-W WASHINGTON TOUR.
Mr.. C. S. Alexander announces his an
nual personally-conducted tour to WASH
ington, D. c., leaving Worcester via Nor
wich line April LIST, returning April Sth.
| Four days In Washington, with visits to
Al. ,l,to md n nlt,11i